News

• Music presents the first Choral Concert for 2018!

  Saturday, January 20, 2018 | By dvivian

  

  Avanti Chamber Singers

  Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Artistic Director
  Lesley Kingham, Pianist
  Guest Artists: Walker String Quartet

  With Strings Attached

  Featuring Ola Gjeilo’s Dark Night of the Soul & Eric Whitacre’s Hebrew Love Songs, with other works of love and longing by Lassus, Telemann, Pearsall, Dan Forrest, Laura Hawley and Jonathan Quick.

  Saturday, February 17 7:30 pm
  St. Thomas Anglican Church, 99 Ontario St., St. Catharines, ON

  Take advantage of a $5 ticket discount by purchasing tickets in advance from a choir member. avantichambersingers.com

  for more information about this concert on Saturday February 17, 2018

  Tags: Avanti Chamber Singers, choral, Choral Series, Department of Music, Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff, music, Viva Voce Choral Series, Viva Voce!
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Viva Voce Choral Series

• Our first Encore! Concert for 2018!

  Friday, January 19, 2018 | By dvivian

  

  The Department of Music presents the Encore! Professional Concert Series:

  JUMP

  featuring
  GUY FEW (TRUMPET AND PIANO)
  STEPHANIE MARA (PIANO)

  “Jump,” an energetic, cross-cultural program that hops across musical styles.

  Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, 7:30 p.m.
  Partridge Concert Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre,
  250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines

  Tickets: $28.50† adults; $22.50† seniors/students;
  $12.50† child (14 and under); $5* eyeGo program. General Admission.
  † Includes the $2.50 FOPAC Cultural Capital Improvement Fund (CCIF); other applicable fees
  and taxes are extra. *No CCIF applied; other applicable fees and taxes are extra.

  Order tickets from the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Box Office:
  905-688-0722; 1-855-515-0722; firstontariopac.ca

  Tags: Department of Music, Encore! Professional Concert Series, Guy Few, Stephanie Mara
  Categories: Announcements, Encore! Professional Concert Series

• Final Music-at-Noon concert for 2017

  Monday, December 04, 2017 | By dvivian

  

  Guitar majors, Gavino Oresta (left) and Eric Godfree (right), as they performed for a Music@Noon recital in the 2016-17 season.

  Tuesday Dec. 5 will be the last RBC Foundation Music@Noon Recital for 2017.

  This concert will feature Brock’s piano and guitar students as they wrap up 2017 with the first half of the RBC Foundation Music@Noon Recital Series.

  But don’t worry, this series of performances isn’t going away for good! There will be many more performances to come in the new year, taking place at noon in the Cairns Recital Hall of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

  Stay informed with the Department of Music events throughout the new year through at ExperienceBU.

  Tags: Department of Music, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, music@noon, student recitals
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Events, RBC Foundation Music @ Noon Series

• Music presents the University Wind Ensemble: A MUSICAL MONTAGE

  Monday, November 20, 2017 | By dvivian

  

  The University Wind Ensemble enjoys a rich heritage of musical excellence, bringing together both university and high school students as well as members of the Niagara musical community to explore and perform major symphonic wind band works, both original and arranged.

  The University Wind Ensemble Series conducted by Zoltan Kalman

  featuring a Canada 150 Performance of Suite Canadienne composed by Michael Kositsky

  Led by conductor Zoltan Kalman, the ensemble explores major symphonic wind band works, both original and arranged. Includes a Canada 150 performance of “Suite Canadienne”: A Medley of Canadian Folksongs, composed by Michael Kositsky.

  Folksongs to be included: I’s the B’y / Un Canadien errant / Black Fly / Four Strong Winds / North West Passage / J’entends le moulin / Springhill Mine Disaster / Something to Sing About.

  Tuesday, December 5, 2017
  Time: 7:30 p.m.

  Location: Partridge Hall, First Ontario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul Street, St. Catharines, ON

  Tickets: $12*; $5* child (14 and under); $5* eyeGo program. Free admission to current Brock students with valid student ID card. *No CCIF applied; other applicable fees and taxes are extra. † Applicable fees and taxes are extra.

  Available from the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Box Office: 905.688.0722 or Long Distance Toll Free: 1.855.515.0722; online: firstontariopac.ca

  This is a special Canada 150 event.

