Remarks from the jury of the CDA competition on April 26

Career Development Award / / , ,

CDA Jury Remarks

Thank you to our many members (and their friends and families) who attended the WMCT’s Career Development Award competition on Sunday, April 26. Feedback from everyone has been unanimously positive – it was definitely a very important and special afternoon in the musical life of the Club, Toronto, and Canada. The three finalists were all consummate performers and it was clearly a challenge for the jury to choose between them for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes.

The jury has compiled some remarks that we would like to share with you.

You may also be interested in the following review in Audiophilia

http://www.audiophilia.com/wp/?p=16344

REMARKS FROM THE JURY OF THE CDA COMPETITION ON APRIL 26

It was our great honour and privilege to hear three outstanding musicians on April 26th for the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto Career Development Award Competition. Each of the musicians has a promising career trajectory before him, and we can be sure that they will all be representing Canada on national and international stages throughout the upcoming years.

Pierre-André Doucet began the afternoon with works by Haydn, Liszt and Carl Vine. He is an intellectual and thoughtful performer, which was particularly evident in the challenging Vine sonata. One juror was impressed with his capacity for understanding and presenting this complex music with such authority and ease. The Haydn was well-structured and competently performed but lacked some colour and character. We all thought that the performance of “Isolde’s Liebestod” by Liszt was compelling and, as one juror remarked, “memorable”.

Stéphane Tétreault and Marie-Ève Scarfone charmed us all with their strong communicative skills both with each other and with those of us in the audience. It was such a pleasure to hear their interaction and superb ensemble expertise. We thought that the approach to rubato, particularly in the Haydn, was somewhat excessive and took away from the pure, pristine elements of this style. Both are natural performers with a special gift for delighting audience members.

Charles Richard-Hamelin immediately captured our interest with a depth of musicianship and maturity that was evident from the opening of the Bach Partita. The tone that he produced from the piano was beyond the capabilities of the actual instrument. In turn, he created sounds that were orchestral and soloistic, and wove intricate and beautifully voiced lines as a seasoned string quartet might. His structural and musical understanding of the large-scale Chopin sonata was exceptional, and as one juror remarked “perhaps one of the finest performances of this work I have ever heard on any professional stage”.

The task of deciding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards was an extremely challenging one as each musician presented a truly special and unique voice. Having said this, the jury was unanimous in the decision to award 1st prize to Charles Richard-Hamelin, 2nd prize to Stéphane Tétreault, and 3rd prize to Pierre-André Doucet. We wish all three extraordinary young performers continued success in their future endeavours.

Midori Koga – Professor of Piano & Piano Pedagogy, University of Toronto

Kerry Stratton – Conductor and Music Director, Toronto Concert Orchestra, Wish Opera, Programme host Classical 96.3 FM

Winona Zelenka – Assistant Principal Cellist, Toronto Symphony Orchestra

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Charles Richard-Hamelin wins CDA

Career Development Award / / , ,
Charles Richard-Hamelin
Charles Richard-Hamelin

President Annette Sanger awarded pianist, Charles Richard-Hamelin the $20,000 first prize in the Career Development Award competition in Walter Hall, April 26.

Cellist Stéphane Tétreault, was
awarded $10,000 as second prize winner.
Shown here with collaboratist Marie-Eve Scarfone.

Pianist Pierre-André Doucet received third prize of $5,000

The Career Development Award is presented every three years to outstanding, young Canadian musicians already engaged in a professional performing career. This year marks the 10th presentation of the award and the prize money was increased and a live competition added.

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Stotijn concert review – “Superb Recital …”

117th Season / / ,

Stotijn Concert Review

“One of the very few truly superb recitalists in front of the public today, mezzo Stotijn offers a beautiful voice with consummate musical intelligence ….”

“Through it all, Julius Drake was a rock for the singer. ..I am just so happy Drake comes to Toronto frequently – it’s always a pleasure to hear him play.”

Read Joseph So’s concert review  in La Scena Musicale here:

Christianne Stotijn and Joseph So

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Jens Lindemann Triumph

117th Season, Outreach / / , ,

Jens Lindemann Triumph

Jens Lindemann Makes History at the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto
Read Review in Musical Toronto

jenslindemann_sPresident Annette Sanger discusses
the Jens Lindemann concert

Although I am President of the WMCT, I assure you that the following is written from the bottom of my heart and not simply to promote the WMCT. I feel strongly that we should have a record of this unusual and quite marvellous concert in the 117th season of Music in the Afternoon.

In all honesty, I hadn’t really known exactly what to expect, though Simon Fryer, our superb Artistic Director, assured us that it would be a wonderful event, if a little different from the usual WMCT concert fare. However, with a concert not just on trumpet but accompanied by drum set and even electric guitar, we certainly seemed to be testing the waters, to put it mildly. Moreover, when I learned of the musical program I didn’t see a lot of tried-and-true “classical” composers in the mix – other than two very short pieces by J.S. Bach and Debussy.

It turned out to be absolutely mesmerizing from start to finish! Not only a brilliant musician, Jens is a consummate performer who draws in his audience from the moment he walks onto the stage. He was warm and very funny in his introductions (for example, noting that this was the first time in 117 years a drum set had graced the WMCT concert stage). His pacing and timing – in music and speech – was just perfect, not to mention his landing into the splits on the climactic last note of the piece before intermission, Suite Hellenique by Pedro Iturralde, with Jens arrangements.

