Posted by Norm Nelson
on January 09, 2009
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Anton and Julian Kuerti take a bow with the Boston Pops.
The 70-year-old father is a world renowned classical pianist, the 32-year-old son one of the world’s top up and coming conductors, currently serving as associate conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Their last performance together, in March 2008, has grown into almost legendary status.
Anton Kuerti – who has lived in the same house for 40 years within walking distance of Jarvis Collegiate Institute, where his son graduated from – was in Boston specifically to watch his son Julian Kuerti make his conducting debut for the Boston Symphony.
But as fate would have it, guest pianist Leon Fleisher who was to play Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto had to bow out because of food poisoning.
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Posted by Norm Nelson
on January 09, 2009
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The Annex-based Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) is respected nation-wide and even world-wide for their lessons and examinations, but if they keep up their current pace, they might become equally associated with the Grammy Awards.
For the second year in a row, the venerable Annex-based institution at 273 Bloor Street West is celebrating a Grammy nomination.
A group of musicians based out of the RCM, called Artists of the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARC), nabbed a Grammy nomination in the category of Best Chamber Music Performance for their recording called Right Through the Bone.
In addition, the producer of that recording, David Frost, a well known American classical music producer, is nominated in the category of classical producer of the year.
It’s becoming old hat for ARC who last year were also nominated in the same category (of Best Chamber Music Performance) for their recording titled On the Threshold of Hope: Chamber Music of Mieczyslaw Weinberg. Subsequently it was also nominated for a Juno Award.
Right Through the Bone will also no doubt be in consideration when this year’s Juno Award nominations are released Feb. 3.
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Posted by Norm Nelson
on October 10, 2008
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The 16th international AIDS conference that was held in Toronto more than two years ago was obviously very inspirational to Canadian musicians.
Another HIV/AIDS song – called A Song for Africa – was also created involving prominent Canadian musicians, including members of Billy Talent, Thornley and Big Sugar, and recorded at Scarborough’s Phase One Studios on Kennedy Ave. just north of Finch Avenue.
The following is a story that was written during the recording of the song, back in 2006 …
A Scarborough recording studio recently played host to a steady stream of top Canadian recording artists, including members of Billy Talent, Thornley and Big Sugar, all lending their talents to a benefit CD/video single designed to raise awareness of AIDS/HIV in Africa.
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Posted by Norm Nelson
on October 10, 2008
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A song dedicated to AIDS fundraising and awareness, with contributions from some of the biggest names in roots and world music, got its genesis from the 16th international AIDS conference that was held in Toronto more than two years ago.
It was recorded in Toronto, at six different studios, under the direction of Parkdale resident Waleed Abdulhamid, a renowned producer/musician who emigrated from the Sudan in 1992.
Abdulhamid, who also teaches in the Humber College music program, called in just about every favour he could to help forge this eclectic international cast led by David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat and Tears fame.
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Posted by Norm Nelson
on October 01, 2008
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With the third annual Nuance Art Rock Festival running this Saturday, Oct. 4 in East York, Music Notes conducted a Q&A with Wilton Said who is both the organizer and one of four bands that will be playing.
The festival is being held at the Legion Hall, Br-10, located at 1083 Pape Ave just south of O’Connor drive.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m, and the event runs Until 9:30 p.m. with a 90-minute dinner break.
Door Cover is $20. Children 12 and under free.
The website is www.myspace.com/nuancegta.
A long-time East York area resident who lives with his wife in the area of Coxwell and Danforth, Said is Scarborough-born and raised, attending Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate Institute, later attending York University.
Just click on ‘more’ to read the complete Q&A … Continue reading…
Posted by Norm Nelson
on September 16, 2008
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I wasn’t responsible for any of the more than four million votes recorded in the two hours after the final Canadian Idol performance showdown between Theo Tams, who ultimately won, and Mitch MacDonald.
That’s because – and you can call it a cop-out if you want – I enjoyed both artists, both in their final show and throughout the season, in general, and so decided to keep sitting on the fence, like a good Libra. Continue reading…
Posted by Norm Nelson
on April 04, 2008
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With a history dating back to 1953, the Scarborough Choral Society, which is now in the midst of its spring production of Brigadoon (wrapping up April 5), counts itself as one of the oldest art groups in the city.
