In a couple weeks members of the clarinet choir will perform works they have been working on this summer. It promises to be a short and sweet concert with refreshments to follow, and free!
New work "Ever in My Heart"
I have never really considered myself a composer but during the process of working on my doctorate I felt compelled to incorporate a music performance element to express myself. I wrote a short, solo work for clarinet and performed in at my public lecture. Here I will share it too. It is based on the Canadian folk song “À la claire fontaine”.
Thank you and enjoy!
Winter Clarinet Celebration
On January 18th members of the clarinet choir and students from my clarinet studio shared pieces they have been working on for the past few months. It was an afternoon of lovely live music, treats, and community. Kevin and I shared a piece that we have been working on, Two Moods by Bruce Roberts for clarinet and marimba. Thank you for all your hard work and a wonderful afternoon!
Clarinet Choir Continues!
Clarinet choir started this September and will continue through January and into the spring of 2025! Check out the description and how to register: Clarinet Choir and Youth Clarinet Choir
Locally Grown
A concert on November 17, 2024 1-2:30pm of music from Western Canada featuring Melissa Goodchild, clarinet, Kevin Grady, marimba, Jennifer Mitchell, piano and organ, and Alexander Richards, saxophones. Admission by donation at Robin and Winifred Wood Hall at 900 Johnson Street.
Stay tuned for information on works being featured!
Summer Programs!
Summer is a great time to enjoy making music with others and here are some opportunities you won’t want to miss!
Clarinet Choir
An ensemble for players of instruments in the clarinet family, such as the bass or Eb clarinet. This class will improve your ensemble playing skills, tuning, and playing in general. Music is chosen based on the playing level and interests of the group, and players will have the opportunity to explore multiple genres. Join other players in an encouraging atmosphere and improve your skills along the way! Open to anyone who has been playing clarinet for at least one year. Players should be able to read printed music. You can register here.
Summer Intensive
Middle and high school students will develop their musical skills through small and medium sized ensembles, warm-up, technique, and performance classes, music workshops, and private lessons with our specialized faculty. This program will help you improve your tone and technique and inspire you to take your instrumental playing to the next level. For students with at least one year of experience on their instrument and a love of music!
Participants will rotate through a variety of musical activities, carefully scheduled to balance active playing periods with listening and learning sessions. The ultimate goal is to provide an enriching, exciting, and fun experience for all students of all levels.
Students will have the opportunity to play in small and medium sized ensembles, work one-on-one with a faculty mentor in two private lessons per week, explore the world of solo repertoire in performance classes (solo performance not required) and further their musical development through workshops, warm-up, and technique classes. Our outstanding faculty will perform in concert for the students at the beginning of the week. At the end of the week, students will have the option to perform for their peers in the student solo concert, and will participate as a group in a final celebratory performance for friends and family in the beautiful Alix Goolden Performance Hall.
Please register online, or phone in at 250.386.5311.
If you have questions about the above programs or other summer music activities please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Upcoming February Events
I am excited to share two projects that I am taking part in this February.
Alex Chen, pianist, vocalist, and now composer has created a narrated musical story for classrooms The Adventures of Kelp Creature, for Ocean Wise. In this project musicians, including me and Alexander Richards, recorded excerpts for this musical ensemble. The online release is on February 12, 2024 at 12 PST, get your (free) tickets here!
Another exciting opportunity I’m proud to be a part of is The Big IDEA: Allyship & Unconscious Bias, a project spearheaded by flautist Marsha Elliot-Edwards. On February 18th at 2:30 the first of a series of music concerts focused on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility will launch at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Please reserve your free tickets at the link above!
Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful concert on March 26th, 2023! We had a great time and I hope you did too. Thank you to the Victoria Conservatory of Music for the use of Wood Recital Hall and the staff that helped support the concert. Thank you to the Toronto Arts Council for their support of Patrick’s composition of The Wind which has it’s premiere performance. Thank you to Patrick McGraw for his patience and hard work, the premiere was delayed due to the COVID-19 closures and we are thrilled that we were able to make it happen. Also a big thank you to the Canadian Music Centre BC Region for their support and sponsorship of this concert, with support such as this musicians like us are able to continue to perform and work on the music we love!
