PREVIEW
Alberta Pianofest 2019
July 4, 6, 12, 13, 19
Edmonton City Hall, Rundle’s Mission (Pigeon Lake), Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Naked Cyber Café
Tickets: Edmonton City Hall and Rundle’s Mission free, other locations $13.75 to $20. Call 780-420-1757 or at tixonthesquare.ca
Alberta Pianofest 2019 was launched as a two-week summer camp for aspiring young pianists who would meet, mingle and learn from their fellow musicians as well as top tier faculty.
Concert pianist Jason Cutmore, a former student of St. Albert’s Michael Massey, was inspired to create the biennial music camp at Pigeon Lake for 12- to 18-year-olds modelled on his own youthful experiences at the Banff Centre.
Now in its third edition, the summer music academy hosts 13 students from Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and New York, as well as a full slate of concerts both in Edmonton and Pigeon Lake.
In addition to Cutmore, this season’s faculty includes Cameron Watson, Patricia Tao, Frederic Chiu, and Steven Lubin.
Not only does Alberta Pianofest provide musical outreach for youth, the academy’s faculty will also play a series of concerts for the public’s enjoyment of classical music.
“This year we’ll be hosting two world premieres from Alberta-based composers,” said Cutmore speaking from his Philadelphia base where he is studying for a Ph.D. in philosophy at Temple University.
Opening the public events on Thursday, July 4, at Edmonton City Hall is Calgary composer/pianist Peter Jancewicz's An Old-Fashioned Fairy Tale with Cameron Watson on piano and Robert Klakowich narrating the story of magic and adventure. Watson and Klakowich perform the fairy tale a second time at Rundle’s Mission at Pigeon Lake on Saturday, July 6. Both events are free.
Patricia Tao, a much-in-demand regional pianist, leads a solo concert at Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Friday, July 12, playing repertoire from Mozart, Schumann and Liszt.
Pianist Frederic Chiu weaves music with the musings of philosopher James Taplin in Uncalculating Nature (1) at Holy Trinity Anglican Church at 7:30 p.m. The theme is recovering nature through real world art.
Uncalculating Nature (2) follows directly at 10:30 p.m. at Naked Cyber Café. Michael Massey will play his world premiere, an original work originally composed for solo piano. Chiu, Tao and Cutmore also join forces with poet Anna Marie Sewell for a night of spoken word and world-class music.
Edmonton City Hall plays host to the Young Artist Showcase, a free concert on Friday, July 19 at 4 p.m.
“In 2017 we had quite a good audience. This is a chance to hear the entire bunch of students. There will be a nice variety of music and people will be amazed at how well they do.”
Adam Boeker, a former piano student at Pianofest 2013, showcases his newly developed talents after a stint studying in the United Kingdom.
“He’s quite a remarkable talent. When I first met him, he was quite impressive and I can’t wait to see how he’s developed.”
Closing the music festival is world-renowned pianist Steven Lubin with Scott Timberg speaking.
“He’s a past mentor from New York and one of the world’s premiere forte pianists.”
For additional information email [email protected].