In fact, it’s been around so long that the venerable musical Brigadoon is back for the third time, having previously been performed in 1984 and 1967. Continue reading…
Posted by Norm Nelson
on April 01, 2008
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Covering the local music scene for more than two years now, the thought has struck me that a comparison can be made to breweries.
Think of your favourite brew by a major label, and then by a mirco brewery?
In a taste test, some might even prefer a micro-brewed beer even though it couldn’t even begin to compare with its major brewery counterpart in terms of sales and profits earned.
I found the same thing with the local artists I’ve had the privilege to listen to now for a couple of years.
Many of their CDs have confidently crept from my work file into my regular collection.
Among them are: Continue reading…
Posted by Norm Nelson
on January 11, 2008
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Two local music festivals on Danforth Avenue are once again pencilled in to help residents beat the February blahs. Continue reading…
Posted by Norm Nelson
on December 14, 2007
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East York resident Randy James might have to think twice – or even three times – about what band he’s anchoring on the drum kit at a CD release party Friday, Dec. 14 at the Hollywood on the Queensway.
One thing he won’t need to think twice about, however, is who his band mates are: from Rexdale lead vocalist Todd Sharman; from Mississauga bass player Paul Whiteside; and originally from Windsor, guitarists Stephen Ruppert and Mark Higginbottom.
The band mates have actually been together for many years. But the band’s stage name can change depending on the gig. Continue reading…
Jane Pitfield, who represented the communities in Ward 26 for eight years before running an unsuccessful mayoral campaign against David Miller, is attempting a comeback this year - and this afternoon, she'll make it official.
Pitfield said she'll be filing her nomination papers to run in Ward 29 - the East York ward that will be left vacant when current councillor Case Ootes retires this year.
“In the past three years, I’ve had the ability to watch from the outside and although I have had the opportunity to participate in a variety of projects and a lot of volunteer work, I remain committed to the City of Toronto,” said Pitfield in an interview from her home in Leaside. “It is my great.. (Read More)
For future postings, go to Here And There (link provided).
Thank you.
Clark. .. (Read More)
I like it even better than Canada's Wonderland.
The Canadian National Exhibition, aka C.N.E., aka The EX, is an annual tradition running from the last two weeks in August until Labour Day, which for most Torontonians, marks the unofficial end of summer.
Of the 175 years that the C.N.E. has provided an endless array of events, activities, entertainment, games, rides, and concerts to residents near and far, I've faithfully gone to The EX for the past decade.
Maybe it's the carnival atmosphere I like so much where people of all ages come to gather for fun with the whole family. The Air Show is a good draw as well as the international vendors offering their goods. Or it could just be the food.
Speaking of which, I tried the deep-fried Mars bar for the first time and it was...okay... (Read More)
The east coast of Canada is really something else.
I'm not sure why I wanted to go do this road trip this year or even at all. It wasn't like my west coast road trip in 2003, which was much longer. But it was something I really wanted to do probably because I've heard so many things growing up about cities like Vancouver, Banff, Calgary, and Winnipeg (ok, not Winnipeg but I was there).
But no one really talked that much with the same level of great detail about Charlottetown, Moncton, or even Halifax.
Yet each of those cities in their respective Maritime provinces were definitely just as beautiful as the ones aforementioned.
As usual, in these cases, photos do a much better job in describing what I've just seen and experienced. So click the photo above to see a small sample.. (Read More)
I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
After eight days on the road from Toronto to Cape Breton with stops at Quebec City, Fredericton, Fundy, Halifax, Cape Breton, Cheticamp, Charlottetown, and finally today, the final stop, in Montreal, I am ready to go home.
Ok, not quite yet. My friends and I are going to go out one last time to enjoy this lovely French-Canadian "ville" and check out a couple of places this guy from Montreal who I met during my European trip earlier this year had recommended through Facebook.
But yeah, after tonight, I'm looking forward to sleeping on my own comfortable bed. Mostly because a couple of guys here are loud snorers and I've slept in the van (instead of the tent) a couple of nights just to get at least four consecutive hours of sleep.
Other than that, this trip has been nothing short of amazing. The.. (Read More)
