BY RACHELLE COOPER
U of G's applied music faculty are coming together to showcase the breadth of their talents Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m at the River Run Centre.
“We've programmed the evening in such a way that it will be a good snapshot of music at Guelph,” says Prof. John Kissick, director of the School of Fine Art and Music. “There will be something for everyone, from jazz ensembles to classical arias to contemporary music.”
More than 15 members of U of G's applied music faculty will perform. The applied music program allows U of G music students to work on a specific instrument one-on-one with a faculty member.
“By showcasing the broad spectrum of musical styles and genres being practised by our faculty, we're hoping to attract more high-quality students,” says Kissick.
Jesse Stewart, who teaches percussion in the applied music program, says working one-on-one with faculty enables students to increase their skill and technical achievement.
“Faculty are also able to broaden students' knowledge of their instrument's repertoire and show them the different styles of performance.”
The evening will include performances by soprano Theresa Thibodeau, tenor Glyn Evans, Chris Cigola on trumpet, Rosemary Parks on flute, Bruce French on lute and classical guitar, Rosemary Collins on piano, Stewart on percussion, Henry Janzen on viola with John Goddard on drums, and Matt Vanderwoude and Prof. Howard Spring on guitar.
Thibodeau, who has studied with some of the top coaches in the world, will sing from Gianni Schicchi. Evans, a former member of the Canadian Opera Company, will sing pieces by C.W. Gluck, Giovanni Legrenzi and Stephano Donaudy.
Stewart will perform a piece he composed for a drum set and congas called Hodoi. It's structured around polyrhythms derived from Afro-Cuban musical traditions.
“The layering of multiple time cycles is meant to give listeners the opportunity to follow multiple sonic pathways through the music,” he says.
Prof. Ellen Waterman will perform a flute composition by Prof. Jim Harley called Portrait for Solo Flute. Harley will also be showcasing his interactive audio installation Wild Fruits in the River Run Centre lobby.
The concert will be followed by a reception in the lobby. Tickets are $10 general and $5 for students and are available by calling 763-3000.
