Saskatoon Fall Music & Dance 2016

FALL MUSIC & DANCE 2016

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FALL MUSIC & DANCE 2016

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SASKATCHEWAN MUSIC FESTIVALS ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS CONTENT WORKS

After last year’s tremendous performances by Saskatchewan artists at the National Music Festival, three of them – William Boan and Brendan Catalano of Saskatoon and Abby Fuller of Regina – are going back to try and improve their fortunes. The national festival will be held in Edmonton August 13 to 15.

The 2015 nationals turned out to be one of the most successful by a Saskatchewan festival team ever.

Pianist Godwin Friesen and percussionist Bryan Allen were judged first in their classes. Violinst Boan and woodwinds player Brendan Catalano were judged second in their classes. Trumpeter Fuller and musical theatre performer Griffin Hewitt were judged third in their divisions. Once an artist wins a national award, he or she is not allowed to qualify again.

This year’s provincial playoffs were held in June at the University of Saskatchewan and the festival judges once again declared a strong team.

Saskatoon is sending four: Boan, pianist Gloria Yu, guitarist Stephen Davis and percussionist Fraser Krips. Catalano will be playing with the BEAM Quartet, which entered from Rosetown. The others

are lyric tenor Spencer McKnight from The Battlefords in voice, alto saxophonist Vanessa Klassen of Kindersley in woodwinds, Fuller in brass and Jake Heisler of Moose Jaw in musical theatre.

Two choirs, AVE, conducted by Melissa Morgan of Regina and Campbell Spirit, conducted by Russell Baird of Regina, will also have their work adjudicated nationally.

Joanne Peng, a violinist from Moose Jaw, was the winner of the Sister Geraldine Boyle gold award of $1,000, during the awards program at the Saskatchewan finals.

She also received the Fred S. Mendel Memorial prize of $400.

Godwin Friesen took the Wallis Memorial silver award of $750 in addition to the Anna Klassen Memorial award of $400. Catherine Benoit of Lloydminster won the Blanche Squires Memorial bronze trophy and $500 as well as the Wallis speech arts scholarship.

Other winners in the grand awards concert were Krips in percussion, Heisler in music theatre, Catalano in woodwinds, Fuller in brass and Emma Johnson of Regina in voice.

More than $25,000 in schoarship prize money is awarded at the provincial finals.

Provincial winners from Saskatoon in voice included Siarra Riehl

Canada’s best young musicians will compete in Edmonton at the 45th annual National Music Festival, August 13 to 15. Team Saskatchewan will represent our province at the national competition. Pictured from left to right are: Megan Bauman and Brendan Catalano from the Beam Quartet; Stephen Davis (guitar); Abby Fuller (brass); William Boan (strings); Fraser Krips (percussion); Gloria Yu (piano); Spencer McKnight (voice); and Vanessa Klassen (woodwind). Missing: Jake Heisler (musical theater). P HOT O: ST EP HEN NICHOLSON

and Olivia Guselle (each twice); Kateryna Khartova, once in solo and with Yuli Chen in lieder piano; Gabriel Benesh; and Jayden Burrows. In piano, Eleanor Chen was a three-time Saskatoon winner.

Friesen and Sophie McBean also won events.

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FALL MUSIC DANCE 2016 EDITOR

J E A N N I E A R M S T R O NG

W R I T E R S J E N N I F E R JA C O BY- S M I T H H I L A RY K L A S S E N K R I S TA O L F E RT DA R L E N E P O L AC H I C PAU L S I N K E W I C Z M I K E S H I P L AC K

Watch for the second edition of Fall Music & Dance in the August 19 edition of Bridges, distributed with The StarPhoenix.

THIS SECTION WAS CREATED BY CONTENT WORKS, POSTMEDIA’S COMMERCIAL CONTENT STUDIO.

Other winners from Saskatoon were Hannah Lissel-Decorby on violin, Amos Friesen on cello, Glenna Lindgren on oboe, Nicole Toews on flute, Catalano on alto saxophone, Krips in senior percussion and Sam Boot in intermediate percussion.

Since 1908, the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association has staged a major role in the development of a classical music festival of the highest standards. The process wouldn’t work so smoothly without the support of major sponsors like SaskTel, PotashCorp and Business for the Arts as well as gifts in kind from the University of Saskatchewan’s music department and Yamaha Piano Centre. There is continuing support from Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.

The beauty of the festival system

is that it is built on grassroots.

This year, the Saskatoon festival attracted 7,000 participants, about 6,000 of them from school choirs and bands, as well as a substantial number of individuals. There were 213 scholarships awarded, with a total value of $27,975. Making the Saskatoon festival work were 157 volunteers, who donated 916 hours.

The Saskatoon Kinsmen are prime donors of scholarships.

This year’s main recipients in piano were first-prize winner Sophie McBean and runner-up Gloria Yu; in voice, first-prize winner Siarra Riehl and runner-up Gabrielle Benesh; first-place strings performer Jerry He and runner-up Brandon Johnson; and first-place instrumentalist Brendan Catalano, Silas Friesen (second) and Fraser Krips (third).

FALL MUSIC & DANCE 2016

Students of Registered Music Teachers benefit from workshops and recitals, as well as opportunities to win awards, scholarships and perform.

Ge t ty ImaGes

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students and exam medalists in the annual RMT Spring Recital.

While not hosting this year, the Saskatoon Branch always has a strong representation at the Provincial Registered Music Teachers’ Association Convention – held in Regina in October. There are also many other performance opportunities for students throughout the year.

In November, there are numerous events planned as part of Canada Music Week. In May of 2017, RMT members will play a huge role in supporting many students entered in the Saskatoon Music Festival and other competitions.

For monthly meetings, Workshop Clinicians throughout the upcoming year include Alyssa Thompson, Raena Barnes, and Lynette Sawatsky. Topics such as using technology in the studio and creative ways to encourage students to compose their own music will be explored. It is a very exciting schedule designed to provide educational and performance opportunities for both teachers and students!

To find a teacher in your area, or to learn more about Registered Music Teachers please check the Association’s website at www. srmtasaskatoon.com.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by chris Kelly and bonnie nicholson, wiTh The sasKaToon regisTered Music Teachers’ associaTion.

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Registered Music Teachers promote progressive ideas in music education The Saskatoon Registered Music Teachers’ Association (RMT) is an organization of professional, dedicated, energetic, and qualified teachers within your community.

RMT members teach a variety of instruments and related theoretical subjects, from beginner to the most advanced levels. Each Registered Music Teacher holds at least one degree or diploma from a University, Conservatory or recognized school of music. RMT members are also committed to continuous professional development. The Association’s objectives include promoting progressive ideas in music education, encouraging professionalism in the art of teaching, and stimulating a high standard of music and culture.

The student of a Registered Music Teacher benefits from a variety of performing opportunities, workshops and recitals with visiting artists, and opportunities for awards and scholarship support.

During the 2016/2017 season, many fabulous events are planned for Registered Music Teachers, students and the community. The Saskatoon Branch is very proud to present the Young Artist Concert on October 6. On March 19, the Association will showcase its

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Healthy Dancer Canada conference comes to Saskatoon J e n n i f e r Jac o by- S m i t h

Healthy Dancer Canada is hosting their ninth annual conference in Saskatoon this September. It’s an opportunity for dancers, educators and health care professionals to brainstorm and connect with the latest dance research. Ge t t y Im aGes

This September a unique conference is coming to Saskatoon.

Healthy Dancer Canada is hosting their ninth annual conference in Saskatoon – the first time in the Canadian prairies. The conference will be held Sunday, Sept. 25 and is open to everyone – dancers, dance educators, dance scientists, health care professionals and dance families.

The conference will be a day of lectures, workshops, presentations and performances. It’s a chance for professionals, educators, artists and wellness promoters to come together to discuss the latest knowledge and practices for promoting health through dance.

“Every year, our conference boldly challenges current dance culture and traditions,” says Jennifer Bezaire, conference organizer.

“The presentations and workshops demonstrate thinking outside the

box and inspire participants to creatively apply the knowledge and skills that they gain to their own lives and day to day practices.”

This year’s theme, Dancing Through Life, will examine the impact of dance practices on the health of individuals and the community. Dance encompasses all aspects of a person – physically, cognitively, emotionally and psychosocially – and therefore has an impact on their overall health.

The Healthy Dancer Canada conferences offers a chance to explore the theme through a variety of presentations and performances.

Attendees can brainstorm fresh ideas and creative expression. The conference also allows attendees to network within the greater dance community, while earning continuing education and professional development credits.

The Conference starts off with a welcome reception on Saturday afternoon. Local artists Ashley

Johnson and Sherron Burns will facilitate the Saturday afternoon event. Their presentation on Sunday, Dance in a Small World, will highlight the importance of dance and movement in early years classrooms.

Other presentations this year will include Ballet as Somatic Practice, the Body-Self of the Ballerina, Dance Learning: Learning Dance, Somatic Principles in Dance, Embodied Memory and Kinesiology as Facilitators in Dance Teaching, and The Breakalign Method.

There will also be performances of new work by some of the presenters. Saturday night will feature the WIP New Dance Series hosted by FreeFlow Dance Theatre Company. Sunday’s conference has panel discussions with presenters and other special guests.

One of this year’s highlights will include a performance called Loops and Crinkles choreographed

by Regina senior Canadian dance

artist, Connie Moker Wernikowski.

The contemporary dance work features a multigenerational quartet danced by Connie, Connie’s daughter Katrina Currie, and Connie’s granddaughters Evelyn Currie and Elle Wernikowski.

“Loops and Crinkles celebrates the intrinsic human spirit that moves us to dance at all ages.

They’re definitely throwing a few loops and crinkles into preconceived cultural notions about appropriate age and timeline for dance as well as challenging our cultural norms concerning who can dance together,” says Bezaire.

The annual conference is important for the dance community. It connects dancers with the latest research and with different forms of creative expression.

“As a creative art form, dance is continually evolving. There are so many varieties of dance practices for any body at any age to choose from,” says Bezaire.

Healthy Dancer Canada’s ninth annual conference, Dancing Through Life, takes place at Dance Saskatchewan Inc., September 25, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday’s conference includes breakfast, snacks and lunch catered by Citizen Café. For more information or to register visit www.healthydancercanada.org.

Free Flow Dance Centre strives to make dance accessible and enjoyable for all The Free Flow Dance Centre is an adult dancer’s paradise nestled in the heart of Caswell Hill at 224 25th St. W. This beautiful converted church space features hardwood floors spectacular for dance and specializes in a variety of adult dance, fitness and movement classes.

Proud to be considered a Body Positive Zone, Free Flow Dance Centre encourage students of all experience levels to enjoy and participate in dance classes. This fall, the studio will offer an exciting range of classes – from Contemporary Dance to Burlesque. Their instructors are all professionally trained artists who have many years of experience working with students as well as performing.

Free Flow Dance Centre is also home to the professional performance company and charitable organization, Free Flow Dance Theatre as well as Desert Beats Belly Dance and The Rosebud Burlesque Club. The company also features regular sessions with Saskatoon Acro Yoga and monthly dances run

by Saskatoon Lindy Hop. Studio space is available for rent and the facility plays host to a number of special events throughout the year including an International Dance Day Celebration, Rosebud variety show nights, intimate dance performances, the Works in Progress New Dance Series, spoken word and poetry presentations, theatre shows and small musical ensembles. Free Flow Dance

Centre’s space may be perfect for your next event or fund-raiser. To learn more, call Free Flow Dance Centre and arrange to stop in for a tour.

Many movement workshops by both local and visiting instructors are held at the Free Flow Dance Centre, ranging from stage make up to Afro Cuban dance to medieval dance to hula hooping. The feature workshop series is The Brain Body Connection, a professional development series for dancers which is free of charge and offered at a variety of times annually. A full roster of upcoming classes and a list of upcoming events is available online at https://freeflowdancecentre.wordpress.com/ Free Flow Dance Centre endeav-

Free Flow Dance Centre offers dance classes for students of all experience levels. The centre is also home to the professional performance company, Free Flow Dance Theatre, which entertains audiences throughout the year. s u ppl Ie d p hot o

ours to advance dance as an accessible art that can be experienced, appreciated and enjoyed by all. For more information, contact director Jackie Latendresse at freeflowdance@hotmail.com or by phone at

306.665.5998. In the meantime, keep dancing across the universe!

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Jackie laTendresse, direcTor of free flow dance cenTre.