In fact, this concert was full of surprises: his initial entry from the back of the hall as he played La fille aux cheveux de lin; positioning the Earl Haig Secondary School students around the hall as additional “sound” with long, brightly coloured whirly tubes in Gilliland’s piece; and the very touching final piece Prayer by Kristian Alexandrov that segued into Louis Armstrong’s signature song What a Wonderful World, which I know brought tears to the eyes of a few WMCT members.

Most importantly, this concert was a resounding success for its superb musicianship and delightful choice of repertoire. Jens’s collaborators were first class, and all worked together as a tightly-knit team smoothly transitioning in and out of composed and improvised musical zones. In particular, I was impressed by the young (41 seems young to me!) pianist/composer/percussionist Kristian Alexandrov who was featured in nearly every piece.

All in all it was a musically joyous occasion led by the stunning musicianship and personality of Jens Lindemann. The title of the concert, Brassfire, was certainly no exaggeration!

Annette Sanger, WMCT President

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Music Lover James Stewart Dies

Career Development Award, In Memoriam, Stories / /

The WMCT was truly saddened to hear of the passing of Professor James Stewart, an avid lover of classical music and generous donor. We were indeed fortunate to have our fundraiser at his home, Integral House, last May. It was a very unusual and spectacular venue, and a wonderful concert in support of a significant event in the history of the club – the 10th presentation of the Career Development Award in 2015. Our sincere condolences to James Stewart’s family and friends.

~ Annette Sanger, WMCT president

Click here for his story in Musical Toronto website. 

Click here for Toronto Star obituary.

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Susan Corrigan Retires

Stories / /

Susan Corrigan has been WMCT arts administrator for nearly 20 years. She was the third part-time only administrator in this still mainly volunteer-run organization.

Susan and John Caldwell sell CDs in Koerner Hall
Susan and John Caldwell sell CDs in Koerner Hall

Hired in September 1995 by past president Betty Gray, Susan became the organization’s voice and face – on the telephone and through her presence at concerts and events – as well as the main cog in the large and ever-turning WMCT wheel.

She witnessed and was part of many changes, developments, and expansions, especially with the Foundation’s inception in 2000. During the last 19 years, volunteers, boards, and presidents have come and gone and Susan has been the mainstay and linchpin. Her knowledge of the people, events, and history is unparalleled. But in addition she’s patient, kind, and extremely wise; we all turn to Susan for advice on both small and large issues.

As current president I have relied on Susan for so much, but didn’t imagine the day when she would no longer be the arts administrator. Imagine my shock (and dismay) when she told me last March that she would like to retire at the end of June! Thankfully with three months’ notice, as well as Susan’s willingness to continue helping out in the office occasionally on an ad-hoc basis, the transition to the new arts administrator, Neva Peykova, has been remarkably smooth.

And, fortunately, Susan will not be leaving us altogether – she has agreed to be an honorary adviser as well as a Foundation board member. Members will continue to see Susan at concerts, not in her customary role and place but instead she will no doubt look very relaxed, for the first time she’ll be able to enjoy the music without distractions.

On behalf of all the WMCT members, volunteers, board members, and presidents active during Susan’s years as arts administrator, I extend our most sincere and grateful thanks for her commitment, outstanding work, and for always steering us in the right direction. Susan will certainly be remembered for her crucial role in the ongoing success of this unique and hallowed organization.

Warmest wishes for a long and happy retirement!

Annette Sanger,
President

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CDA Fundraising Concert

Career Development Award, Stories / / , ,

People create beauty.

They flex wood into curving shapes and fill that space with glorious sound.
Sitting in the performance space of Integral House as soprano Shannon Mercer sings and Steven Philcox collaborates, you know that this is beauty.

Shannon and Ste-a

Inside view-aOak fins, planes of concrete and 180 degrees of glass look out to the blue sky and the Don Valley where spring has yet to arrive.

And then there is the music.

Shannon Mercer, soprano, and Steven Philcox, piano, bring enchantment with a program she describes as: “a combination of serious and fun”. She sings in five languages. Mozart’s German moves into Villa-Lobos’ Spanish and then to Welsh Folk Songs and American parody – pickles, hot dogs and “meow”. The acoustics are fabulous, holding and releasing the sound – Shannon’s animated expression, clear diction, and soaring melodies supported by Steven’s elegant piano playing. The architecture and the music together create great art.

 

 

This Sunday afternoon concert is in Integral House, one of the most stunning modern residences in Toronto, home of James Stewart, mathematician, professor and classical violinist. It is named for the mathematical integral symbol; Stewart was enormously successful writing calculus textbooks. Completed in 2009, it is an architectural feat that combines home and performance space.

group
Integral House owner James Stewart, WMCT President Annette Sanger, pianist Steven Philcox, soprano Shannon Mercer, artists’ sponsors Hélène and Peter Hunt 

Eighty “lucky souls” are here to support the 10th presentation of the Career Development Award, the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto’s major prize, supporting young Canadian classical musicians embarking on their professional careers.   Financial returns today provide funding for a live competition in Toronto a year from now when three young Canadian musicians will perform in Walter Hall, U of T, for cash awards and a Music in the Afternoon recital. And for today, the audience enjoys the great beauty, while playing a role in ensuring the beauty continues.

end

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Unionville students at Dyachkov & Saulnier concert

116th Season, Commissioned Composer, Outreach / / , ,

Students and musicians

Students from Unionville High School music program with Yegor Dyachkov and Jean Saulnier after the March 20 concert.   Teacher Bob Leonard (far right) has been bringing students to Music in the Afternoon concerts for 14 years as part of the WMCT Student Outreach programme.

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