The North Okanagan Community Concert Association – Page 2 – North Okanagan Community Concert Association

Review: Sparks Fly Off Our Steinway Grand!

February 22, 2019 by SillyGilly, posted in Review

Review by Jim Leonard

This Valentine Day’s concert began with an appropriate song by Salmon Arm singer Heather Harker; ably accompanied by Alex MacArthur, titled “Les Chemins de L’Amour” (The ways of love) by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Heather had a lovely lyrical tone while singing this song.

Heather, a french immersion kindergarten teacher, then showed her teacher’s personality with a dash of humour by performing “Hippo and Gnu” by Flanders and Swan. These selections were greatly enjoyed by the audience.

The performance of Duo Fortin-Poirier was enhanced by the video camera suspended over the piano keyboard; the image was projected on a large screen at the back of the stage. We could see the magic enfolding from the four hands of the duo. In some selections it seemed as though they were competing for keys!

Marie-Christine and Amélie created an intimate and warm atmosphere with their commentary on the pieces which were quite varied in style and texture. Having played together for fourteen years, they showed an extraordinary powerful partnership.

They designed a program which started casually with “Valses Caprice” by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907) and grew in intensity through the “Legends” of Antonin Dvorak(1841-1904) to the pivotal point of the program, “Souvenirs” by Samuel Barber (1910-1981) Here the virtuosity of the performers took flight and never looked back.
The selections after the intermission offered a passionate memorial selection (“Adios Nonino”) by A. Piazzolla (1921-1992), “Chroniques d’une Coupe a blanc” by Canadian composer Vanessa Marcoux (b.1986); Vocalise by Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) arranged by Greg Anderson; and a modern work complete with rhythmic knocking sounds and assaults on the strings in the piano, “Garden of Eden:The Serpents Kiss” by W. Bolcom (b. 1938)
The generous audience rose to their feet in appreciation of an excellent and varied program- brilliantly played. The duo then offered a short encore; a quiet arrangement of Gershwin’s “Summertime.” We almost forgot it was winter!

The next NOCCA concert will feature the Bergmann Duo with Sarah Hagen – an exceptional 6 hands on 1 piano acrobatic musical spectacle on Monday April 8, 2019 at 7:30 pm. More info at nocca.ca.

Review by Jim Leonard for the Vernon Morning Star.

Trio D’Argento visiting Okanagan Lake, Vernon BC

Review: Trio Delivers Virtuosic Concert

December 6, 2018 by SillyGilly, posted in Review

Review by Jim Leonard

As is customary, each concert features a local artist to begin the program. This time it was Katherine Flaherty; a lovely soprano who offered two familiar and most enjoyable song selections. She had a perfect clear tone for Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and gave a lovely gentle version of Puccini’s “O Mio Bambino Caro.” She was ably accompanied by pianist Alex MacArthur.

“Trio d’Argento” comprised of: Sibylle Marquardt on alto flute, flute and piccolo; Peter Stoll on E flat and B flat clarinets, and Bass clarinet; and Todd Yaniw, piano started their program with Haydn’s “Trio in D”. Originally for other instruments, it was arranged by Peter Stoll. The music was light and bubbly in the hands of the trio. The bass clarinet provided some unique sounds to the ensemble in this work, which originally had the part for cello. Camille Saint-Saens’ (1835-1921) “Tarantella”, marked Presto non Troppo – “Very fast but not out of control” (my translation!) showed the trios ability for precise ensemble and neat playing.

The third set of pieces were by bassoonist-saxophonist Russell Peterson (b.1969). Peterson is an associate professor of music studies at Concordia College in Minnesota. His “Trio for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano” (2009) was the first piece in the program that wasn’t an arrangement. It started mysteriously, depicting a desolate desert scene with chant like melodies. This gave way to a lively market scene with all its hustle and bustle. The trio controlled the changes in character with breathtaking ease. There were colourful overtones created by the flute and clarinet; both in their highest registers. Peterson’s piece ended with a whirling dervish of sound in the Allegro. After this piece some sonic soothing was required, and it arrived with Jacques Ibert’s “Deux Interludes.” Ibert (1890-1962) was an actor, composer and silent film pianist. We were bathed in lovely melody and soothing sonorities from the trio.