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In 2017, Lyell Gustin Recitals celebrate Canada 150 The 2017 Gustin Series marks our country’s 150th birthday with superb Canadian-born performers from stages national and international: from Quebec, the unique ensemble Flûte Alors!; from Germany, renowned pianist Janina Fialkowska; and returning to his hometown from Chicago, rising star cellist Oleksander Mycyk.

The season opens with the nation’s only professional recorder quartet, Flûte Alors!, Friday, February 3. Dynamic and versatile, the Montreal-based group is noted for audacious programs and stunning

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performances of wide-ranging repertoire. Flûte Alors! continues the grand tradition of the recorder ensemble in Quebec, delighting audiences with the remarkable capabilities of their instrument.

The quartet has been featured at many festivals, in tours with Jeunesse Musicales du Canada, and on stages in France, Germany and the United States. Flûte Alors! will perform “Bach’n Jazz” as a co-presentation of Gustin House and Prairie Debut.

World-renowned pianist Janina Fialkowska gives an all-Chopin

recital on Monday, April 3, 2017.

An artist of rare distinction, Ms. Fialkowska is celebrated for her magnificent lyrical sound, technical mastery and sterling musicianship. She concertizes around the globe and has appeared with the foremost orchestras on this continent and abroad. Known for performance of classical and romantic repertoire, she is one of the great interpreters of the works of Chopin and a champion of the music of Liszt and 20th century Polish composers. The Canadian-born artist, now residing in Bavaria, is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

This is a recital not to be missed!

The 2017 summer recital on Tuesday, August 22 features prize-winning cellist Oleksander Mycyk, performing music from the gloriously expressive string repertoire. Mr. Mycyk has appeared in concerts in Canada, the United States, Israel and Scandanavia.

He is a guest orchestral musician with the Chicago Symphony, and recently took part in organizing and presenting a gala performance involving 200 cellists. Having attained degrees at the University of Toronto and McGill, he is presently

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studying toward a Doctorate in Cello Performance at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he works with distinguished pedagogue Hans Jørgen Jensen.

Meanwhile, one recital remains in the 2016 Series: acclaimed violinist Kerry DuWors and collaborative pianist Futaba Niekawa perform on Tuesday, August 23. Their program includes Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata and works by Copland, Szymanowski and Lili Boulanger. As duo526, the artists recently released the CD Ballade; they have just returned from a European performance tour. Ms. Niekawa is active as a solo and ensemble pianist, improviser and harpsichordist. Ms. DuWors, currently completing her Doctorate in Violin Performance, is originally from Saskatoon and is now on faculty at Brandon University.

Concerts in the Lyell Gustin Recital Series are held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 436 Spadina Cres. East, 7:30 p.m., with a preconcert talk at 6:45. A season pass is available for all three recitals of 2017, with single tickets separately priced; children 12 & under, free if accompanied by an adult. Sea-

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Janina Fialkowska, international superstar pianist, gives a recital of Chopin’s best-loved works in the Lyell Gustin Series, April 3, 2017.

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son passes/tickets are available at McNally Robinson, Yamaha Piano, Saskatoon Music Academy, Gustin Committee, or at the door. Tickets for DuWors-Niekawa on August 23, 2016, are also available at the locations listed above. For information, call 306.653.8889 or visit www.gustinhouse.ca.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Joan halmo wiTh GusTin house.

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SASKATCHEWAN A HOTBED OF MUSIC CREATIVITY: SMA M I K E S H I PL AC K

It’s everywhere! No matter the size of the town. Be it a strip of music venues that line a city block, or the local bar-hotel-restaurantliquor-store-only-place-openpast-6 p.m. And chances are that group of musicians only traveled a few hundred kilometers out of their way to play for anyone who will listen, buy a CD, or at least stream them later online.

And just like those small towns or big cities, there is a community behind the scenes that supports these road-weary musicians. There’s the tour manager who books the venue, the sound engineer who mixes the albums, and even a publicist who writes the bio that finally tweaks the venue owner’s interest.

All of these people have likely worked with or learned something from the Saskatchewan Music Association (SMA). For the last 30 years, the SMA has nurtured the talent of thousands of artists and the supporting community of professionals who create and produce Saskatchewan rock, folk, hip-hop, metal, country, jazz, indie, and even classical music.

And the world is taking notice.

“We try to offer workshops that touch on every component of the industry. We also help with the Creative Saskatchewan business grants,” explains Lorena Kelly, SMA communications and operations manager since 1997. “Many [workshops] are artist-focused like how to market yourself, how to use social media properly, or how to be a songwriter. We’ve also done events like a producer master class where we brought a master producer into the studio so our members have the opportunity to learn from the best. We also engage with publishers. Basically, we try to offer something that touches on every component of the industry.”

So what about all those kids who dreamed of making music a career, but couldn’t carry a tune or a gui-

Saskatchewan is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Creatively it’s always been ahead of the curve.

M I C H A E L D AW S O N , E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r, S M A P H O TO : M AT T R AM AG E

Megan Nash performs at a SaskMusic showcase during Folk Alliance 2016, in Kansas City. P HOT O: MAT T SMIT H

Dale McArthur, Mark Schmidt and Eric Taylor collaborate on a song under the guidance of Juno-winning producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda during the SMA Songwriting Master Class held this year in Dundurn. PH OTO: S M A

tar? There are plenty of opportunities, and SMA represents and supports all four categories of the music industry. According to their website this includes: 1. Creation (songwriters, lyricists, composers, writers, and directors); 2. Interpretation (musicians, vocalists, arrangers, conductors, and producers); 3. Technical (sound engineers, stagehands, tour support, studios, and computer techs); 4. Administration and Delivery (managers, promoters, lawyers, marketing directors, record labels,

music publishers, accountants, retail, media, venues, multi-media, agents, film and video producers, media duplicators, graphic artists, publicists, photographers, and distributors).

“A major part of what we do in our workshops, and when working with artists, is to teach them an understanding of the current state of the industry so they can become an artist entrepreneur,” explains Michael Dawson, executive director of SMA since March 2015.

“At the moment in the digital realm, there are people making

lots of money off digital content and that money isn’t reaching the artists. This is among emerging artists, and does include new artists as well. We are about building that awareness so that artists know what they’re getting into with digital services, and it is complicated.

On the other hand, it does help build an audience, so it’s important for them to understand and know their place in it.”

With the help of the SMA, talent seems to finally be bursting out of the hundreds of kilometers that make up this province’s seams.

Bands like The Sheep Dogs from Saskatoon won their way onto the cover of the Rolling Stone back in 2011. Andy Shauf just returned home to Bienfait from a fourmonth tour of Europe, after signing a two-album record deal with Arts and Crafts Canada and Anti Records in the U.S. And this June, Regina’s own Amy Nelson was selected to represent Saskatchewan in the Canadian Country Music Associations 2016 Spotlight Performance Contest.

“Saskatchewan is a hotbed for creativity and it’s finally getting

the recognition it deserves. Creatively it’s always been ahead of the curve… Organizations like Creative Saskatchewan, and historically the Saskatchewan Arts Board, are always helping artists to develop strong business plans and ideas.

I think the results are starting to show and this means that it’s getting out into the world,” says Dawson.

So what’s the best way to support the artists and the industry at home?

“Live shows still bring in the best dollars, and going to live shows is the best way to physically support your artist,” explains Kelly. Not to mention the dozens of other people like the sound guy, lighting crew, roadies, manager, publicist, and the list goes on.

So the next time you’re driving past one of those Saskatchewan bars mentioned earlier, and you hear the hum of an amplifier and the roar of an unruly crowd, do yourself a favour: stop, listen, and then pay the cover. This might be the last time you get to see this Saskatchewan band before they hit the big time.

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S A S K AT O O N S TA R P H O E N I X

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Visit our website: www.recservices.usask.ca and click on our Fall/Winter Activities Guide

With a repertoire that extends from the classics to contemporary compositions, the Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra delights audiences with several performances throughout the year.

Su p plied pho t o

Saskatoon Philharmonic enhances city’s music culture The Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra is an adult community group that provides an experience for those who are interested in orchestral playing. Started in 1997, it is a full orchestra, with a full complement of strings, winds and percussion. Players bring a strong desire to play well, whatever their level of playing, as well as a commitment to rehearse and perform. The music is selected so that all players can be involved.

The Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-profit organization and is operated by a Board of Directors. George Charpentier conducts the group.

The Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at the Saskatoon Concert Band Hall, 238 Avenue V North. Rehearsals will begin on Monday, September 12, 2016.

Two concerts are scheduled for the 2016 – 2017 season: January 21 and May 6.

The orchestra has been very successful since it started, performing two or three

REGISTRATION begins Monday, August 15, 2016 by telephone (306) 966-1001 or in person Room 222 PAC. Office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Come in and see our facility.

R.A.D. BALLET, JAZZ, TAP, HIGHLAND, HIP HOP, CREATIVE DANCE, MUSICAL THEATRE, DANCE FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

concerts a year. Their repertoire includes orchestral standards, light classics, popular music, as well as contemporary compositions and arrangements. Canadian, Saskatchewan, and Saskatoon composers and arrangers have been featured many times.

The orchestra regularly accompanies local musicians as soloists, and has toured out of the city.

There are openings in all string sections of the orchestra. Winds and percussion should contact the orchestra about openings. There is a membership fee. New members are welcome throughout the year. There is no formal audition. Prospective members are also welcome to join the orchestra for a rehearsal.

For more information, please email saskatoonphilharmonicorchestra@gmail. com, or call (306) 306.242.3916.

For further details, visit their Facebook page or the website at www.saskatoonphilharmonic.com.

This sTory was conTribuTed by GeorGe charpenTier, conducTor of The saskaToon philharmonic orchesTra.

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Saskatoon Salsa students set to take flight When you hear the words “Saskatoon Salsa,” an overseas journey may not spring to mind, but that’s exactly what 20 students of the city’s premiere Salsa school are preparing for.

Since 2009, Saskatoon Salsa’s Havana Dance Excursions have been a draw for students interested in immersing themselves in the culture in which the dance was born, and this year is no exception.

Though the thought of immersive dance might seem intimidating, the annual trip caters to every demographic and experience level.

It’s an inclusive attitude that Saskatoon Salsa prides itself on.

“The vision of our studio is to create opportunities for everyone to dance, regardless of age, ability, body type, or background,” ex-

plains Saskatoon Salsa owner and Instructor Kimberley Parent.

“The Havana Dance Excursion allows us to provide this unique dance immersion opportunity to virtually any adult student, beginner to advanced.”

While in Havana, each student works with a professional Cuban dancer trained at the prestigious Instituto Superior de Arte. Parent’s hope is that the trip experience will help attendees foster a life-long love of Cuban dance, music, and culture – a goal that certainly seems realized for many of her students who have signed up repeatedly for excursions abroad with Saskatoon Salsa.

In fact, student Deb Black is looking forward to her seventh trip! “We learn Cuban Salsa here

at home,” she explains, “but there isn’t much opportunity to dance it socially since there are so few men who dance this style of Salsa in Saskatoon.” And though Black now dances the night away with ease, she didn’t go in with a leg up.

“Prior to joining Saskatoon Salsa, I had no previous dance experience, my sense of rhythm wasn’t great, and I was at an age where picking up choreography was not that easy.

None of that mattered.”

Student Wendy Thiessen is only in her second year with the school but says dancing with Saskatoon Salsa and traveling to Havana for dance has her in awe of how a person can step out of their comfort zone and find a renewed zest for life.

“I’m now in performance groups,” she gushes, “I never dreamed I

Saskatoon Salsa offers an annual Havana Dance Excursion, where participants can immerse themselves in the Cuban culture and learn salsa moves with professionally trained Cuban dancers. P hot o: SaS kat oon SalS a

could ever do that – I started dance at age 54! I absolutely love it! Dance not only works your body but also exercises your brain.”

