EVENT PROFILE Upcoming Concerts In Windsor Essex

Since the April issue of our magazine highlights the local music industry, we wanted to fill you in on a few upcoming concerts Biz X is supporting.

Here we feature three events we hope you can attend! And be sure to read the cover story of this edition on Page 18 for details on the upcoming April 15 Record Launch Event for local artist Christian Vegh

April 16, 2023: It’s You, I Like A Celebration Of Music & Inclusivity

The talented musicians at 4th Wall Music (4thWallMusic.com) have something special coming up on April 16, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. — It’s You, I Like — a concert featuring the work of Fred Rogers of the TV series, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

The event takes place at the Capitol Theatre, 121 University Avenue West in Windsor.

Mister Rogers was a trained musician and his songs, were of unusual quality and insight. His music will be heard as arranged by Canadian composer Michael Park for string quartet, piano and a trio of voices, including local sopranos Aimee Clifford and Kate Reynolds.

Ms. Kate, sometimes called The Singing Librarian, is best known to her over 32k followers on social media as The Lavender Librarian.

She is thrilled to be sharing the stage with the amazing musicians at 4th Wall and to have this opportunity and platform to sing and to share her story of late identified autism. Reynolds only learned she was autistic in 2020 at the age of 35.

Like all 4th Wall productions, the program also includes some wonderful classical music, including a colourful take on a familiar aria by W.A. Mozart, Rimsky Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee and a famous lullaby from Engelbert Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel.

But that’s not all!

This concert is also a nostalgia bomb as it includes a few bits of Canadiana including the Sandwiches song by Fred Penner and Skinnamarink by Sharon, Lois & Bram.

Mister Rogers often reminded us that he liked us just as we are and the concert will be a reflection on many wonderful ways to be YOU.

As part of their commitment to diversity, attendees also get a special visit from Disco The Drag Queen, who will read: The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.

After the concert, families can meet Disco and explore booths by Autism Ontario, Windsor Public Library, and Biblioasis

This concert is generously funded by a Performing Arts Infrastructure Grant through the Windsor Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets are $5 for children and $20 for adults (4thwallmusic.com/2022-23-ticket-purchase).

However, if that is not in your budget, due to some amazing individual donors and a large donation from Wheat Penny Press, FREE tickets are also available by emailing: info@4thwallmusic.com, no questions asked.

Everything is subject to availability, so make sure to request or purchase tickets right away!

April 23, 2023: The Order Of Canada And Juno Award Spotlight Concert

The Windsor Jazz Concert Series initiates the annual Order of Canada/Juno Award Spotlight with Toronto guitarist Reg Schwager, Sunday, April 23 at 2:30 p.m. at Mackenzie Hall, 277 Sandwich Street West in Windsor.

Windsor Jazz Concert Series (WJCS) is nonprofit and was formed in 2022 to continue the work of Windsor’s Hugh Leal, an independent promoter who started here in 1976.

His ongoing productions have proven to be the longest-running jazz in-concert series in Canadian history.

During this time, Leal has brought to Windsor 18 Juno Award winners, 11 Order of Canada recipients and three Grammy Award winners.

The new non-profit organization will annually bring artists who have won these awards, while also featuring top Detroit jazz musicians, the backbone of Leal’s productions over the years.

For this particular concert, Schwager, with a career spanning over 40 years, has proven to be one of Canada’s leading jazz artists, while making his mark internationally.

He is a four-time winner of Canada’s National Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year, and is on five Juno Award winning albums.

In 2021, Schwager was invested with The Order of Canada “for his indelible contributions to the Canadian jazz scene as a leading guitarist and composer.”

He has led bands playing all of the country’s major jazz festivals and stages and has performed with Canadian greats Diana Krall, Oliver Jones, Dave Young and Peter Appleyard

From 1994 to 2004, Schwager performed around the world as a member of the legendary George Shearing Quartet

He can be heard on more than 200 recordings and is on the 1996 album Velvet and Brass by

Mel Torme and Rob McConnell, which won a Grammy Award

For the April 23 WJCS event, Schwager performs with Windsorites Michael Karloff, piano and Mike Palazzolo bass, with Detroit’s Chris Tabaczynski on sax. The program includes originals and hits made famous by George Shearing.

Port Windsor is the lead sponsor of this Spotlight Concert. Other WJCS sponsors include: WFCU Credit Union, Culmone Law, The Friends of The Court, Dr. Frank and Maria Csik, Long and McQuade Musical Instruments, Greater Detroit Jazz Society, Rock Bottom Bar and Grill, Biz X magazine, WRCJ FM 90.9, and AM800

Advance tickets are $30 or $35 at the door. Tickets are available only at the Mackenzie Hall Box Office in person, or by calling 519-255-7600 for credit card orders.

Find out more information about this event and upcoming jazz concerts on: WindsorJazzConcertSeries.com.

May 13, 2023: Celebrating Women In The Choral Arts

The Windsor Classic Chorale is excited to announce its first concert for 2023 — Celebrating Women in the Choral Arts.

From Hildegard de Bingen in the 12th century, through to the present day, women have made a significant contribution to choral music, which has often been overlooked.

In support of the women behind these compositions and their contributions, the Windsor Classic Chorale is proud to present a program of entirely female composers.

This one-night-only event is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 at the Salvation Army South Windsor Citadel, 1201 Grand Marais Road West. A reception immediately follows the concert.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at: WindsorClassicChorale.org.