Elora Festival Pages by WHA Publications Ltd.

The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, June 12, 2009 PAGE TWENTY THREE

ELORA FESTIVAL SINGERS

Celebrating 30 Years Message from Elora Festival Artistic Director, NOEL EDISON A great man once said, “If you can dream it, you can do it.” This is not a statement from the ever popular Barrack Obama, or even from Martin Luther King. This universal sentiment happened upon four people over thirty years ago in the Village of Elora. Look what we have now - a festival of worldwide acclaim that has hosted more than 5,000 national and international artists. As we begin our venture to our next thirty years, we celebrate this anniversary with the epic Berlioz Requiem, the internationally acclaimed soprano Dawn Upshaw, Carmina Burana, A Night at the Opera, the great Canadian pianist Oliver Jones, and a return to concerts in the Elora Quarry. This is a year of celebration. This is a landmark occasion. This is your Elora Festival. Whether you are coming for the first time, or coming once again, I invite you to experience the fulfillment of a dream that began 30 years ago. Noel Edison Artistic Director, Elora Festival and Singers

Message from Elora Festival & Singers Chair, JAY BAKER Again this year it is my privilege and pleasure to be the Chair of the Elora Festival and Singers and to welcome you to the village of Elora for this the 30th season of the Elora Festival. From opening night with the monumental Berlioz Requiem to the final strains of the Handel Coronation Anthems, this year’s programme is a fitting testimonial to the success of the festival throughout the last thirty years. Whether your preference is classical, choral, chamber, jazz or popular we can accommodate your musical tastes. We have even brought back the quarry series as part of our celebration, and are pleased to inaugurate our Festival Academy in this important year. Our seasoned Artistic Director Noel Edison and our novice General Manager Jurgen Petrenko have arranged such a stellar list of performers that I am sure choosing which concerts to attend will have proved to be as big a challenge for you as it was for me. Take this to be an invitation to attend as many as you like. The success of our season is very much measured by the satisfaction of our audience. Our success also depends on a capable, energetic office and production staff, a dedicated volunteer board of directors, and an army of volunteers all of whom need to be recognized for their enthusiasm and hard work. We also thank our government, corporate and individual sponsors as well as the Members of the Elora Festival who have chosen to support us beyond the ticket price and continue to show faith in this organization.

Kitchen table talk of four led to world renowned Elora Festival On a late summer afternoon in 1978, four people sat around a kitchen table and discussed the idea of having a music festival in Elora that would be similar to the popular Tanglewood Music Festival tucked in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts. Bill Ellis, Michael PurvesSmith, Annette Smith, and a 19-year-old Noel Edison spoke about the pros and cons. Who would attend a festival like that? Who could they get to perform? Where would the money come from? Where would they perform? After all, Tanglewood had received a gift of 210 acres of buildings, lawns, and meadows. That was almost bigger than the entire village of Elora. It seemed like an impossible dream. But it was a dream that the four believed in, and in 1979, Three Centuries Festival was incorporated. Ellis was the founding Chair, and PurvesSmith was the founding Artistic Director. From Aug. 8 to 17, 1980, concerts were set, all consisting of music from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. “It was a nail-biting experience,” recalled Edison, now the Artistic Director. “Purves-Smith had the [Wilfrid Laurier] university connections, and I worked the community, telling every one I ran into that they should come to this great, new event. And they did! The community was fantastic with their support. We started with a $40,000 budget. But in the end, I felt triumphant. We made just over $600.” It was quite a festival. Performers included the Amadé Trio, Susan Prior, Peter Orme, and Christel Thielman. A special concert for children was programmed, and Edison, along with five additional performers, dressed in Shakespearean costume as a pied piper led the children to their event. Most concerts were held at St. John’s Church in Elora. A year later, Three Centuries Festival Choir was formed. “We were desperate for artists, so I pulled together