Parent says joining the Havana Dance Excursion is as simple as filling out a registration form and putting down a deposit with the

travel agency. Complete beginners are welcome to sign up or for those more comfortable learning some dance at home first, Saskatoon Salsa’s fall registration is now open online. Visit their website at saskatoonsalsa.com to get started on your dance journey today!

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Kimberly ParenT, owner of sasKaToon salsa.

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EVERY GREAT DANCER MUST TAKE THEIR FIRST STEP

Step into La Danse with: LINDA ERICKSON Jazz Director

The Fireside Singers’ Christmas Memories show has become a favourite tradition with Saskatonians. P ho to : S te P h e n n i c h o l S on

C.D.T.A Stage Division

Fireside Singers promise an entertaining season The Saskatoon Fireside Singers once again anticipate many exciting appearances and performances in the coming months. They have enjoyed TCU Place as a great facility equipped with skilled visual and audio technicians offering tremendous opportunities to stage engaging performances in a professional setting.

Three major Fireside SingersTCU Productions are slated for this dynamic 100-voice choir under artistic director, Marilyn Whitehead.

The choir is comprised of present and former students from the Whitehead Studio, ranging from age seven to adult. Whitehead has also invited gifted singers studying voice with accomplished former students and colleagues.

Whitehead has been approached to collaborate with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra to produce a concert featuring a journey through the eras of best-loved show-stoppers from numerous Broadway musicals. The concertstyle “On Broadway” performance, October 15, will feature powerful choral numbers, passionate solos, delightful ensembles as well as classy Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra overtures under the baton of Maestro Eric Paetkau.

Anticipate leaving the theatre humming some of the most famous show tunes from Showboat, Oliver, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and many more! Tickets will be available September 1.

Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra season ticket holders can reserve seats now.

Final preparations are under way

for the Fireside Singers’ Christmas Memories performances December 17 and 18. Audiences have made this inspiring, eclectic performance a Saskatoon tradition each Christmas. These productions showcase many of Saskatoon’s renowned soloists, supported by a refined orchestra of internationally acclaimed instrumentalists. Returning are Guy Few, Allen Harrington, Kerry DuWors, William Boan, Martin Janovsky, Randi Nelson, Terry Sturge, Darrel Bueckert, Brent Blazieko and Doug Gilmour along with Bonnie Nicholson, pianist and orchestra director, Albert Couture, Stage Manager and Kelsey Stone, Choreographer.

The 44th annual Christmas Memories production will feature best loved seasonal and sacred songs representing every genre from classical to pop music. Audiences anticipate hearing traditional Christmas favourites as well as songs inspiring hope, faith and courage.

Producing a show of this magnitude requires the support of a huge volunteer base behind the scenes.

The Fireside Singers sincerely appreciate the dedication of the many who share their time and talents.

The Spring Musical will be staged at TCU Place June 1 and 2, 2017.

The Fireside Singers’ astounding Broadway productions have drawn tremendous acclaim for their powerful performances, featuring compelling lead characters and an outstanding chorus. An exciting and demanding year lies ahead for the Fireside Singers and they are up for the challenge.

HEATHER MYERS Tap Director C.D.T.A. Stage Division

HAZEL-ANN STARK Ballet Director A.R.A.D. L.R.A.D.

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this article was contributed by marilyn whitehead, director of the fireside singers.

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Abiding Lines dances across the prairies K i r a O l f e rt

Abiding Lines Dance Company (ALDC) just completed a successful third season with sold-out shows in both Saskatoon and Prince Albert, showcasing the talent of some of the best and most dedicated dancers in the province.

ALDC is the brainchild of Kara Dubyk, a Saskatoon dance teacher.

She created the company for a number of reasons. “There are very few opportunities outside of competition for most dancers to perform for an audience. I wanted to give dancers with a real passion for performing the chance to do so without the pressure of being judged.” She adds, “for dancers over the age of 18, once they’ve aged out of competition, ALDC becomes a performance outlet for the pre-professional dancer.”

And so, ALDC is compromised of dancers from the ages of 13-27.

This wide age range benefits both older and younger performers.

While the older members are given the chance to continue dancing in productions in front of an audience, the younger dancers, says Dubyk, “get to learn from the experience and skill of their older peers. It is such a positive learning environment, and you see so many amazing relationships forming.”

Abiding Lines Dance Company showcases talented dancers from across the province. Director Kara Dubyk works with dancers ages 13 to 27; older dancers help to mentor younger members of the troupe. phot o: Abiding l ineS dA nc e c o m pA ny

To promote this growth in her younger dancers, Dubyk sets up mentorships between the older and younger performers. “The mentors are dedicated and hard working, and this passes down to the younger dancers.”

Dedication is a must for any of the company’s members. Although ALDC is based out of Dance Saskatchewan Inc. in Saskatoon, dancers come from all over the province to audition for a chance to perform with the group.

In past years, Dubyk says members came from communities as far

away as Tisdale, Wilkie, Lanigan, Prince Albert and a number of other small towns. “These are people who are driving quite a distance to work with us.”

Auditions are held in September, and after the roster is set, rehearsals are held every Sunday from September until June. For the two weeks prior to each performance, rehearsals are held every day. It is a lot of work, Dubyk admits, explaining that “in each of our full-length feature performances, there are between 25 and 30 different routines.

The dances are put together so that

they tell a story. Our dancers need to be able to learn and master the choreography and the emotion very quickly.”

For their dedication and hard work, dancers come away with much more than improved dance skills. “Our dancers are responsible for all of the backstage duties for each of the performances. So, along with choreography and performance skills they are also learning about what goes on behind the scenes in a production. They learn about how every aspect of a performance is important and vital to the

end result.”

Response to the group has, says Dubyk, “been fantastic! There isn’t anything else like what we’re doing in the province. We have a lot of people who come back year after year to see us. That feels amazing. As does the amount of people who maybe come along just to see a loved one perform but then end up genuinely enjoying the show. We see that we are reaching an audience beyond the dance community and that is really gratifying.”

Going forward, Dubyk hopes to continue expanding Abiding Lines. The 2017 performance tour currently includes shows in North Battleford, Prince Albert and two nights at Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre. With growing popularity, she hopes to keep giving dancers a platform to express themselves.

And that, she says is important because “dance can enhance the connection between art and community.”

Auditions for the 2017 season with Abiding Lines Dance Company will be held in Saskatoon on September 10. For more information, dancers 13 years of age or older can contact the company via email at abidinglines@hotmail.com, online at www.abidinglines.com or on Facebook or Instagram.

Saskatoon Men’s Chorus unites in rich harmony

Singing in four-part harmony, The Saskatoon Men’s Chorus performs a diverse repertoire of works every season. S u p p l i e d p hoto

Since 1980, the Saskatoon Men’s Chorus (SMC) has been bringing together lovers of four-part male harmony and has built a reputation for its rich sound and varied and accessible repertoire.

Singers from Saskatoon and surrounding communities come together for a weekly rehearsal from September to April and several public performances annually.

Under the leadership of Deborah Buck and Lynn Driedger, the Men’s Chorus presents two December and two April concerts in the city and in a nearby community. The

music performed ranges from traditional – such as sacred classical works, folk songs and spirituals – to more contemporary choral arrangements, music theatre and popular music. Although most of the chorus’ repertoire is in English, they sometimes sing in other languages such as Latin, German and French.

This year, the Saskatoon Men’s Chorus will present an Advent concert on December 11 and a Spring concert on April 23, both at beautiful Grace Westminster Church.

SMC also is honoured to perform

each year at the Remembrance Day Service at SaskTel Centre and enjoys the chance to sing at various community centres and churches.

New members of all ages are always welcome to join SMC. For contact information, the fall schedule and other details, visit www.saskatoonmenschorus.ca.

If singing in the chorus interests you, call either Deborah Buck (306.652.0379) or Lynn Driedger (306.220.0812).

This arTicle was conTribuTed by deborah buck of The saskaToon Men’s chorus

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SYO performance to combine evocative music and readings Conductor Richard Carnegie feels very strongly about programming traditional orchestral repertoire for the young players of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO).

Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky – the works of these composers form the foundation of a proper orchestral education.

But introducing new music to the world is also a mandate of the SYO, says Carnegie. So the coming season will see two significant new pieces performed by the orchestra.

The first is Letters for Home – a three-movement work by UK composer Peter Meechan to commemorate the start of the First World War, and the role that was played in the war by the ‘Accrington Pals’.

As the initial call for volunteers

went out in 1914, groups of friends from all walks of life in Accrington and its neighbouring towns enlisted together to form a battalion with a distinctively local identity.

The music frames the story of their fears, thoughts and hopes as the young men faced war.

According to Meechan, before each movement will be a reading.

These may be a letter sent from the front, a soldier’s poetry, thoughts and reflections recorded elsewhere, or new words, written by local poets, schoolchildren or others.

The Saskatoon Orchestral Association has provided a grant so the SYO could commission Meechan to arrange his 2014 brass band composition for full orchestra.

“I find the piece interesting be-

The Saskatoon Youth Orchestra not only nurtures the talent of young musicians in our city, the SYO also has a mandate to introduce new music to the world. The upcoming SYO season promises to fulfill both mandates.

Ph oto: SY o

cause of the opportunity to source local writings reflecting on war and conflict,” Carnegie said. “In particular, I’d like to explore having school-aged children write for this project.”

The first movement, ‘The Bittersweet Love Song,’ is the story of a soldier saying goodbye to his loved one before leaving for war.

The opening passages are of the soldier, perhaps putting to the back

of his mind the danger he is facing, singing a love song to his wife or girlfriend.

The second movement, ‘The Trench’, combines bravado in the opening percussion before we hear fear and trepidation in the brass, and ends with a call to battle with gunshots from the percussion.

The final movement, called ‘In Memory’, is a slow lament which offers a repetition of the love song

motif from the first movement while representing the cyclical nature of war.

“Peter Meechan has written a powerful piece of music made all the more poignant when you realize the musicians who will be playing it are the same age as those who went off to war,” Carnegie says.

A second new piece the SYO will play in the coming season currently exists only in the mind of a young composer.

The SYO has again commissioned a new work by a Saskatchewan composter under the age of 25. It comes with a $500 award and will be played by the full orchestra in the spring concert.

“It is part our mandate to encourage and play new Canadian orchestral music,” Carnegie says.

“I’m thrilled that one of our own young talents from this province will get an incredible opportunity through this competition, and that others will be encouraged to keep working on their craft.”

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Paul sinkewicz, on behalf of The saskaToon youTh orchesTra.

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Making music with a pencil

Competition inspires next generation of Composers Pau l S i n k ew i c z

Each year, aspiring young musicians around the province get the chance to put their thoughts and feelings down on paper.

The Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers’ Association (SRMTA) holds a composition competition aimed at encouraging the creative process of writing music.

The opening line to Marissa Hart’s composition Painting the Sky perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the endeavour: ‘In the distance, if you can see, a blank canvas waiting for me.’

The Yorkton pianist won the 2016 competition in the ‘15 and Under” category for her work. She had won in the 11 and Under category just the year before.

“We want to encourage future composers,” says Marjorie Moldon, co-ordinator of the competition. “If they start young, they may continue for the rest of their lives.”

Moldon is a piano and voice teacher in Wadena. The Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations administers the competition with provincial organizations like SRMTA. The winners from each province advance to the national level.

Scholarships are awarded to winners in each category, and the Helen Dahlstrom Award is given annually to the best national composition as selected by the adjudicator.

The Saskatchewan competition has been around for at least 20 years, Moldon says. “You do encourage your students to do this, but they need to have the desire to do it, too.”

Moldon has a student who really enjoys composing and will just sit at the piano and come up with new music. It’s very gratifying for Moldon to be part of that develop-

The Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers’ Association (SRMTA) holds an annual composition competition aimed at encouraging the creative process of writing music. G e t ty I m aG e s

ing skill. “And she will probably continue doing that her whole life.”