Kevin Lau, born in Hong Kong, became the Toronto Symphony’s affiliate composer in 2012; holding that position until 2015. His “Musica Universalis” gave the trio an opportunity to unleash their arsenal of instruments into the realm of Quantum Physics – the awe of the universe. Movement one called “Frozen Fire” started with the pianist creating a shimmering effect on the upper part of the keyboard; one could imagine the array of colours occurring when light strikes the ice surface. “Singularity” (2nd movement) helped us envision a black hole in the universe. ”The End of Eternity” used musical styles from Bach’s fugues, Beethoven and romanticism. During these pieces we heard piccolo, flute, Eb clarinet, Bb clarinet, and bass clarinet and of course the virtuosity of Yaniw, the pianist.

The last programmed piece was “Techno Parade” by Guillaume Connesson (b.1970). In this piece we heard some prepared piano (placing objects on the strings) and jazz flute. At times it sounded like a video game! The trio immersed themselves into the turmoil of the piece and came out the winner using their incredible virtuosity. The enthusiastic audience demanded and encore and got two: The Duet from “Lakme” by Leo Delibes (1815-1910) originally for two sopranos, but skill fully arranged for the trio; and the “Pink Panther” by Henry Mancini. What a night it was!

The next NOCCA concert will be the piano duo “Duo Fortin-Poirer” on Thursday February 14, 2019 at 7:30 pm. More info at nocca.ca.

Review by Jim Leonard for the Vernon Morning Star.

EnChor – Saturday April 14, 2018

April 3, 2018April 3, 2018 by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

EnChor
Saturday April 14, 2018 7:30 pm
BUY TICKETS

EnChor choir is known for its beautiful blend of voices and great spirit; radiating joy and resonating an enduring artistic passion.

EnChor was formed in the summer of 2007 by the late Dr. Diane Loomer to encourage “senior singers” to continue to use their talents, sharpen their brains and “keep them off the streets on Friday mornings.” EnChor succeeded beyond her dreams. Within three years their reputation earned them an invitation to Podium 2010, the biennial gathering of Canada’s leading choral conductors, and entrée to the renowned invitation-only international choral festival, Festival 500 Sharing the Voices 2011 in St. John’s Newfoundland. EnChor was the core choir at the BC Choral Federation’s Chorfest May 2014. They performed for the first time at Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach in July 2014 and appear annually with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Artistic Director, Gerald van Wyck, is well known in the Canadian choral community for his work with singers of all ages. His innate musical talent, versatility and tireless energy are shared at Vancouver Community College, where he lectures in Music History, teaches Choral and Orchestral Conducting, and works with the Madrigal Singers, as well as at West Vancouver United Church where he has been Minister of Music for 28 years. He is also the founder of the Pacific Spirit family of choirs on the North Shore. For over 13 years Gerald was Music Director of the British Columbia Boys Choir, with whom he toured and recorded extensively. Recently he has served as Assistant Conductor to Lion’s Gate Sinfonia Orchestra, and the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and for five years was conductor of the Vancouver Island Opera Association. enchor.ca

The warm-up act for this concert will be performed by pianist Jennika Bobryk. Jennika is a grade 10 student at Kalamalka Secondary, currently working on her Grade 9 RCM for piano. Her love for music started at a very early age with Kindermusik as an infant, followed by Piano Pathways (both with teacher Pat Metcalfe at VCMS), and private lessons with her incredible teacher Karen Rempel at VCMS. One of her many achievements is winning the top piano award at the Vernon Teacher’s Music Festival for 6 consecutive years as well as achieving First Class Honours with Distinction for the past 5 years of RCM piano exams.

