Moncton Community Concerts begin Oct. 17
Published Tuesday October 7th, 2008
Five-part series will feature artists from across the country
Moncton Community Concert Association has been presenting memorable classical music concerts to Metro audiences for 73 years, but vice-president Danny Shea knows the group's value goes well beyond the live presentations.
"I always enjoy the concerts because I get to see dedicated musicians at the top of their craft and I appreciate all of the hard work they have put in to get this far," said Shea, who is also the association's membership chairman.
"Look beyond that. These types of concerts add a lot to our community. They add value and a touch of class to our region. Even people who may not enjoy classical music recognize the value of these concerts."
The association is operated by a dynamic group of volunteers and supported by nearly 200 members.
The association will present five concerts during the 2008-09 season at Moncton's First Church of the Nazarene, 21 Fieldcrest Dr., in the city's north end.
"It's a perfect venue for these types of concerts," Shea said. "The seating is comfortable and the acoustics are perfect. The audience is seated in a semi-circle and it makes for an ideal setting."
The first concert this season is on Oct. 17 and features pianist Nhat-Viet Phi, who will be accompanied by his wife, flutist Angela Mosher Phi.
Nhat-Viet began making his nationwide mark in music early in life, winning first prize in the Open Category at the National Competitive Festival of Music at age 11 and appearing with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra at 13.
He completed his music degree at the University of Calgary. Since then, he has performed in solo with Symphony Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the P.E.I. Symphony and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He is currently an accompanist for the music department at the Université de Moncton.
Originally from Musquodoboit Harbour, N.S., Angela Mosher Phi received her music degree from Mount Allison University. After advancing to the final round in the 1995 National Competitive Festival of Music, she studied at McGill University and completed her masters degree in music at the University of Calgary.
Their program will feature works by J.S. Bach and Rachmaninoff.
The association's second concert is scheduled for Nov. 14 and will showcase pianist Darrett Suzko. This young man is quickly establishing himself as one of today's up-and-coming concert artists, having appeared throughout Canada, the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom
A top prizewinner at the Concours Musical International de Montreal (2004) and the New Orleans International Piano Competition (2004), he is also the recipient of numerous other awards including the first prize and People's Choice Award at the Canadian International Music Competitions and first prize at the Oberlin International Piano Competition. He has appeared as soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
The evening's program will include works by Scarlatti, Beethoven and Chopin.
Alexander Sevastien will be featured on Feb. 14. His mastery of classical accordion is such the audience is often convinced it is listening to a large pipe organ. He is a three-time first prize winner at the International Accordion Competition.
Sevastien received his master of music degree at the Gnessin Academy of Music and has performed at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, The Great Hall of Moscow and the Minato Mirai Hall in Japan.
During the past five years, he has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Italy, Japan, Korea, Sweden, Estonia and Guatemala.
The program will feature works by Bach, Rossini, Scarlotti and Mendelssohn/Rachmaninoff (A Midsummer Night's Dream Suite).
The fourth concert, on March 13, will feature Halifax violinist, Marc Djokic, who will be accompanied by pianist, Julien LeBlanc.
Djokic began his violin studies at the age of six with his father, violinist Philippe Djokic. He was a member of the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra for many years and has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships including the Kiwanis Festival of Music Rose Bowl Prize. In 2000, he was presented with the Governor-General's Millennium Award and in 2002 he was selected by the Nova Scotia Talent Trust to receive the prestigious Raymond Simpson Award.
LeBlanc is a sought after soloist and collaborative pianist. In 2000, he won first prize at Le concours musical du cercle des Cents-associés (Montréal). For two years in a row, he was awarded first-prize at the Ludmilla Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition. Julien is currently the artist in residence at the University of New Brunswick and teaches piano at the Université de Moncton.
Their program will include pieces by Gershwin, Couture and Ravel.
The finale will feature the Foothills Brass on April 24. Foothills Brass is a group of five versatile musicians from all corners of North America. Founded in 1981 in Calgary, this Canadian quintet will be presenting their exciting new program called Brasscapes. First, they will visit the splendid Baroque era of Handel, Frescobaldi and Mouret and then transition to Gypsy life with a lively Ukrainian wedding dance.
The Gospel Side explores music and faith with Simple Gifts, then the exuberant Gospel John (Maynard Ferguson) and Amazing Grace. A legendary western-style battle between the trumpets begins the second half, moving through Copeland's Hoe-down, Mendez's Bullfighter's Song, The Devil Went Down to Georgia and some great Western movie themes.
A quiet after-hours café will explore music by Miles Davis, Bernstein and Gershwin, setting the stage for the final rousing scene: New Orleans.
For ticket information, call 852-4491 or visit the association's website at danny3966.googlepages.com/home.
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