the best choristers I could find. There were eight of them,” Edison remembered. “And they did one concert, Bach’s Cantata BWV 209. But everyone just loved it!” That was 30 years ago. Since then, Three Centuries Festival has been renamed the Elora Festival, has a million dollar budget, and has evolved into an internationally acclaimed annual music festival that attracts capacity audiences to the scenic village. Edison has been the Artistic Director for 26 of those years, and has increased the scope of music to include a wide array of genres, from chamber to jazz, with close to 40 concerts performed over three weeks in July and August. St. John’s Church is still the main venue; however other, larger churches are also included in the roster, as well as the Elora Quarry. Originally the "old swimming hole," the Elora Quarry is a two-acre former limestone quarry encircled by sheer cliffs up to 40 feet high. Jennifer Lopez chose the quarry as a location in her movie Angel Eyes. Festival performers took their place on a barge in the middle of the water. The largest location is the Gambrel Barn. A salt and sand storage facility for the county in the winter, the barn is magically transformed into a concert hall during the Festival. “Many people, artists included, think that the Gambrel Barn is just the name of the hall,” said Edison. “And they are always surprised to find that it really is a barn. But the acoustics are magnificent. Guest artists are always overwhelmed by how perfect the sound is. In fact, Kiri Te Kanawa told me last year that she wanted to take the barn with her as her personal performance hall. You can’t get any higher praise than that.” The festival is renowned for presenting the finest Canadian performers, including Richard Margison, Measha Brueggergosman, Karina Gauvin, and Michael Burgess. And each year, Canadian composers are commissioned to write new works, including Saul Irving Glick, Robert

Evans, Imant Raminsh, and Glen Buhr. It also nurtures emerging talent through the establishment of TD Canada Trust Festival Competition for young performers and the newly formed Elora Festival Academy of Music. Three Centuries Festival Choir has also grown. It was renamed Elora Festival Singers, a group of 24 of the finest choristers in Ontario. They remain the choral ensemblein-residence during the Festival, and in 1997, became professional core of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Toronto Mendelssohn Singers. Through regular concert series, recordings, broadcasts, and touring, the Elora Festival Singers have been named by the Canada Council as one of the finest chamber choirs in Canada. They contribute to the musical life of not only of the community, but on an international stage. Global touring has brought the choir to audiences around the world, including the Chan Centre in Vancouver, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and the Musikverein in Vienna. They perform not only as a choral choir, but also as backup musicians for international contemporary artists. Roger Hodgson, former front-man for Supertramp, has performed with the Singers on three separate occasions at Casino Rama near Barrie, and would not consider using any other choir. In 2005, the two companies merged and became the Elora Festival and Singers. Even the media have started to pay attention. In 1980, William Littler, music critic from The Star wrote:“Take a dentist from Elora, a lawyer from Guelph, add a student and faculty member from Wilfrid Laurier University and what have you got, aside from a potentially acrimonious game of bridge? The founders of a music festival, that’s what!” Hardly a glowing review. But in 2008, Ken Winters from the Globe and Mail said, “Edison's choristers have risen in strength in the 28 years

since he founded them ... the Singers were intelligible, immaculately in tune and responsive to the beauties and dramas of Handel's choral writing. As for their articulation in coloratura passages, it could serve many soloists as an object lesson." Proof that, with faith, hard work, dedication, the support of both corporate and individual donors, and the artistic excellence that makes the Festival unique, the Elora Festival and Singers has earned its reputation. From July 10 to Aug. 2, 2009, the Elora Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. The celebration begins with the epic Berlioz Requiem on opening night, and includes Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, A Night at the Opera, Handel’s Coronation Anthems and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. A frequent visitor to the festival, André Laplante, performs an afternoon of the music of Liszt. Preeminent soprano Dawn Upshaw presents a solo recital on July 18. A breast cancer survivor, Upshaw is honoured that the Elora Festival will donate $5 from the sale of each ticket to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Ontario Branch. Popular performers include Oliver Jones, Capital BrassWorks, Lily Frost, and Michael Occhipinti and The Sicilian Jazz Project. The Quarry Series presents Natalie MacMaster, and Serena Ryder. The Elora Festival Singers will also perform excerpts from Sound Over All Waters with special guest Paul Halley. Chamber concerts include Lawrence Wiliford, Daniel Bolshoy, the Zapp String Quartet, and a special performance of the Kreutzer Project. “A great man once said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it,’” said Edison. “This sentiment inspired a small group of people over 30 years ago in the Village of Elora. Look what we have now - a festival of worldwide acclaim that has hosted more than 5,000 national and international artists.”