She encourages all of her students to improvise, and maybe add some jazz elements to a piece, or do other little things to change the music a little bit.

She says an aptitude for composing depends on the personality of player, but if they learn the theory of composition, they have more opportunities to be creative with their own music or in arranging existing music.

For example, a student can take a traditional hymn and come up with a new arrangement. It’s a way of unlocking music from the past and giving it new life.

“It’s a great competition for teachers and students. And we certainly enjoy seeing them respond. And some of them are going on to more training in composition.”

The SRMTA Composition Competition gave Alexander Tosh an outlet for his creativity, and now he is planning on going forward with it as a career.

Tosh is the 2016 winner in the “19 and Under” Category for his work for solo clarinet entitled ‘Bending.’

He is now set to begin his studies at the UBC Department of Music

this fall as a composition major.

“It’s quite exciting, and little bit scary,” says Tosh, 18. “But a lot of good composers have come from that program, and one of the instructors is Dr. Stephen Chatman, one of the most prolific Canadian composers. I’m hoping to learn a lot from him.”

Tosh submitted pieces for piano, clarinet and string quartet for the SRMTA competition. He starts by working out an interesting melody and then working around it to develop chords and phrases, and will play around with variations on the melody.

He plays piano, double bass and percussion, but composing is his true love.

The possibility of developing a career composing for the screen figured into Tosh’s choice to attend UBC, with the TV and movie industries so active on the West Coast.

“I would love to compose for movies. To hear my music on the big screen would be interesting,” he says. “I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities there.”

The deadline for the SRMTA competition is in early April. Check the website at www.srmta.com in early 2017 for more information.

FALL MUSIC & DANCE 2016

Saskatoon String Ensemble transforms events into special moments The Saskatoon String Ensemble is a flexible and versatile entertainment service. This ensemble of professional musicians will perform any kind of music, anywhere, for any kind of event, with any number of players.

They most often perform as a string quartet, but can expand to a small string orchestra, or can downsize to a trio or duo for smaller locations and budgets.

Their extensive repertoire includes the traditional classical repertoire for string quartet, as well as arrangements of jazz standards and contemporary music. They really can play anything from Bach to Beethoven, Gershwin and Cole Porter, Argentinian tangos and Scott Joplin, right on up to the entire Beatles songbook, themes from the movies, and contemporary songs and soft rock.

The Ensemble will take special requests and then make arrangements of almost anything and they have had some unique requests!

Recent weddings have featured groomsmen arriving to music from Star Wars and couples exiting their ceremony to the music of Viva la Vida by Coldplay. Weddings with a theme such as Beatles music, Disney songs, or only music from the movies, are also popular trends.

Book early for 2017 to avoid disappointment – as they performed

at over 50 weddings in 2016!

Saskatoon String Ensemble can play at large and small venues, indoors or outdoors. They can easily move locations during an event – such as from the ceremony to the cocktail reception, and then on to the dinner.

There are a multitude of possibilities for potential events where the Ensemble can provide live music including cocktail parties, dinner parties, birthdays, anniversaries, proposals, christenings, conferences, product and company launches, theatre productions, awards ceremonies, and art exhibitions, to name just a few. The Ensemble is only limited by your imagination!

Music promises to enhance the desired mood at a function: fun, lively, jazzy, romantic, formal, traditional, reflective, soft, regal, majestic, or jubilant.

Inspired live music performed by the Saskatoon String Ensemble will transform events into special moments with distinction and an experience of lifetime.

Bookings can be made online or by telephone. Call Marla Cole at 306.292.6811 or 306.384.7464.

Check out the website at: www. saskatoonstringensemble.com.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Marla cole, direcTor of The saskaToon sTring enseMble.

The Saskatoon String Ensemble can elevate any event with superbly performed live music. From Bach to the Beatles, Scott Joplin to Star Wars, the Ensemble can perform any special request. sup p lIed p hot o

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For over 65 years, the Saskatoon Concert Band has performed at numerous special events, in addition to four scheduled concerts a year. Comprised of many of the city’s finest community musicians, the Saskatoon Concert Band plays a challenging and varied repertoire, ranging from orchestral arrangements to easy listening selections. S u p p l i e d p h oto

Saskatoon Concert Band offers opportunities to perform challenging music The Saskatoon Concert Band has been a part of the music community of Saskatoon for over 65 years. If you are looking for an opportunity to play challenging and interesting music, picking up your instrument again, or an adult beginner, one of these bands may be what you are looking for.

The Saskatoon Concert Band started in 1949 as the 23 Wing Band of the RCAF. In 1959, the band became the Kinsmen Concert Band.

In the mid 1960s, part of the band formed the H.M.C.S. Unicorn Band.

In 1982, the group became known as the Saskatoon Concert Band.

John Schoen was the founder and conductor of the group until 1996.

Besides all the years of concerts, the group has performed at many special community events, including Royal visits. It has showcased local, national, and international performers. The band has commissioned a number of works for concert band.

The Concert Band will be performing on October 22, February 4 and April 29, at Lighthouse Victory Church. The annual outdoor concert will be June 21. The Concert Band will also be performing at Sundog Handcraft Faire and Remembrance Day Services. Auxiliary Band concerts will be held on December 4 and June 4, at GraceWestminster United Church.

“We own our rehearsal hall at 238 Avenue V North. We are completing our major renovations this summer, and we now have a facility that is a dedicated rehearsal space, designed for music groups,” says George Charpentier, conductor of

the Saskatoon Concert Band.

Starting this fall, the Concert Band will rehearse on Wednesday evenings, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The group serves many of Saskatoon’s finest community musicians and performs a wide variety of challenging band repertoire, ranging from orchestral transcriptions, to contemporary wind music, to light, easy listening. This group gives four concerts a year, and performs at other events and festivals.

The Auxiliary Band rehearses on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. It is for players who are looking for a less intensive schedule, are adult beginners, or are returning to playing after a time away. This group also performs a wide variety of musical genres and gives two concerts a year. Nick Todd is the conductor.

Rehearsals begin Tuesday, September 6 for the Auxiliary Band, and Wednesday, September 7 for the Concert Band.

There are openings in both groups, in all sections. There is a membership fee, and members also volunteer for other band related activities, including serving on the board of directors. New members are welcome throughout the year.

For more information, call 306.242.3916, or email saskatoonconcertband@gmail.com. You can also find the group at www. saskatoonconcertband.ca and on Facebook.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by GeorGe charpenTier, conducTor of The saskaToon concerT band.

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Creative Kids helps youngsters discover true potential Funding allows kids who couldn’t otherwise afford it take music, dance, theatre or art lessons J e n n i f e r Jac o by- S m i t h

Getting your kids into sports can be a costly endeavour, but so can getting your kids into artistic activities. Music lessons, dance classes, art classes, theatre training, cultural experiences can sometimes be beyond the budget of many families.

Creative Kids is a charity devoted to financially supporting Saskatchewan families so they can pursue art, music, dance, culture or theatre.

Established in 2010, Creative Kids has helped more than 4,500 children in 176 communities across

the province. They’ve granted over $2 million in funding for kids to pursue artistic and creative dreams.

“Some kids don’t necessarily want to play sport, but they want to participate in art and can’t afford it because lessons are expensive,” says Christie McCulloch It’s not just the lessons themselves. Art classes can require art supplies. Dance classes require costumes and shoes.

“Not every kid that goes through Creative Kids or that gets funding or takes a music class will grow up to be a famous musician or a fantastic

actor,” says McCulloch. “But what it all does universally for every kid that goes through our program is it helps form them into wonderful adults that contribute to the community.”

McCulloch adds participation in the arts can boost self-esteem and give kids a sense of belonging. It offers a chance to make new friends and expand their social network to include those with similar passions.

Performances for music and dance also give participants the chance to showcase their talents and skills. “And it makes their par-

ents proud,” McCulloch notes. “It feels so amazing as a kid.”

There is an application process for each family requesting funds.

Applicants must demonstrate financial need. The applicant is also required to get the application signed by an endorser – someone not related to the family and not the service provided, such as a teacher, social worker or pastor – to vouch for the family as a good candidate for support.

Application forms can be found at www.creativekidssask.ca.

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Kids fall into five main categories – music, dance, art, culture, and theatre. McCulloch says, the organization doesn’t have a list of approved programs because art can be very subjective. “The activity itself needs to be artistic, cultural or creative in nature.”

For anyone who wants to support kids in Saskatchewan and their participation in arts and cultural activities, Creative Kids is a registered charity. Donations can be made through a secure link on their website.

The organization has had the support of Hollywood actor Kim Coates. Earlier this year, Coates hosted the third annual Creative Mayhem in his hometown of Saskatoon to raise money to support Creative Kids.

“Kim has been great. He’s been really supportive of Creative Kids right from the beginning. He’s gone above and beyond to help us raise money so we can continue to support kids in Saskatoon right where he’s from,” McCulloch says.

While having a big name back their cause is helpful, McCulloch says the organization is currently searching for principal sponsor.

Creative Kids, it should be noted, is also a program of Sask Culture, which covers 100 per cent of the administration costs associated with operating the program. This means all private donations and corporate sponsorships goes straight to funding kids who apply to the program.

“If someone gives us a $100, they know for sure that entire $100 is going back out to support the kids who apply to our program. None of our sponsorships or donations goes to the admin costs,” explains McCulloch.

The India Canada Association of Saskatchewan will host their annual fundraiser the 34th India Supper Night, on Sept. 24, at the Centre of the Arts in Regina. This year the Association has chosen Creative Kids to be their recipient charity.

For more information visit www. creativekidssask.ca. Liking them on Facebook is the best way to keep up with latest news and upcoming events at Creative Kids.

FALL MUSIC & DANCE 2016

Kids of Note founder hopes to share message of inclusion through documentary K i r a O l f e rt

Kids of Note and The Notations are one-of-a-kind choirs based out of Saskatoon that integrate typically abled children and children with different disabilities for one common goal – to make music.

The choirs are a labour of love for well-known Saskatoon entertainer Brenda Baker. In 2003, Baker gave birth to daughter Tori, who had Downs syndrome. “Music has always been such a big part of my life, and I wanted Tori to have that opportunity as well. However, I came to realize that children with Downs and other disabilities would not necessarily do their best in regular choirs. Some might have issues with standing for all that time or with focus or with other behavioural issues. But at the same time, I couldn’t imagine music not being a part of Tori’s life.”

Kids of Note held their first practice in 2005, with integration being a goal from the beginning. The choir had 16 members and focused on simple songs and simple instrumentation, and performed for family and friends. However, says Baker, “it soon became apparent that these kids were capable of so much more.”

Kids of Note soon became known for their highly entertaining shows, and stuck with its model of half the singers being typical, which often includes siblings of differing abilities.

“So many times in families where one of the children has a disability, the focus and attention is on that child, or family activities focussed mostly on those with special needs.

An unexpected benefit of Kids of Note is that we have created an opportunity for both siblings to take part in the same activity, where they get equal attention and at the same time, get to spend time with similarly abled peers.”

Baker says that, as far as she knows, the integrated model used for Kids of Note and The Nota-

tions (which is for youth and young adults) is unique in the Englishspeaking world. And although she is proud of what Saskatoon has, she wants to see the idea of a typical and differently abled integrated choir catch on in other places. To do this, Kids of Note and The Notations are currently raising funds to help pay for the production of a documentary about the choirs. It will fea-

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ture performance footage as well as testimonials from parents and participants.

The reasons for making the documentary, says Baker, are twofold. “First, for our own purposes, we want to have this film for our archives. But much more importantly, we want to use the documentary as a way to do outreach and to introduce the world to our choir, and to the possibility that they too could have a choir like this.”

Once the documentary is complete, and if sufficient funds are raised, Baker and the team behind Kids of Note and The Notations would like to produce a number of shorter-length videos that are instructional in nature, that will “help walk other people through the how and why of establishing these choirs.”

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Inevitably, there are costs that come with such an undertaking.

“We want to hire professionals, and we need to pay royalties for the pop songs we sing.” In order to raise the money needed to complete the documentary, Baker has set up a fund-raising page at Generosity.com.

