By Collin Jutzi
The Guelph Concert Band is proud to announce its annual premier mid-winter concert scheduled for The River Run Centre on February 28, 2016. Under the dynamic leadership of conductor Dr Chris Cigolea and showcasing guest artists Canadian jazz singer Barbra Lica, and Trumpet virtuoso, Constantin Soare, we are excited to offer what promises to be a thrilling and satisfying musical experience.
Among the concert selections, the Guelph Concert Band will perform Tributes to both Count Basie and Harry James as well as a world premiere performance of a powerful composition entitled Camino de Santiago by composer Tina Ternes.
With the Band, Miss Lica will sing several number including Fly Me to the Moon and Bye Bye Blackbird. Mr Soare will be featured on solo trumpet with the Band with My Way and Hora Staccato. Showcasing as a solo feature will be young Pamela Lui, a phenominal young master of the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument.
Headline vocalist, Barbra Lica is one of Canada’s finest young jazz singers and song writers. With her success as first runner up in the 2013 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz competition in New Jersey, Barbra’s reputation is growing across Canada and internationally. Barbra recently returned from her performance at the Tokyo International Jazz Festival and has just released her latest of three albums entitled Christmas Presents. As a featured guest artist she sang Satin Doll on Peter Appleyard’s 2012 album Sophisticated Ladies (2012). Ross Porter, CEO of Jazz FM 91.1, is quoted as observing: “For someone so young she has an impressive level of musical maturity. Many singers spend years trying to find their vocal ‘sweet spot’. Barbra’s already there.”
Last year’s River Run concert featured international jazz hall of famer Bobby Carcasses of Havana Cuba. To continue this internationalist tradition, our second guest this year is Constantin Soare presently of New York City where he maintains a busy studio recording career. Constantin is one of the most prominent Romanian trumpet players of our time and for ten years was principal trumpet player and soloist of the acclaimed Romanian Radio and Television Jazz Orchestra. Constantin has performed on hundreds of recordings , movie scores, live concerts and shows all over Europe and north America.
Also, showcasing with the Band will one number by Pamela Lui, master of the Guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. Pamela will play a piece on this unique instrument that conductor Chris assures us “will blow your mind,” and “is like nothing you have seen before.”
As well as collaborating in performance with guest artists, the Guelph Concert Band is proud to play the world premiere performance of Tina Ternes’ composition, Camino de Santiago. Whether or not you have traversed the famous path of pilgrimage through northern Spain, this piece will intrigue you. Composer Tina Ternes was born, raised and trained as a musician in Germany and has become recognized internationally for her orchestral, choral, and chamber music compositions. The focus of her work has centred on tonality and since 2012 has become strongly influenced by American periodical music.
We invite you to join us at the River Run Centre at 3:00PM on February 28. Please see our website, guelphconcertband.ca, for more information about the Guelph Concert Band, our guest artists and about upcoming concerts.
For tickets, contact the River Run Centre box office at 519-763-3000 or online. Prices are: $25 adults; $15 seniors and students; $5 children: $5 eyeGO (with ID at the box Office) students.