In these challenging economic times we all need a respite from our very real cares and worries. What better way to soothe our minds and revitalize our spirits than to plan a relaxing day in Elora, perhaps have a picnic in the Gorge, and take in a concert or two. From the days of the psalmist David we have been aware of the healing power of music. As a physician and a singer I am very aware of it. Come experience that power for yourself. I look forward to seeing you in Elora this summer. Jay Baker Chair, Elora Festival and Singers

Winner of the 30th Anniversary Art Competition - David Wilcox

PAGE TWENTY SIX The Wellington Advertiser, Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday, July 10 3:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Open Rehearsal

Friday, July 17 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Dawn Upshaw

Sunday, July 26 2:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn The Fairy Queen

Lawrence Wiliford, tenor Elora Festival Singers Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Elora Festival Orchestra Noel Edison, conductor

Saturday, July 18 2:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Lawrence Wiliford Lawrence Wiliford Jennifer Swartz, harp

Suzie LeBlanc, soprano Lawrence Wiliford, tenor Daniel Lichti, bass Elora Festival Singers Toronto Masque Theatre Noel Edison, conductor

Friday, July 10 7:15 p.m. Gambrel Barn Pre-Concert Lecture Rick Phillips

Saturday, July 18 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Handel Organ Concerti Michael Bloss Elora Festival Baroque Players

Friday, July 10 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Berlioz Requiem Lawrence Wiliford, tenor Elora Festival Singers Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Elora Festival Orchestra Noel Edison, conductor Saturday, July 11 2:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Sound Advice Rick Phillips Saturday, July 11 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Peter and the Wolf Rick Phillips, narrator Jason Cutmore, piano Daniel Sullivan, organ Saturday, July 11 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Oliver Jones Trio Sunday, July 12 2:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Shauna Rolston Cello Recital Shauna Rolston, cello Elora Festival Singers Noel Edison, conductor Sunday, July 12 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Daniel Bolshoy Wednesday, July 15 7:30 p.m. St. John’s Church TD Canada Trust Festival Competition Final Round Thursday, July 16 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Gadji-Gadjo Thursday, July 16 8:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Festival Exchange James Campbell, clarinet New Zealand String Quartet Elora Festival Singers Noel Edison, conductor Friday, July 17 4:00 p.m. Elora Public School Festival Kids Camp Final Performance “The Return of the Glass Slipper”

Saturday, July 18 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Capital BrassWorks Sunday, July 19 2:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Music for Choir and Brass Elora Festival Singers Capital BrassWorks Noel Edison, conductor Sunday, July 19 4:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn André Laplante Tuesday, July 21 8:30 p.m. Elora Quarry Natalie MacMaster Wednesday, July 22 8:30 p.m. Elora Quarry Sound Over All Waters Theresa Thomason, soprano Elora Festival Singers Paul Halley, keyboard Nick Halley, percussion Noel Edison, conductor Thursday, July 23 8:30 p.m. Elora Quarry Serena Ryder Friday, July 24 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Carmina Burana Laura Whalen, soprano Colin Ainsworth, tenor Peter Barrett, baritone, Noel Edison, conductor Saturday, July 25 2:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Life Begins at 30 Julie Baumgartel, violin David Rose, viola Mary-Katherine Finch, cello Leslie De'Ath, piano Saturday, July 25 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church David Eggert Saturday, July 25 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Lily Frost The Billie Holiday Songbook

THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER congratulates the

Elora Festival on 30 years of rich cultural history.

July 28 - 30 4:00 p.m. Drew House Elora Festival Academy of Music – Daily Recitals Kimberly Barber, instructor Daniel Lichti, instructor Leslie De’Ath, instructor Thursday, July 30 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Jayme Stone Mansa Sissoko Africa to Appalachia

We share the vision of showcasing the talent of local and international artists. Celebrate the arts with us every week.

Friday, July 31 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Elora Festival Academy of Music Final Concert Friday, July 31 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn A Night at the Opera Joni Henson, soprano Maria Soulis, alto Marc Hervieux, tenor Greg Dahl, baritone Elora Festival Singers Mendelssohn Singers Stuart Hamilton, narrator Noel Edison, conductor Saturday, August 1 2:00 p.m. St. John’s Church Zapp String Quartet

30 Years

Saturday, August 1 4:00 p.m. St. John’s Church The Kreutzer Project Colin Fox, Narrator Penderecki String Quartet Saturday, August 1 8:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn The Sicilian Jazz Project Michael Occhipinti Sunday, August 2 3:00 p.m. Gambrel Barn Coronation Anthems Marion Samuel-Stevens, soprano Michael Uloth, bass Elora Festival Singers Elora Festival Orchestra Noel Edison, conductor

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