One of the things Baker hopes comes through in the documentary is how much everyone involved gets out of working with the choirs. “It is such a privilege for myself and the other adults involved to watch how much the kids grow. Whatever their ability, when you give a kid a solo or let them direct part of a song or let them emcee a program, it gives them a chance to show what they can do, and you get to watch their self esteem grow. And we’ve had parents tell us that singing has helped their kids with articulation

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and other speech issues.”

For the adult volunteers and parents, says Baker, “It’s a gift to be able to participate in helping these kids become fully who they are meant to be. It’s really exciting to watch.”

Baker is hoping that new groups in other parts of the world will take their lead from Kids of Note and The Notations and experience the gift themselves.

Kids of Note and The Notations are currently accepting new members. The cost to participate is $200 per child, or $175 per child in families where more than one sibling participates. If you have any questions about registration or would like to inquire about volunteer opportunities or to donate to the documentary project, visit http:// kidsofnote.com. The deadline for the fund-raiser is September 30.

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AmAndA HAgel’s stAr rising After Album releAse Album portrays life’s rush of emotions J e a n n i e a r m s t ro n g

Music has always been a form of self-expression for Amanda Hagel. Growing up on the family farm near Lancer, Saskatchewan, her life revolved around music – whether she was strumming the guitar her brother gave to her and taught to play, writing her own songs, or entertaining on stage with her older siblings’ group, The Chokecherry Band.

Hagel continued to hold onto her dream of a career in music after moving to Saskatoon and obtaining a kinesiology degree from the University of Saskatchewan.

She has gone on to become one of the province’s leading certified personal training specialists. “I see the importance of having established a career in another area of my life that I’m very passionate about: fitness. Helping people to improve their health and wellbeing is something I find really rewarding,” says Hagel.

She also formed a band with fellow fitness consultant, Curtis Korchinski, named Branded Honey.

The five-piece country rock band established a loyal following, playing gigs ranging from weddings to festivals.

Close to two years ago, Hagel achieved another milestone in her music career, recording and releasing her debut album, Rush.

“This album is another one of those aspirations that I’ve been working towards all my life,” says Hagel.

It took three years for Hagel to write and record the songs for the album, joining forces in the studio with award-winning Saskatchewan producer Bart McKay. Describing the album, Hagel says,

“It covers the rush of emotions that life brings: the ebb and flow of emotion, the ups and downs... from the euphoria of falling in love, to heartache and loss.”

Since releasing Rush, Hagel’s musical star continues to soar. Over the last 18 months, four of the songs were released as singles, receiving radio air play across Canada. The first to hit the airwaves was “Back Seat Everything.”

“The first time I heard it being played was on the country station out of Yorkton: GX94. It was such a thrill. I was driving my car at the time, so I had to make sure I didn’t crash!” says Hagel.

“The next time I heard it was on CJWW, which was a big moment for me, because I had grown up listening to that station.”

The second single, “Before We Call It A Night,” was released in conjunction with CBC Radio’s 2015 Searchlight competition. CBC listeners were invited to vote for their favourite new artists. Hagel was named the regional winner for Saskatchewan and ranked among the top 23 performers in Canada, winning out over 3,300 participants.

“The national recognition was fabulous. It was all based on votes and fan support,” says Hagel. “It was great exposure and a really fun experience. Knowing that your music is being heard beyond Saskatchewan – on the east coast and the west coast – is so amazing!”

Hagel followed with the release of “Come On, Say It Again” in the fall of 2015. “Then in January 2016, I released “If I Had To Stop Loving You.” Music videos accompanied three of her singles, visual portrayals of

Hagel’s heart-felt songs.

“The feedback I’m getting is that people like that my music sounds authentically country. The music comes from my roots, and expresses a style of country that is organic and natural-sounding – the country music I grew up listening to.

People also tell me they like that my music has a story to tell and that they’re connecting to those stories,” says Hagel.

The national recognition was fabulous. Knowing that your music is being heard beyond Saskatchewan – on the east coast and the west cost – is so amazing!

AmAndA HAgel

“My ultimate goal is to create music that is meaningful and inspiring.”

Hagel’s love of entertaining is evident every time she takes the stage. The release of her album has led to exciting performance opportunities.

Last fall, she opened for country music star George Canyon, at his Saskatoon concert. “He’s always been one of my favourite Canadian country artists. To meet him and open for his show, that was a huge

Since releasing her debut album, Rush, Saskatchewan country singer Amanda Hagel has had four singles hit the radio air waves. In the past year, she’s achieved a number of career milestones: being named the Saskatchewan winner of the 2015 CBC Searchlight competition; opening for country star George Canyon at his Saskatoon concert; and being invited to perform at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards. P Hot o: AmA ndA H Agel

milestone for me,” says Hagel.

This spring, Hagel was invited to perform at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards. “I was invited to be part of three different showcases: the Songwriters’ Circle, the New Artists’ Showcase, and the weekend Gospel showcase. Having that recognition from the industry and my peers was so important!”

Hagel continues to create and perform. “This summer, I’m releasing three new singles, accompanied by music videos. They’re three of my favourite cover songs that I’ve performed over the years.

The songs reflect some of the other genres I’ve been influenced by, like rock and pop, but I get to put my country spin on them. They’ll be available on a variety of digital platforms, like iTunes.”

In December, Hagel will release an original Christmas single and music video and stage a series of Christmas shows. Five concerts are booked so far, with stops in Saskatoon, Rosthern and Swift Current.

To keep up to date with Amanda Hagel’s new music releases and show dates, visit www.amandahagel.com, or “Amanda Hagel Music” on Facebook.

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Music festivals iMpacted this student’s life J e r ry H e

Coming from a small city, one wouldn’t expect a very active music community. And yet, Saskatoon defies all expectations with a fantastic symphony, a brilliant music program at the university, and countless musicians keeping the arts alive and well. Nowhere is this more evident than during the Saskatoon Music Festival.

To give all these young musicians an opportunity to perform is truly an invaluable gift. The ability to acquire outstanding adjudicators year after year to continue and encourage our musical growth is something we should all be thankful for. And finally, the professionalism and organization of the Music Festival Committee who keeps

everything running smoothly, without whom everything would be as chaotic as nerves before a performance. In all my years as a participant, I have never once experienced an inconvenience at the Music Festival.

I started violin at the age of five as part of a school program in the U.S. My parents thought I would quit after a few weeks, but 12 years later, I’m still holding a fiddle in my hand.

I’m currently studying with the remarkable Robert Klose, who has shown me just how vast the world of music is. Just this year, I started working as a sub for the Saskatoon Symphony and played in my favourite concert to date: Beethoven’s 9th. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to perform that piece, but the Symphony and University

choirs pulled off a transcendent performance right in our hometown. I also play in the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, which gives young musicians a rare chance to play in a full orchestra and learn amazing repertoire.

In my opinion, music is one of the most difficult careers to pursue. I have seen innumerable young musicians who have convinced me beyond a doubt that musicians are among the hardest working people there are. But the audience only sees the tip of the iceberg. Whether it’s a three-minute showpiece or an hour-long concerto, nothing can fully represent the blood, sweat and etudes that produce a stunning performance. On top of it all, most players experience some degree of anxiety before a perfor-

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.

Pl at o

mance. Over the years, I have tried to pinpoint what this pre-concert fretfulness stems from, whether it be fear of playing a wrong note, or that your audience won’t like your playing. Only now do I believe it is the worry that you will not be able to fully represent your love of your instrument and of the music. Of course, the best weapon to combat that fear is right in front of you: music can calm the nerves of those playing music.

Now it might seem like the life of a musician is bleak and terrifying, but it’s really the exact opposite.

Music is the ultimate embodiment of human emotion and passion, and it becomes evident in a good performance. It is the universal language, and transcends all differences. It is the quintessential expression of diversity, yet it speaks to us all. And only musicians have the privilege of giving this experience to others. Music isn’t work, it’s pure and indescribable joy. We should be incredibly thankful for the rich fine arts community we possess here in Saskatoon, and to those who will carry the torch into the future.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Jerry he, on behalf of The saskaToon Music fesTival.

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Chamber Singers performances resound in meaning Under the direction of James Hawn, Saskatoon Chamber Singers introduces its 39th season of concerts. An auditioned group of between 28 to 35 singers, Saskatoon Chamber Singers has played a major role in the choral community in Saskatoon for close to four decades. Accompanied by Rod Epp, they perform four concerts a year at Knox United Church and each concert is performed twice, once at 2:00 and then again at 7:30.

As has been the tradition for the past 20 years, Saskatoon Chamber Singers will open its 2016-2017 season on November 11 with a program of music and readings appro-

priate to Remembrance Day. This concert will be entitled “Lay a Garland” and honours all those who have died, be they military or civilian, and puts a special emphasis on peace and acceptance. As always, the Act of Remembrance is a central part of this concert. The title of the concert comes from a beautiful madrigal that begins “Lay a garland on her hearse of dismal yew.” Other selections on this concert include Cantate de la Paix (Darius Milhaud); Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing (Herbert Howells) which was written in commemoration of the death of John F. Kennedy; In Paradisum (Timothy Corlis) for

choir, piano and saxophone; and The Day is Done (Stephen Paulus).

The women will be featured in a piece called Instrument of Peace (Kelly-Marie Murphy) while the men will perform When You Are Old (Stephanie Martin), both by Canadian composers. Guest musicians will include Sheldon Corbett and Dean McNeill.

One month later, on Sunday, December 11, the choir will present its second concert of the season “Repeat the Sounding Joy.” Performing Canadian choral music has always been an important component of the choir’s programming. This concert is a good example of that. It will be in three parts and consists entirely of music written or arranged by Canadian composers. The first part is a single work called A Cappella Christmas Cantata by Vancouver composer and arranger Larry Nickel. It is a set of 15 original carols that retell the age-old story of Christmas in a new and innovative way. Mr. Nickel wrote this piece for the Faith Builder Chorale, an Amish group that performs all its music without accompaniment. The second part will be an old-fashioned sing-along of some of the more familiar carols of the season with Janet Wilson at the organ. The third part will consist of carols, old and new, that repeat once again the joy, mystery and magic of the Christmas season.

On Sunday, March 5, the choir

will perform another Canadian work called “Song of the Salish Chief”, which was last presented in Saskatoon 25 years ago. Peter Berring was commissioned by the Vancouver Centennial Committee to write this piece for the city’s 100th anniversary celebrations. The text, from a little-known radio play by Canadian poet Earle Birney, describes “the life of the Salish people from the point of view of an aging chief. It describes joyful hunts and potlatches and concludes with the sadness of a dying nation through contact with the white man.” The piece is scored for choir, narrator, piano, flute, double bass and multiple percussion instruments.

“The work is filled with syncopated rhythms, softly coloured harmonies and poignant word painting.”

In many ways, this is a very relevant piece following the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Also on the program will be another work by Berring called A Canadian Rhapsody as well as other selections that follow a similar theme, including Eatnemen Vuelie (an old Silesian folk melody with music and text by Frode Fjellheim/ arr. Emily Crocker) and Iroquois Lullaby (Stephen Eisenhauer).

A “Double Treat” will be the final concert of the season and will held on Sunday, May 7. As the title might suggest, this concert will feature music for double choir – two choirs of SATB voices. Plans are

under way to have a guest choir, hopefully the Greystone Singers under the director of Jennifer Lang. Stay tuned for further details! Featured music will be selections from Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Choir and J. S. Bach’s motet, Komm, Jesu, Komm. Other music will be motets by composers Heinrich Schűtz, Johann Pachelbel, Johannes Brahms and Healey Willan.

The concert will conclude with an uplifting composition by American composer Dan Forrest called To the Lamb on the Throne, which is accompanied by brass quintet, organ, and timpani.

Inquiries about auditions are always welcome; contact James Hawn (jhawn@shaw.ca) or call 306.249.3398. There are not always openings, but having a list of perspective people makes the selection process easier and faster when the need arises.

Ticket information and more information about each concert will be available on the Saskatoon Chamber Singers’ website (www. saskatoonchambersingers.ca). Season passes are now available online or by mail (visit the website for details) at a discounted rate of four concerts for the price of three. The website also has a section devoted to other choral events in the city.

This arTicle was conTribuTed by James hawn, direcTor of The saskaToon chamber singers.

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A new season, a new perspective for Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra H i l a ry K l a s s e n

With one season as director of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) under his baton, Eric Paetkau barely took a breath before beginning to plan the next. This maestro’s passion for music is contagious.

Paetkau goes into the 2016-2017 season armed with first-hand knowledge of his orchestra. “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the musicians so well and developing a relationship that keeps growing and growing,” says Paetkau.

The season is marked by exciting innovations that signify the SSO’s vision to become a leading orchestra in Canada. An impressive roster of Saskatchewan and Canadian talent can only strengthen that new direction.

“There are 11 soloists from Saskatchewan this coming season and all of the rest are Canadian!” says Paetkau. “We’re not only proud to have such a ‘home-crowd’ showing, but we’re delighted there are so many world-class musicians we can choose from that hail from this province.”

The Master’s Series opens epically with Charles Richard-Hamelin.

“Having the silver medalist of the Chopin Piano Competition, one of the world’s top competitions, join us for opening night will be astounding,” says Paetkau. “Rich-

ard-Hamelin is already a star whose extraordinarily musical playing is something special and rare.”

Thomas Yu, a home-town favourite, is back. Yu is fresh off a win at the Cliburn International Amateur Piano Competition in Fort Worth, Texas, where he was seen sporting a cowboy hat. He was named CBC’s first Piano Hero last year. Yu teams up with Godwin Friesen for a piano duo performing The Carnival of the Animals. Friesen placed first at the National Music Festival finals in 2015.

The return of Brahms to the SSO repertoire this season will feature Jonathan Crow’s debut with the SSO. “Jonathan’s violin playing is stunning and will knock your socks off with one of the greatest concertos ever written. He is a phenomenal talent who became concertmaster of the world-famous Montreal Symphony at age 23!,” Paetkau says.

Clarissa Klopoushak grew up playing in the SSO and is back for her SSO solo debut. Saskatoon soprano Kateryna Khartova joins her for the Master’s Ukrainian Oratorio. Other concerts feature Saskatoon violinist Timothy Chooi and the SSO’s own percussionist, Bryan Allen, in a celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. Jan Lisiecki is back as well.

Paetkau says his baton may be

Eric Paetkau says his first season with the SSO was excellent and he is excited to share more exceptional music with Saskatoon’s ‘wonderfully engaging and adventurous concert goers’ in the upcoming season.

Ph oto: S S o

replaced by a light saber when Star Wars takes the stage. The Pops Series concert will feature the music of John Williams. The force will be with the all in the hall.

Also in the Pops Series, ‘On Broadway’ presents the music of some great classics, a Grinch-

style Christmas is in the cards, and ‘Careless Whisper,’ the music of the 80s, features the music of Prince, the Go-Gos, The Eurythmics and George Michael.

The Saskatoon Symphony is launching two new series. One is a rediscovery of baroque music.

Paetkau says the SSO wasn’t playing much of it and they wanted to fill that gap.

“There’s such a depth of masterful treasures from this period that we couldn’t help but share them with Saskatoon and at the same time widen the repertoire and experience of the SSO musicians.”

The other is the “After Dark” series which pushes the boundaries of what a concert is.

“These shows have an almost lounge-like atmosphere to them,” says Paetkau. “Listening to really interesting new music played in a casual and intimate setting with funky lighting and cocktails gives the audience member a feeling of being completely involved in the entirety of the fresh performance.”

These are exciting times for the SSO. Beautiful concerts with great repertoire are the end result of an exciting vision and sense of direction that is shared by Paetkau and executive director Mark Turner.

Paetkau says there are so many elements that make it all work and drive that vision.

“Each and every one of those excites me – the orchestra musicians and their passion, the world-class soloists, the enthusiastic audience, the new partnerships we’re making with various Saskatoon groups and the driven administrative team and board.”

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U of S Amati Quartet plans spectacular 14th season The University of Saskatchewan Amati Quartet performs on four rare string instruments crafted in Italy in the 17th century by members of the Amati family. Experience these exquisite Amati instruments in the spectacular setting of Knox United Church on October 10, November 5, January 14 and March 18. In the spotlight will be the musicians of the Amati Quartet, who are now in their 14th season: Marla Cole (violin), Rudolf Sternadel (violin), Geoff Cole (viola), and Terence Sturge (cello).

Featured throughout the season is repertoire that can also be found on the Amati Quartet’s new CD con-

taining ten individual string quartet movements by Joseph Haydn as well as the Piano Trio in G, the ‘Gypsy Rondo’ with pianist Samuel Deason.

Season 14 begins with the fourth annual Thanksgiving Monday concert on October 10 devoted to showcasing sensational young musicians in Saskatoon performing double concertos: William Boan, Carmen Cole, Solveig Deason, Amos Friesen, Simone Friesen, Emmett Fortosky and Brandon Johnson. New to this traditionally Baroque concert are four short works by living composers: Steve Reich, Ludovico Einaudi, Philp Glass, and Arvo Pärt. The majestic

P hot o: AmAt i QuArt et

Sinfonia Concertante by Mozart will be performed by Marla and Geoff Cole in a version for string sextet. The grand finale is Grieg’s Holberg Suite for string orchestra in which the Baroque dance forms are transformed with sparkling romantic spirit.

The second concert follows soon after on November 5 with two rarely

heard Haydn quartets. The Adadio movement of Op. 54, No. 2 is an unusual composition from Haydn suggesting a passionate Hungarian lament. Haydn’s Op. 1, No. 3 is a delightful early work that starts with a beautiful duet for the two violins in the opening Adagio movement. The mystical music of Quartet No. 3 by

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Philip Glass is from the composer’s own score to a film about the life of Yukio Mishima. Beethoven’s last complete work was the Quartet in F major, op. 135. A curiously short, playful romp that signs off with the words of the composer, ‘Must it be?

It must Be!’ On January 14, the Amati Quartet presents three famous quartets by Haydn, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.

Haydn’s Op. 77, No. 1 contains two movements with nationalistic themes – the first movement a Hungarian recruiting song and the last movement a Croation round dance.

Mozart’s brilliant Quartet in D minor, K.421 is operatic in nature – complete with scenery, characters, ironic asides, laughs, hiccups, and sighs. Tchaikovsky’s first quartet is the first noteworthy Russian chamber music; it contains one of classical music’s greatest hits: the Andante.

According to Tchaikovsky’s own diary, it moved Tolstoy to tears.

Spectacular Saskatoon-born pianist Samuel Deason joins the Amati Quartet to perform two iconic works for piano and strings on March 18.

The Schubert Quintet, nicknamed ‘The Trout’ after one of Schubert’s own songs, has a distinctly Hungarian Gypsy flavour in the finale, as does the Brahms Piano Quintet in G minor. Rounding out the program is Haydn’s Op. 20, No.4 with the Minuet movement titled ‘in the Gypsy style’.

Concerts are at 2:00 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. at Knox United Church.

Tickets are available from the Remai Arts Centre box office by calling 306.384.7727 or online at www. persephonetheater.org.

For more details, visit www. amatiquartet.usask.ca (All dates, repertoire, and artists are subject to change.)

This arTicle was conTribuTed by Marla cole, direcTor of The aMaTi QuarTeT.

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Wilton Academy fills gap left by closure of U of S Community Music Education Program One year ago, the Community Music Education Program (CMEP) left the University of Saskatchewan’s Centre for Continuing & Distance Education after 30 years.

Nicole Wilton was a teacher with CMEP for 18 years, and managed the program for the past 12 years.

Last year marked a big change as Wilton took it on as her own business, opening the Wilton Academy of Music.

“This year was better than I could have expected,” says Wilton. “We had some initial bumps as we figured out venues. We had found some great spaces that we thought of as initially interim but they have turned out to be fantastic for CMEP clients and staff.”

The Wilton Academy of Music

uses the Albert Community Centre for weekday classes and the Montessori Children’s House (a private school) for evenings and weekends.

To continue delivering the Community Music Education program, Wilton employs the staff of 10 who came with her after the transition.

“This program is what it is mainly because of my staff. We are a very passionate, committed group of music educators who devote our careers to music education,” says Wilton.

“This is what we do – we teach music – so the level of instruction is top-notch. This is our most common feedback: what people love the most are our teachers.”

The Wilton Academy of Music offers a diverse and varied program,

including the following classes: Music for Mommies/Early Childhood Music for ages 0-3 years (weekly parented music classes).

■ Early Childhood Music classes for ages 4-6 (age specific weekly classes with Kodaly based curriculum).

■ Private lessons in: Piano, Violin & Guitar (both Suzuki & traditional) for all ages.

All classes are offered on both weekdays and on Saturdays.

Fall Registration is on now. For more information, visit www.wiltonmusic.com, or contact Nicole Wilton at 306.270.6494 or email cmep@sasktel.net.

■

This arTicle was conTribuTed by nicole wilTon, owner/direcTor of The wilTon academy of music.

When the U of S cancelled its Community Music Education Program, longtime instructor and program manager Nicole Wilton decided to continue the classes on her own, opening the Wilton Academy of Music. Sup p lied ph oto

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Strike up the band!

Making music boon to all: Saskatchewan Band Association Pau l S i n k ew i c z

It’s mid-July and Greg McLean is excited about the start of the 2016 Junior Band Camp in Saskatoon.

The executive director of the Saskatchewan Band Association (SBA) knows dozens of young players from all around Saskatoon and area will soon file into their first rehearsal with butterflies in their stomachs.

And after the last note of their final performance at the end of the week, they will take more knowledge, skill and confidence with them back to their own band programs.

That’s what the SBA is all about.

“The SBA has tried to position itself so it’s the support mechanism and the resource system for wind and jazz bands in the province,”

says McLean.

The organization began in 1983, and by the end of its first decade was running summer band workshops for developing players at Kenosee, Yorkton, Regina and Saskatoon.

Every year since, hundreds of students have enjoyed powerful, weeklong experiences that supercharge their love of band music.

“That’s very exciting and those have had a huge impact on kids.”

McLean, who was a board member with the SBA in the 1980s and 1990s, is proud of a recently developed program.

For the past three years, the SBA has formed a junior and intermediate honour band to develop young players. It’s a weekend honour band in both Regina and Saskatoon that includes players in Grades 7 to 10, that runs in the second or third

week of March. “That’s kind of a neat program,” he says.

But McLean points out that the SBA, and band music, is not just for the younger players. It serves 15 adult community bands around the province alone, as well as jazz bands and even pipe and drum bands.

The common denominator, according to McLean?

Music is a gift for everyone and anyone.

“I think active music making is valuable for all. It’s good for the brain for both young and old.

There are many musical benefits, but there are also intrinsic ones: motivation, success, a sense of accomplishment and the whole social aspect of team building, problem solving as a group and working toward a common goal.” s e e b a n d o n pa g e 2 4

The Saskatchewan Band Association recently held a summer junior band camp for young musicians at the University of Saskatchewan. P hot o: Pau l S in ke wicz

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Music Festivals offer many benefits Whether your music goal is to play for yourself in a closed room or to play at Carnegie Hall, some skill is required. Participating in a music festival not only helps develop musical skills but many other life skills as well.

Many times in our educational or work life we are asked to speak in front of an audience and get feedback from our superiors, teachers, and/or peers. We are also part of an audience countless times in our lives. Entering a music festival provides excellent practice in these skills. Participants learn to walk to and leave the stage in a professional manner, to perform under pressure, to listen quietly during other performances, to listen to constructive feedback and to realize that you don’t always win.

Listening to others perform and to the adjudicator’s constructive feedback to all performers enriches your understanding of your own and other’s playing and

of the music itself.

Audience members also learn from listening to the performances and the adjudication. The audience provides key support for our aspiring musicians.

Music soothes and inspires our soul. Music is woven into the very fabric of our lives. Music festivals enrich our understanding of music and help develop the next generation of musicians.

Be a participant, an audience member, a volunteer, a committee member, and/or a sponsor and

Music festival participants develop a wide array of skills.

share in the joy of inspiring our next generation of amateur and professional musicians.

More information about the Sas-

The Saskatoon Men’s Chorus

is a community group that practices on Tuesday evenings, and sings at a number of concerts and services throughout the year.

New singers are welcome; contact Deborah Buck (306-652-0379), Lynn Driedger (306-220-0812) or our website at www.saskatoonmenschorus.ca for more information.

for September

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This arTicle conTribuTed by Jane l. smiTh, publiciTy chair, saskaToon music FesTival.

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Listening to others perform and to the adjudicator’s constructive feedback enriches your understanding of your own and other’s playing and of the music itself.

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Saskatchewan Crush dancers draw from deep talent pool M i k e S h i pl ac k

On June 4, 2016, the Saskatchewan Rush took home Saskatoon’s first National Lacrosse League’s Champion Cup after beating the Buffalo Bandits in Game 2 of the best-of-three series. And cheering them on with a step, turn and a kick were the Saskatchewan Crush Dance Team — not to mention all the fans that showed up to pack the SaskTel Centre.

After moving the team from Edmonton to Saskatoon for the 2015/2016 season, the Rush continued their winning streak adding a second championship title under their belt. But winning isn’t everything.

Perhaps the biggest show stopper of them all wasn’t exactly the Crush team, or the championship game. It happened mid-season when over 50 young women, some as young as four years old, stormed the lacrosse field at SaskTel Centre for the halftime show. After a daylong camp, featuring some of Saskatoon’s best dancers, they all had a chance in the spotlight. And the Mini-Crush Dance Team, well, crushed it with cuteness.

“It was a super fun day! They got to spend one-on-one time with the dance team, had pictures taken, and were given t-shirts. We’ll definitely be doing it again for the 2017 season,” says Jennifer Ritchie, head coach and choreographer for Saskatchewan Crush.

It’s Ritchie’s job to ensure the Saskatchewan Crush team brings the fun and high-energy atmosphere to every home game. And it definitely became contagious. The number of loyal Rush fans only grew as the season continued triumphantly forward. During the playoffs, Saskatonians cheered, hollered and some even tried to dance along in hopes to hang another national championship banner in SaskTel Centre.

But it was up to the Saskatchewan Crush dance team to make sure it

was a party, and they did not disappoint.

“With a party high-energy atmosphere, we pick music that fits into that. That said, we also like to incorporate a lot of variety with lots of different dance styles. Our girls are incredible dancers and we like to showcase that. The high-tempo music also keeps the crowds and momentum going,” explains Ritchie, who also used to coach for the Saskatchewan Roughrider cheer team.

And showcase it they did.

Throughout the regular season, the Saskatchewan Crush dance team treated fans to everything from boot-scooting boogie country ballads to arena rock hits. They even had a whole game dedicated to the spandex, big hair, and neon highlights of the 1980s.

“Saskatoon has a very strong dance community so we drew from some fantastic dance studios to create our team… We’re talking about the top tier level dancers in the city [with 13 to 15 years dance training]. Most of those girls have a background in jazz, hip-hop, tap, contemporary, and even ballet training. It gives us lots of options to draw upon,” says Ritchie.

So what’s the plan for the offseason? The Crush team is hard

The Saskatchewan Crush dance team features top tier level dancers, says head coach and choreographer Jennifer Ritchie. S P f i l e Ph oto

at work preparing for another season of twists, turns, bumps, and shakes. As they continue to train, the dancers still live normal everyday lives. Some are getting ready for another semester at the University of Saskatchewan, while others are engineers, nurses and teachers.

And that’s makes the Crush team unique.

“There isn’t a ton of dance auditions happening in Saskatoon so we run a casual audition process. It’s not that intimidating, and we’re not kicking people out in the middle of it. I encourage anyone to give it a shot, before self-doubt creeps into your head. Come, show up, and you’ll have a good time – might even

At a Saskatchewan Rush game this spring, the Saskatchewan Crush dance team performed a fabulous half-time show with the talented brigade of Mini-Crush dancers. The Mini-Crush dance team will be back to wow fans in 2017. P h o to : S aS katch ewan cru S h

make the team,” says Ritchie.

Auditions are expected to start in mid-August. So no matter if you’re still in university, or juggling a career with a family, any woman can try out to be part of the team. All

you have to do is bring it!

For more information, visit the Saskatchewan Rush website (www. saskrush.com) and click “Crush” or contact Jennifer Ritchie at Jennifer@saskrush.com.

music is for everyone and anyone b a n d f r o m pa g e 2 2

“We talk of nine different intelligences that the human mind is capable of, and music is one of the few, if not the only, activities that exercises all of those nine intelligences. It is just wonderful for young and old alike.”

Another development of which McLean is proud, is the SBA’s support for SaskCulture’s Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative.

Now in its third year, the program promotes awareness, reaching out to people of diverse cultures – especially new Canadians and First Nations and Métis people. “We’re trying to make our program available to all,” says McLean, “We need to work to include everybody. That’s been exciting.”

The SBA works extensively with school directors at one level, and at another level have done training with SaskCulture to make communications with the public, advocacy

issues and things like registration forms, more relevant and to educate board members about the issues involved.

“We have a very diversified demographic here, and they bring a lot of different values and beliefs to the provinces, and so we need to know how to welcome them into these programs.

“I think what struck me most is that music is part of every culture.

Every civilization and culture has music, and so new Canadians want to get involved. It’s just a matter of making it possible for them.”

The SBA is administering the New Canadians Community Band Grant program where there is a one-time grant for new Canadians to buy or rent an instrument, to buy a uniform or just pay the registration fee to get involved.

“There are so many exciting things going on in the band community in the province, it’s fun to be a part of it.”

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Children’s Choir discovers that music crosses all borders Content Works

Within hours of their 20th anniversary celebration concert on April 16, members of the Saskatoon Children’s Choir found out they were going to travel again.

International travel has been a trademark with the choir, founded and directed by Phoebe Voigts.

Over the past two decades, the singers have set foot in Hong Kong, Austria, France, Spain, Ireland, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Wales and Germany. The trips are usually arranged every second year. In its last trip abroad, they performed in 2015 at the Grand Prix of Nations and European Choir Games at Magdeburg, Germany, achieving two gold medals.

The destination point in July, 2017, will be the Musica Eterna Roma International Choir Festival, where they will compete against the best European choirs.

Voigts says, “We will experience in Rome a global village of choral performers, common song, workshops, adjudicators, imagination and creativity.”

There is an invitation to perform as one of the two children’s choirs at a UNESCO-sponsored concert in Pisa. There will be other performances but also the opportunity to attend an opera and visit the

Coliseum and Vatican museums.

With the working title of “Many Hearts, One Voice,” Voigts says, “We have the conviction that music crosses all cultures and borders and that all young people can be a voice for peace, equality and global understanding.”

The anniversary concert grew into something bigger than anyone anticipated.

Given that 65 singers had promised they’d return for the concert, a change in venue was necessary.

They went to the Cathedral of Saskatoon’s Holy Family church.

Even in a larger space, the tickets in front of the stage sold out in three hours. Rush tickets went on sale at the edge of the space and those viewers got the benefit of watching big screen presentations, courtesy of Barndog Productions.

The alumni sang excerpts from Pergolese’s Stabat Mater, sang twice with the concert choir and joined all of the regular choristers in the rousing finale, Hymn To Freedom, an Oscar Peterson original which was arranged by Brian Unverricht.

Julie Hunchak, who sang with the choir from 2006 to 2011, came with fond memories.

“One of my favourite pieces of music is Song for the Mira. My favourite line from the piece is ‘and

above: The Saskatoon Children’s Choir will be competing against Europe’s best at the 2017 Musica Eterna Roma International Choir Festival.

RIGHT: Memorabilia from the past 20 years was on display at the Saskatoon Children’s Choir 20th anniversary concert which was held on April 16. Ph otos : sas katoon Ch i ld re n ’ s Ch oi r

if you come broken they’ll see that you mend.’ I remember dragging my feet on some rehearsal days but once I got to rehearsal, I would be glad I went and I would leave feeling refreshed and joyful,” she noted in her memories.

“Growing up with the SCC has allowed me to be the person I am today by inspiring me to be a person who works hard, spreads joy, shares love, stands up for what is right and empowers others to do the same.

“Through singing with the SCC, I came to the powerful realization

that regardless of age, race, gender, language, religion and background, people can connect with each other.”

From a starting point of two choirs in 1996, the SCC has grown into three for preparatory, apprentice and concert groups who are engaged in rehearsals and concert preparation virtually year-round.

Major performances came in the pre-Christmas season, and in the

spring, and they are performed at Knox United Church.

The main team consists of Voigts as artistic director, Michelle Aalders as accompanist, Kerry Agnew as preparatory accompanist, Rita McLeod as general manager and Galeen Willick as administrative manager.

To learn more about upcoming performances, visit www.saskatoonchildrenschoir.org.

Come Join!

TU-TU CLASS

Saskatoon Lions Band Marching Band Program

for your little ballerina (ages 3 and 4)

• • • • • •

Celebrating 63 Years!

Band Program includes - Uniform, music and instruction.

Minimum 1 year playing ability. For Ages 12-19 Sundays 1-3pm.

Colourguard - (Flag Twirling) No experience necessary.

Take part in Special Events and local Parades Pre-Registration - Please email on website www.saskatoonlionsband.org or call 306-249-5013 • Fundraising available for 2017 trip to Deadwood South Dakota.

• Come for fun, travel, entertainment and a great musical experience!

REGISTRATION: August 23rd, 24th and 25th (5:00-8:00 p.m.)

Classes Commence, September 6th, 2016 Eloise Sitter - Director

Examiner C.D.T.A.Tap and Jazz • Registered Teacher - R.A.D. Ballet

For Information or Registration:

CALL 306-242-5311

SASKATOON SASKAT OON

191 La Ronge Road, Saskatoon

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LIONS BAND

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Saskatchewan Express performers are a triple threat Da r l e n e P o l ac h i c

Empowering young people is the underlying goal of Saskatoon Expressions and Mini-Express which are part of Saskatchewan Express, a program that has been training preschool to young adult performers in Saskatoon for the past 16 years.

Lorna Batycki is studio and artistic director of Saskatchewan Express Saskatoon, which is comprised of two musical dance and theatre performance groups.

“Mini-Express is for ages 9 to 12,” Batycki says. “We’ve had children as young as 8, but we won’t go any lower because we want to keep it fun for the kids. Expressions is ages 12 to 16.”

Batycki says the musical theatre and dance training prepares students for a triple-threat performance of singing, dancing and acting. Each aspect is taught by professionals.

The Saskatchewan Express Saskatoon studio on Pacific Avenue also offers supporting dance classes in jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and musical theatre, as well as examination level classes in jazz and tap (which follow the Canadian Dance Teachers Association syllabus).

“We also do acrobatic arts training,” Batycki says. “It’s specially designed for dancers, as opposed to gymnastics.”

Besides instruction in singing and dancing, students learn communication skills and public speaking to increase their comfort and confidence levels before audiences.

Batycki says this is necessary because shows often include narration between songs. “Beyond that, public speaking and good communication are valuable life skills to have.”

The musical theatre studio produces plays and does two full musicals each year. This past season it did Legally Blonde and Dinosaurs Before Dark.

About 200 students were enrolled in Saskatchewan Express Saskatoon last season. Most took multiple classes.

“We start with 3-year-olds and go all the way up,” Batycki says. “We have an amazing adult tap group that’s quite delightful.”

Students choose from three levels of commitment. Those in the Recreational Program take a single class and usually participate in a musical theatre production or drama.

Their commitment is one rehearsal a week plus the performance.

The Competitive Program requires four to five hours of studio instruction each week, besides which students are expected to do additional practice on their own.

They participate in a minimum of two competitions plus involvement

in the year-end recital.