Concert Program:

Songs of Life
Sandy Scofield	Song of Life
Ludovico da Viadana	Exsultate Justi
Ola Gjeilo	Ubi Caritas
Camille Saint-Saëns	Ave Maria
Giacomo Puccini	Gloria (from Messa di Gloria)
Life in Canada I
Tamarack	Frobisher Bay
Jason Nett	Memories of English
France Levasseur-Ouimet arr. Alan Bevan	Parlez-moi
Intermission
The Circle of Life
Don Macdonald	The Piano
Susan LaBarr	Blessing in the Leaving
J. D. Martin & Jan Garrett, arr. Larry Nickel	No Complaints Whatsoever
Ron Smail	Naughty Lady of Shady Lane
Life in Canada II
arr. Mark Sirett	Un Canadien Errant
Lionel Daunais	Le Pont Mirabeau
Brian Tate	Emily Carr Suite
Paul Halley	Song for Canada

Click on the image/link below to view a short video of EnChor choir.

SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS
Adults – $40 Under 18 – $20
Students on the 8to12 program – $5

Purchase tickets at:

TICKET SELLER
Phone: (250) 549-SHOW (7469)
E-mail: boxoffice@ticketseller.ca

– or –

Visit The Performing Arts Centre Foyer
3800-34th Street, Vernon
All concerts are held in the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Review: Pianist gives highly refined concert

March 20, 2018 by SillyGilly, posted in Review

By Jim Leonard

The program began with a tribute to longtime NOCCA board member and past president Paul Maynes. Board member Cathie Stewart presented Maynes with a beautiful painting of an Okanagan valley scene.

Then, as is the custom, a young musician is featured onstage. For this concert, Jenny Sutherland, a student at Seaton Secondary, sang three beautiful songs with her mother at the piano. She had a lovely clear voice for someone who is only 16-years-old. I didn’t catch the titles because no mic was used to announce the songs.

Finally, after much preamble, albeit necessary preamble by NOCCA’S board, we were subjected to a long introduction by the soft-spoken pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin regarding the program. He had chosen the music of two contrasting composers — Robert Schumann in the first half of the program followed by Chopin in the second half.

He began with the Arabesque of Schumann; beginning very quietly, and showing his ultimate control over the piano’s tone. There were many moods in the work, which were deftly and neatly handled by Richard-Hamelin. There were sudden outbursts in the music alternating with quiet contemplative parts. Every note was in it’s place; the runs controlled and clean.

As is the custom with concert pianists, the performance was from memory. How the artist remembered the Fantasie Opus 17 (also by Schumann) was a miracle, as the piece was a good 20 minutes long. As before, there was beautiful contemplative playing; the pianist being careful to not make harsh sounds in the loud, celebratory parts.

For the second half, Richard-Hamelin chose four Chopin Ballades. They were arranged in the program according to the age the composer was at the time of their composition, young to mature. The choice of these works showed the differences in approach, regarding writing for piano, of the two composers. Chopin used extensive melodies with less interruptions in the flow of the harmonies. Of the four Ballades, only the third one was in a major key. It was a refreshing Waltz.

During the playing of the four Ballades, Richard-Hamelin showed tremendous concentration and extreme virtuosity on the keyboard. Again, not a note out of place, seamless runs and brilliant chord patterns abounded. The 12-minute fourth Ballade seemed to sum up Chopin’s total experience as a composer/pianist. Again, brilliantly executed and bringing the audience to their feet.

Their enthusiasm was rewarded with a quiet encore: the slow movement from Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor. Beautiful playing on NOCCA’S wonderful new Hamburg Steinway piano.

The next NOCCA concert is 7:30 pm Saturday April 14, 2018, featuring Vancouver’s EnChor choir. Click here for more information.

Review By Jim Leonard For The Vernon Morning Star

More NOYSE and Perk-Up, Pianist

January 26, 2018January 30, 2018 by SillyGilly, posted in Concert

2018 "More NOYSE" Participants — 2018 “More NOYSE” Participants

Beat the winter blahs with an afternoon and evening of musical sunshine! Sunday January 28th – More NOYSE Youth Showcase at 2pm followed by Sarah Hagen’s comic show “Perk-Up, Pianist!” at 7:30 pm. Both concerts are being held at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.

