Schulich School of Music of McGill University Concerts and Publicity 555 Sherbrooke Street West, , H3A 1E3 Phone: (514) 398-8101; Fax: (514) 398-5514

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Schulich School of Music of McGill University The 2010-2011 Season

For immediate release

Montreal, September 16, 2010 – In 2010-2011 the Schulich School of Music will present more than 700 concerts, special events, and lectures. Of these, more than 400 will be free recitals given by students. With over 50 concerts by our large ensembles, 9 performances by Opera McGill, some 70 small ensemble recitals, over a dozen recitals given by our faculty and guests, and nearly 100 concerts presented by the McGill Conservatory of Music, the 2010-2011 season has concerts for every taste.

A few not-to-be-missed events are: ¾ A free season-opening McGill Symphony concert celebrating the 150th birthday of Gustav Mahler, September 24 and 25 as part of Journées de la culture. ¾ Opera McGill’s new original production of Puccini’s La Bohème ¾ Schulich Year of Jazz: A year of visiting jazz artist concerts, masterclasses, and coaching sessions featuring diverse artists including Jim McNeely, Phil Dwyer, Joe Lovano and John Taylor ¾ A new ensemble, the Schulich School Singers will feature guest conductors including Wayne Riddell and Christopher Jackson ¾ 14 Staff and Guests Concerts including Robert Silverman, piano, and Gilbert Kalish, piano ¾ Violinist Mark Fewer premiering a jazz work by Phil Dwyer ¾ Yehonatan Berick performs the complete Paganini Caprices on November 10 in

Large Ensembles:

Consisting of mainly 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students, the 60 member McGill Sinfonietta provides a foundational experience within the McGill Orchestral Training Program. Performing in alternation with the McGill Symphony Orchestra, an ensemble of more than 100 musicians, both orchestras will be conducted by Maestro Alexis Hauser, and can be heard combined April 7 and 8, 2011 in a program of Franz Liszt’s Faust Symphony. There will be a total of 7 different programs heard in 14 concerts.

The McGill Baroque Orchestra, director Hank Knox, will perform 4 concert programs throughout the season. The concert of October 12 is with Cappella Antica, director Valerie Kinslow, and will feature works of Charpentier and Lully. They will collaborate with the Schulich School Singers under the direction of Christopher Jackson on November 30. They will also collaborate with Opera McGill in performance on March 25 and 26 in a rarely heard Handel’s Imeneo.

McGill Jazz proudly announces 2010-2011 as Schulich Year of Jazz. Artists including arrangers and composers Jim McNeely and Phil Dwyer, along with saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano, will give masterclasses, arranging classes, and concerts. Jazz Orchestras I, II and III can be heard throughout the year on October 13, 20, 25, November 22, 24 and 29, February 14, 16, March 30, April 4, and 6.

Opera McGill opens their season with the Lisl Wirth Black Box Festival taking place November 11, 12 and 13. One of the featured works of this festival is Engelbert Humperdink’s Hansel und Gretel, directed by Patrick Hansen, with piano accompaniment. This production will be taken to local area elementary schools in November. January 26, 28,29 and 30, Opera McGill, under the baton of Julian Wachner, brings Puccini’s beloved La Bohème to the stage in an all-new 2 cast version, complete with original sets and historically accurate costumes. The McGill Symphony Orchestra will collaborate, using Puccini’s full-score version, and will appear onstage, rather than in the pit. In conjunction with the opera, a ‘making of ’ video is being produced, illuminating the audition, rehearsal and staging process of the opera. The final production of the year, March 25, 26 and 27 will be Handel’s Imeneo, in collaboration with the McGill Baroque Orchestra, under director Hank Knox.

McGill Choirs will present 8 concerts this season .The Schulich School Singers (formerly known as the McGill Chamber Singers) will perform October 22 with guest conductor Wayne Riddell in a concert of Duruflé and Vaughan Williams. The concert of November 30 will feature guest conductor Christopher Jackson and will be a collaboration with the McGill Baroque Orchestra. Monteverdi Vespers are on the program. On February 9, principal conductor Julian Wachner will present a concert of contemporary music in conjunction with the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble. University Chorus, François Ouimet director, will present two concerts. On December 1, they will perform a Christmas concert of varied works. The second concert of the season is March 28.

McGill Wind Symphony, Jonathan Dagenais, season guest conductor, presents 4 concerts, October 14, November 25, February 17 and April 5. The concert of October 14 is with the University Chorus and will feature trombone soloist and alumni Keith Dyrda who is now a member of the Canadian Brass, in a concerto by Johan de Meij. February’s concert is devoted to minimalism, and will include works by Percy Grainger and Eric Whitacre.

Contemporary Music Ensemble will be lead by guest conductors throughout the year in concerts on October 27, November 29, February 9 and April 6. Jean-Michaël Lavoie, a 2010 Dudamel Conducting Fellow” and Assistant Conductor to Pierre Boulez will lead the November 29 concert featuring Boulez’ music.

Professional Concerts and Events:

The Schulich School of Music Staff and Guests Series will present 14 concerts throughout the year, and 6 Noon- Hour Organ Recitals. The Dorothy Morton Visiting Artist Series will feature pianist Gilbert Kalish March 29 and 30.

CIRMMT continues their CIRMMT Distinguished Lecture Series in the Science and Technology of Music and live@CIRMMT concerts. For more information on their programming, please consult the link at http://www.mcgill.ca/music/cirmmt/.

The CBC/McGill Series marks 32 years of collaboration between McGill and the CBC, the longest such relationship the CBC has had with any academic institution. This year, activities are condensed into the month of November, and are in celebration of Young Artists. (Please refer to the CBC press release for more details)

Show time for all Large Ensemble and Staff and Guest concerts is 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices remain unchanged from last year.

The Schulich School of Music looks forward to seeing you this season. Tickets are available at the Pollack Hall Box Office (Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 6 p.m.; 514-398-4547) and from Admission outlets (514-790-1245).

---- 30 ----- Source: Louise Ostiguy, Concerts and Publicity, 514-398-8933 Media: Alain Labonté Communications, 514-523-9922