“We also have a Performance Program for both Minis and Expressions,” Batycki says. “Expressions are our main performance group and members devote at least four hours a week to rehearsals. Minis are like an apprentice group. They rehearse three hours a week. Both groups put in extra work on their own.”

Saskatoon Expressions has an ambitious performance program that includes as many as 50 performances a year. They also put together two full shows. One is a Christmas show which they perform a dozen or more times during the holiday season.

“The summer show features more contemporary music with the focus on a positive message,” Batycki says.

“The theme this year was ‘Alive with a Vibe.’ The troupe does six to eight performances of the summer show in schools. The music is upbeat and fun; the messages encourage young people to build up one another.”

The performance groups do outof-town gigs, as well. The Minis performed at We Day in Edmonton earlier this year, and both groups have been on stage with the Canadian Tenors over the years. Recently, they performed in New York on the USS Intrepid, took in workshops with Broadway professionals, and attended some Broadway stage

How do you like your

jazz?

content Works

Eight-time Juno nominee Michael Occhipinti introduces the Sicilian Jazz Project when he appears at The Bassment on November 19. Ph oto: M i c h a e l o c c h iP int i.coM

Classes offered by Saskatchewan Express prepare students for a triple threat performance of singing, dancing and acting. P hot o: S aSkat che wan e xP r eS S

shows.

Expressions and Mini-Express are regulars at the Festival of Trees and TeleMiracle, and have been involved in many other charity events.

They often perform in schools, including playing to non-traditional audiences like the students at John Dolan School.

“We look for opportunities to present a positive message and provide a good learning experience,” Batycki says.

Saskatchewan Express offers a

two and a half week summer camp program that includes eight days of rehearsals followed by stage performances at The Refinery.

Auditions are generally held in June. Candidates are asked to sing a song and put together a dance. “If the person has no dance experience,” Batycki says, “we’ll lead them through a simple dance routine to see how they move.”

For more information, visit www. saskatchewanexpress.com and click on the Saskatoon link.

How do you like your jazz?

Sizzling hot? Ultra cool? With a dash of folk or smothered in blues?

Whatever your taste in jazz, the Saskatoon Jazz Society’s (SJS) upcoming season is sure to satisfy.

Heidi Munro and the RealGroovyBand will open the Saskatoon Jazz Society’s 2016-2017 season at The Bassment on Sept. 10.

Munro, a one-time country specialist, has re-invented herself as a rhythm and blues artist and she’s just fresh from working the Bessborough Gardens’ mainstage at the SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival where she opened for the Downchild Blues Band.

The Stone Frigate Big Band has been selected to play on Sept. 17.

Louis Christ leads the band and has developed a lot of new and diverse repertoire to go along with the big band favourites. Stone Frigate Big Band counts heavily on the pleasing vocals of Robyn Knight.

SJS artistic director Don Griffith is relying on some favourites in returning roles and discovering some new touring acts in an effort to keep the Bassment humming with jazz on Saturdays, roots and folk on Fridays, and a good sprinkling of acts on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Bassment opened in 2009 in the lower part of the one-time Canada Post office on 4th Avenue and averages between 140 and 150 shows during its September-toJune season. s e e j a z z o n pa g e 2 8

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Saskatoon Opera earns national renown Da r l e n e P o l ac h i c

Saskatoon Opera (SO), once dubbed ‘the plucky little opera company,’ was launched 37 years ago by a group of opera-knowledgeable people from the local arts community.

Barbara Montalbetti, the company’s artistic director since 1999, has seen significant growth over the years.

“One of the things we strive for is professional quality,” Montalbetti says. “We hire professionals at all levels of production, especially people from Saskatoon or those with Saskatchewan connections, regardless of where they currently reside and work.”

Examples are singers Danika Loren, Whitney Mather, Chelsea Mahan, Philip Klaassen and Jordie Hughton who were all cast in last season’s mainstage production of The Barber of Seville.

Production personnel are almost exclusively professionals who live and work in the Saskatchewan Arts community.

“Mark Turner, the executive director of the SSO, for instance, is one of our partners,” Montalbetti says. “He came up with our Home for the Holidays fundraiser last year where we invited people who were ‘home for the holidays’ to come and sing with us.

Local professionals donated their services.

It was a tremendous success and generated a groundswell of warmth. We plan to do it again this year.”

Danika Loren (left), Clarence Frazer (centre), and Ernesto Ramirez (right) played leading rolls in Saskatoon Opera’s recent production of The Barber of Seville. F i l e ph o to/S tar phoenix

Saskatoon Opera has strong communication and marketing strategies in place. That, says Montalbetti, is due to Karen Reynaud, the SO’s tireless executive director who has established critical sponsor partnerships, “and galvanizes us all to action.” Also thanks to Reyaud, the SO has an on-line presence and a flourishing Facebook page.

One of the opera company’s primary objectives is outreach. Following discussions with smaller communities outside Saskatoon, SO has taken small operatic productions to several Saskatchewan communities and done public performances plus productions in schools through its Opera in Schools program.

“Opera is often viewed as an art form with

an elitist feel,” Montalbetti says. “Opera in Schools allows us to expose young people to this art form through productions that feature emerging young professionals. It’s a double reward for us because it provides experience for the emerging artists and offers another piece of the arts puzzle to young people who have never seen an opera before.

It’s wonderful to see how enthusiastically they engage and respond.”

The company spends about two weeks in May going to elementary schools. During the 2014/15 season, SO did productions in Biggar, North Battleford, Swift Current, Moose Jaw and Regina. Montalbetti says the company is grateful to major sponsors like TD Bank, Potash Corp, StarPhoenix and Saskatoon

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Kinsmen, plus grants from the Saskatchewan Arts Board which make the Opera in Schools program possible.

SO’s biggest event of the year is always its mainstage production. Last season, The Barber of Seville celebrated the 200th anniversary of the very first performance of Rossini’s comic masterpiece. The production, presented on both the mainstage and the school tour, was a huge hit with audiences due in large part to Brent Krysa’s “endlessly inventive ‘Looney Tunes’ stage direction” and eminent Rosetown-born scenographer Cameron Porteous’s “magical set/lighting/ costuming.” Eric Paetkau directed a brilliant cast, orchestra and chorus from the pit.

Montalbetti says the upcoming 2016/17 season will feature four major events, the first being a reprise of the Home for the Holidays fundraiser on December 29 at Knox United Church.

“SO has also been invited by the Symphony to be part of the Mozart Week of Concerts to celebrate the composer’s birthday on Jan 27.

The concert will feature four local singers in an evening of Mozart songs and ensembles.

An intimate ‘cabaret’ setting with narration and atmospheric lighting will make this event a unique addition to SO’s core programming.

It’ll be a lot of fun.”

The third event is Opera in Schools. Since 2017 is Canada’s 150th anniversary, it seems only fitting to produce an opera by Canada’s most successful opera composer, Dean Burry.

The Bremen Town Musicians is a one-act opera composed expressly for school audiences.

The fully-staged mainstage opera production will take place at the Remai Arts Centre.

The title of the production will be announced in September.

“We’re very proud of Saskatoon Opera,” Montalbetti says. “It’s the only opera company in Saskatchewan that does fully-staged, fully-realized, full-length performances.

We’re known across Canada, and are a member of the Opera Companies of Canada organization.”

FOR 2016-2017 PERFORMING SEASON

Ages 4 & up Must be 4 by Sept. 1st, 2016 Registration for new dancers on Tues., August 23, 2016 6:30 - 8:00 pm In our Studio at 215-103rd Street E.

AUGUST 20 & 24, 2016

For information contact Sherry at 306-373-4022 www.boyandance.com boyandance@gmail.com

The Saskatoon Children’s Choir offers young singers a rich and challenging experience.

Phoebe Voigts, Artistic Director Michelle Aalders, Accompanist

All young people who enjoy singing are welcome to audition.

Preparatory Choir: Ages 7-9 Apprentice Choir: Ages 8-13 Concert Choir: Ages 11-16

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN AUDITION, PLEASE CALL 306-249-3927 OR VISIT WWW.SASKATOONCHILDRENSCHOIR.ORG SAS00354110_1_1

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LEFT: Legendary jazz pianist Harold Maburn will play with the Brandi Disterheft Trio on November 30, at The Bassment. Ph oto: Y ou tu be

An exciting season at The Bassment j a z z f r o m pa g e 2 6

There is a full stage, excellent acoustics and a seating capacity of about 175, a size which is the perfect fit for many of the travelling acts.

Saturday concerts usually start at 8 p.m.; concerts on other nights most often open at 9 p.m.

Michael Occhipinti, a guitaristcomposer, is an eight-time Juno nominee and will headline on Nov. 19. He’s introducing the Sicilian Jazz Project, which stitches together erotic sounds from Sicily and the

Mediterranean with contemporary jazz. Pilar, an Italian singer, will be his special guest.

One of the season’s first catches will be the Brandi Disterheft Trio, featuring Harold Mabern, on Nov. 30. Disterheft is a bassist and composer, once praised by Oscar Peterson. In 2008, Disterheft won a Juno award for best traditional jazz album. Mabern, a richly-experienced pianist, is a legend unto himself, acclaimed for hard bop, post-bop and soul jazz.

Ernesto Cervini, who has often

played the club, is an innovative and electrifying drummer and he will lead his Turbo Prop band into Saskatoon on Dec. 3.

New to the Bassment crowd will be Grant Simpson and Annie Avery, who label themselves as the Two Piano Tornado. They are from Whitehorse and will perform on Oct. 22.

Among the travelling pianists are two solo artists: John Stetch on Oct. 2 and Amanda Tosoff on Nov. 12. Other visiting artists include guitarist Albert Villa on Oct. 1, The World’s Greatest Pop Band Ever on Oct. 8 and guitarist Avi Granite on Nov. 5. Ineke Vandoorn and Marc van Vugt, a jazz duo from Holland, will appear on Nov. 26.

Jack Semple, Saskatchewan’s outstanding guitarist, is going to serve up a tribute to the late and legendary B.B. King on back-toback nights, Nov. 24-25.

Pianist Maurice Drouin will lead his ensemble into the traditional

Jazzy Christmas on Dec. 10 and 11.

For an extra dose of holiday spirit, Solstice, the vocal jazz group led by Jean Currie, will perform on Dec. 17. The New Year’s Eve slot will remain in the hands of Griffith and his three units, offering a New Orleans twist to the holiday, a traditional sell-out.

Griffith will also join David Fong, Kim Salkeld and Ray Stephanson in a Sept. 24 renewal of The Pianomen, where each gets a solo slot and then build into duets and then four at a time.

The Roots bookings are com-

ing fast and furious. The openers include Megan Nash on Sept. 9, Matthew Byrne on Sept. 16, Cam Penner on Sept. 22 and Coco Love Alcorn on Sept. 30. Saskatoon’s Ellen Froese-Kooijenga will have an album release on Nov. 4.

Early in 2017, there will be Broadway show songs as part of Winterruption on Jan. 19-20-21 and Outside The Wall, with their tribute to Pink Floyd, is due for another twonighter, Feb. 2-3.

For more information about upcoming Saskatoon Jazz Society events, visit www.thebassment.ca.

The Stone Frigate Band will bring big band favourites as well as diverse new numbers to The Bassment on September 17. P hot o: Showclix .com

Joy.

It’s what we do best!

We offer performing arts classes for ages 3 to adult including:

Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip Hop, Voice, Acro, Ballet, Drama, Pom, Technique classes and more!

We offer CDTA exam classes along with competitive and recreational classes.

Our certified instructors include:

Michelle Garrecht - CDTA Member (Saskatchewan Branch-Stage Division), AAC (Acrobatic Arts Certified), B.Ed.

Maegan Marshall - CDTA Member (Saskatchewan Branch - Stage Division), B.Kin, MP Other qualified instructors include: Teigan Furber, Meghan Lofgren, Elizaveta Lynn, Shaelynn Malinowski, Meghan McDonald, Breanna Mills

Proud home of Mini Express and The Expressions!

On-line registration is at www.saskatchewanexpress.com. For further information, contact our studio at 306-477-5553 or saskexpressinfo@gmail.com SASXR239584_1_1