Special Two Concert Deal: Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for NOCCA subscribers and $20 for youth to attend both events, as long as they are purchased at the same time. Buy tickets at http://www.ticketseller.ca or call 250-549-7469.

If you’re a Facebook user, check out Jacob Soucy’s excellent videos of this year’s NOYSE participants rehearsing for the concert at https://www.facebook.com/events/152088725421100/ (scroll down to the “Recent Activity” section at the bottom of the feed). Don’t forget to “Like” our page while you’re there. 😏

The following article was written by Kristin Froneman for the Vernon Morning Star:

NOCCA performances fundraiser for youth in arts

Sarah Hagen not only tickles the ivories, she tickles funny bones

When acclaimed classical pianist Sarah Hagen returns to Vernon Sunday, she’ll not only be tickling the ivories, she’ll be tickling funny bones.

Known as the charming host of Morning Melodies, the classical music series that was held for a number of years in the Marie Fleming Hall at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre, Hagen is returning to the centre for two reasons:

First, she’ll host More NOYSE (North Okanagan Youth Showcase of Excellence) Sunday at 2 p.m. Then, that evening, she will take the main stage with her new show, Perk up, Pianist! Both are presentations of the North Okanagan Community Concert Association (NOCCA).

For the latter show, audiences shouldn’t expect hushed interludes. Instead, prepare to laugh as Hagen breaks all stereotypes of a classical concert being stuffy or elitist by injecting comedy into her performance.

“After compiling material for many years, I began writing the show in 2016 while taking some time away from the stage as a concert pianist,” said Hagen, who is now based in Toronto. “I have been touring it through various fringe festivals across Canada and am very excited to bring it to the main stage in Vernon for the very first time.”

A self-confessed writer of uneducated wine reviews for her blog, Artist Wines!, and an enthusiastic tap dancer, Hagen has been compared to famed pianist/comic Victor Borge.

Not only is she an accomplished award winning classical pianist who has performed as an accompanist and solo artist all over the world, she has developed a show that harnesses her other talent – comic timing.

In Perk up, Pianist, she peppers her performance with personal and amusing anecdotes, playing the part of a touring classical pianist who must remain optimistic in the midst of challenging and often ridiculous situations.

“She wanted to keep the show presentable so that her mother would be able to attend, so Sarah has requested a PG-13 or a mature subject matter rating,” said NOCCA president Paul Maynes, who caught Hagen’s show in Edmonton. “This is definitely a show that ladies can relate to and that men will enjoy too. Give yourself a treat and a good chuckle.”

Before Hagen takes the stage, she’ll introduce the talented youth who have been auditioned to perform at NOCCA’s second ever youth showcase.

More NOYSE features pianist Brandon Schmor, cellist Holly McCallum, violinist Libby Wyse, the Jacob Soucy Quartet (trumpet, keys, drums, bass), vocalist-guitarist Shaughnessy O’Brien, vocalist Jax Dolman, violinist Marcus Coetzee, dancer Jonathon Fraser Monroe, dancer Tiernen O’Keefe, and the Inter Contemporary Dance Group from Accentz Dance Studio.

Both “More NOYSE” and “Perk up, Pianist!” are fundraising performances to establish a performing arts scholarship fund for youth in the North Okanagan.

Separate from the NOCCA season, tickets for MORE NOYSE are $20 for adults, $15 for NOCCA subscribers, and $10 for youth 18 and under. Tickets for Sarah Hagen’s Perk up, Pianist! are $30 for adults, $25 for NOCCA subscribers and $20 for youth. Tickets are $40 for adults, $30 for NOCCA subscribers and $20 for youth to attend both events as long as they are purchased at the same time. Get them at Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

NOCCA performances fundraiser for youth in arts

Share this: