Pro Series Lineup set for 2009-10 at Brandon University School of Music

BRANDON, MB – As in the past 11 seasons, the School of Music at Brandon University has lined-up another exciting Pro Series. This season, 15 exceptional concerts and recitals will present works by composers from the classical period to today.

  Most of the musicians who will be gracing the Lorne Watson Recital Hall and the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium stages enjoy international careers, as soloists and/or chamber musicians.

  “I am tremendously excited about our Pro Series line-up this year,” says Dean of Music, Dr. Michael Kim. “With internationally acclaimed guest artists such as Grammy award winning superstar James Ehnes, Dame Evelynn Glennie, and renowned Canadian actor Colin Fox, along with our own world class music faculty, the Pro Series highlights Brandon’s significant presence as a musical centre of national and international importance.”

  Most Pro Series and New Music Series concerts are held Tuesday evenings, at 8:00 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall of the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building, at Brandon University. Two special concerts will be held in the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

Tickets to all Pro Series concert are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, alumni and students, and $6 for Conservatory students. Subscriptions for the Pro Series’ entire season can also be purchased, ranging from $60 for adults, to $35 for seniors, alumni and students, to $25 for Conservatory students. Both tickets and subscriptions can be bought at the door or in advance at the School of Music. Seating is limited. Programmes are subject to change.

  Admission to all of the New Music Series concerts is free.

  Tickets for the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra concert are $36.75 for adults and $21 for students, with $5 from each ticket donated to the MCO Music Scholarship Fund at the BU School of Music.

 Tickets for the James Ehnes recital are $20.

  The Pro Series and the School of Music gratefully acknowledge the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and of the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant from Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

Pro Series Lineup

  Following the first of two special concerts, featuring the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie on September 21, the new Pro Series will kick off in earnest in October and run throughout the academic school year.

  The Pro Series begins October 27, with Russian pianist Faina Lushtak. Her programme will include works by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev, Chopin as well as some of her own compositions.

  Once again, the Pro Series hosts the 2009 winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. Slated for November 17, violinist Carissa Klopoushak’s recital will present Chaconne, the compulsory piece for this year’s edition of the E-gré, by T. Patrick Carrabré, among other works.

  To conclude the first semester, three faculty members – saxophonist Greg Gatien, pianist Michael Cain and Eric Platz – will give a jazz concert featuring standards and improvised works. That performance will take place December 1.

  Launching the New Year will be one of the School of Music’s faculty members, pianist Kyung Kim. On January 8, she will play the Haydn’s Sonata in C Minor, Hob. XVI/20, Scriabin’s Sonata No. 10, Op. 70, Griffes’ Sonata for Piano and Schumann’s Carnaval, Op. 9.

  The Pro Series continues with a perennial highlight of the season – the faculty concert. The evening of January 15, this tradition continues as the talent of School of Music’s instructors – committed educators and professional performers – is showcased in a programme that spans from classical gems to improvised jazz.

  On January 24, the father-daughter duo of ‘cellist Laura Jones and pianist Lawrence Jones is next with a programme that is comprised of Cassado’s Sonata in Old Spanish Style, Morlock’s Halcyon, Beethoven’s Sonata No.5 in D Major, Op. 102 No. 2 and Dohnanyi’s Sonata in B-flat, Op. 8.

  A rare treat awaits on February 9 as vocalist Susan Gilmour Bailey and pianist Michael Kim are joined by actor/narrator Colin Fox in The Schumann Letters. Excerpts from the more than 20,000 love letters exchanged between Robert Schumann and his wife Clara are woven with their music, to create a memorable evening.

  The second special concert of the season will feature Brandon’s own favourite musical son and Grammy Award-winner, violinist James Ehnes. He takes time out from his busy international career to perform a recital on February 11 with the Dean of Music, Michael Kim at the keyboard. Their programme will include Franck’s Sonata in A Major and Brahm’s Sonata No. 3 in d Minor, Op.108.

  The Brandon New Music Series also returns. It will feature concerts with both student and professional musicians. One of the evening concerts will bring together clarinetist Catherine Wood, ‘cellist Leanne Zacharias and pianist Megumi Masaki, who is the conductor of the Brandon University New Music Ensemble. The series will feature works by Ades, Dun, Vasks, Oesterle, Hinton, Suzuki, Rohrmoser and Lizée. These performances will take place from March 2 to 4.

  To interpret Brahms’ Trio for Clarinet, ‘Cello and Piano, Op. 114 on March 16 will be three School of Music faculty members. Returning to the stage will be pianist Kyung Kim, accompanying clarinetist Catherine Wood and ‘cellist Leanne Zacharias.

  Finally, to conclude the 2009-2010 Pro Series, American pianist Jeffrey Wood will present a concert highlighting music created while the world was at war. His programme, entitled “In the Shadow of War: Currents in 20 ^th-century Music, 1910-1950”, will include Bartók’s Dirges and 15 Hungarian Folksongs as well as Shostakovich’s Sonata No. 2 in B Minor and Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in D Minor.

  For updated listings, please visit: www2.brandonu.ca/music/events/events.asp

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  For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

  School of Music

Brandon University

P: (204) 727-9631

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