Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
November 25, 2004
Music performance faculty to give concert
The University of Guelph’s applied music faculty are coming together to showcase the breadth of their talents Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m at the River Run Centre.
“We’ve programmed the evening in such a way that it will be a good snapshot of music at Guelph,” said John Kissick, director of the School of Fine Art and Music. “There will be something for everyone, from jazz ensembles to classical arias to contemporary music.”
More than 15 members of U of G’s applied music faculty will perform. The applied music program allows U of G music students to work on a specific instrument one-on-one with a faculty member.
“By showcasing the broad spectrum of musical styles and genres being practised by our faculty, we’re hoping to attract more high-quality students,” said Kissick.
Jesse Stewart, who teaches percussion in the applied music program, said working on-on-one with faculty enables students to increase their skill and technical achievement. “Faculty broaden students’ knowledge of the repertoire and show them different styles of performance of their instrument.”
Highlights of the evening include performances by soprano Theresa Thibodeau, tenor Glyn Evans, Chris Cigola on trumpet, Rosemary Parks on flute, Bruce French on lute and classical guitar, Rosemary Collins on piano, Stewart on percussion, Henry Janzen on viola with John Goddard on drums, and Matt Vanderwoude and Howard Spring on guitar.
Thibodeau, who has studied with some of the finest coaches in the world, will sing from Gianni Schicchi. Evans, a former member of the Canadian Opera Company, will sing pieces by C.W. Gluck, Giovanni Legrenzi and Stephano Donaudy.
Stewart will perform a piece he composed for a drum set and congas called Hodoi. The piece is structured around polyrhythms derived from Afro-Cuban musical traditions. “The layering of multiple time cycles is meant to give listeners the opportunity to follow multiple sonic pathways through the music,” he said.
Music professor Ellen Waterman will be performing a flute composition by colleague James Harley called Portrait for Solo Flute. Harley will also be showcasing his interactive audio installation Wild Fruits in the lobby of the River Run Centre. It’s an educational project that lets people play bird song samples from the keys on a keyboard, allowing them to create their own bird chorus. He originally created the installation for the regional science centre in Moorhead, Minn.
A reception in the River Run Centre lobby will follow the performance. Tickets are $10 general and $5 for students and are available from the centre’s box office, (519) 763-3000.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.
