Concerts featuring guest clarinetists Jonathan Russell, Alex Whitehead and Colin Mehmel will highlight the 16th Brandon University (BU) Clarinet Festival this weekend at the Queen Elizabeth II School of Music Building.
The festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday, drawing clarinets and other music enthusiasts for a series of performances and workshops. Joining the guest artists onstage at various times will be BU faculty Leanne Zacharias, Callie Siverson, Danielle Guina and festival host Cathy Wood, along with alumna Lisa Rumpel. The BU Clarinet Choir will also perform, while guest conductor Cheryl Ferguson will lead the festival clarinet choir.
“It’s a thrill to welcome so many friends back to BU each year for the Clarinet Festival,” said Wood, who is a Professor of Clarinet in the School of Music. “We follow a familiar format each year, but we always work to bring in fresh topics to explore and top artists. I’m very excited to share the program we have put together for this year’s festival.”
The first of the public concerts will feature Alex Whitehead, joined by Lisa Rumpel, on piano, at the Lorne Watson Recital Hall on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Jonathan Russell will be accompanied by Rumpel for a pro series concert on Saturday evening at 7:30, also at the Lorne Watson.
Sunday’s schedule will feature three concerts. Trio Improbable, made up of Colin Mehmel, Callie Siverson, on French horn and Danielle Guina, on piano, will perform at the Lorne Watson Recital Hall at 9:30 a.m. At 2 p.m., Cathy Wood, with Leanne Zacharias on cello, will be joined by special guests for another show at the Lorne Watson. The festival concluding concert will take place at 3:30 p.m., in Room 1-20 of the Music building, featuring the BU Clarinet Choir and the Festival Clarinet Choir.
All concerts are open to the public, and all are free, except Saturday night’s pro series event, which costs $20, with tickets available at the door of the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. The pro series performance is free for registered festival participants.
“Cathy always puts on a wonderful weekend of music and educational opportunities that allows our students, alumni and guests to share their ideas and love for the instrument,” said Zacharias, who is the Acting Dean of Music at Brandon University. “I’m honoured to be asked to perform with Cathy, and I’m looking forward to seeing so many talented musicians join us at BU this weekend.”
Please contact the School of Music at Music@BrandonU.ca with any accessibility considerations.
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