  Tags: A Musical Montage, university wind ensemble, wind ensemble, Zoltan Kalman
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Events, Future Students, News, The University Wind Ensemble

• Music presents the Brock University Choirs: WINTERSONG

  Monday, November 20, 2017 | By dvivian

  

  The Viva Voce Choral Series features Brock’s student choral ensembles (men’s, women’s and mixed choruses).

  Under the direction of newly-appointed conductor Rachel Rensink-Hoff, these excellent choirs perform multiple concerts throughout the academic year. They have also engaged in community outreach, collaborated with choirs in Canada and the U.S., and produced CD recordings of works by Niagara composers.

  Viva Voce! Choral Series: Brock University Choirs

  conducted by Rachel Rensink-Hoff, featuring a Canada 150 Performance composed by Stephanie Martin

  Saturday, December 2, 2017
  Time: 7:30 p.m.

  Location: Cairns Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

  Tickets: $15* adults; $10* seniors & students; $5* eyeGo program. *No CCIF applied; other applicable fees and taxes are extra.

  Available from the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Box Office: 905.688.0722 or Long Distance Toll Free: 1.855.515.0722; online: firstontariopac.ca

  This is a special Canada 150 event.

   

  Tags: Choir, Department of Music, Viva Voce Choral Series, Viva Voce!
  Categories: Announcements, Events, News, Viva Voce Choral Series

• Music presents the Brock University String Orchestra: OPENINGS

  Monday, November 20, 2017 | By dvivian

  

  For the first time in the Department of Music’s history, we are proud to present our newest ensemble. Under the direction of George Cleland, the String Orchestra combines university students and community members in the performance of standard masterworks and lesser-known gems of the string repertoire.

  Brock University String Orchestra

  George Cleland – Conductor

  Wednesday November 29, 2017
  Time: 7:30 p.m.

  The Brock String Orchestra’s first concert of its inaugural season will feature repertoire from English Masters and other seasonal favourites:

  St Paul’s Suite by Gustav Holst
  Chaconne in G Minor by Henry Purcell
  An English Suite by C. Hubert H. Parry
  Concerto Opus 6 number 8, Fatto per la Notte di Natale, (the Christmas Concerto)by Arcangelo Corelli
  Theme Song for String Orchestra by Mark Zuckerman

  Location: Cairns Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, 250 St. Paul St., St. Catharines

  Tickets: $12*; $5* child (14 and under); $5* eyeGo program. Free admission to current Brock students with valid student ID card. *No CCIF applied; other applicable fees and taxes are extra. † Applicable fees and taxes are extra.

  Available from the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Box Office: 905.688.0722 or Long Distance Toll Free: 1.855.515.0722; online: firstontariopac.ca

  Tags: cairns recital hall, George Cleland, Openings, String Orchestra
  Categories: Announcements, Events, News, The University String Orchestra

• The Department of Music on stage!

  Monday, November 06, 2017 | By dtemprile

  

  Pictured above is a previous season performance of the Guitar Extravaganza (top), The Walker Quartet (left to right: Anna Hughes (2^nd violin), Faith Lau (viola), Gordon Cleland (cello) and Vera Alexeeva (1^st violin)), and pianist Dr. Karin Di Bella (bottom right).

  This weekend the Department of Music is presenting two spectacular concerts that will surely be among the highlights of the fall season.

  On Friday Nov. 10, as part of the Walker Cultural Leader Series, Encore! Professional Concert Series presents: The Walker Quartet with faculty pianist Karin Di Bella. The Walker Cultural Leader Series was generously founded by Marilyn I. Walker.

  Now in its second season, the Department of Music’s resident Walker String Quartet and Karin Di Bella present a program of two of the most iconic works in the string quintet repertoire, the Piano Quintets by Schumann in E-flat Major and Shostakovich in G Minor.

  This concert takes place on Friday Nov. 10, 2017 in the Partridge Concert Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, starting at 7:30 pm. For more information, please visit the Department concert events webpage and the ExperienceBU page.

  Then on Saturday Nov. 11 as part of our continuing celebration of Canada’s 150 year of Confederation, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is once again the venue for the ever-popular Guitar Extravangaza III including a special Canada 150 performance of Carpe Noctem.

  Brock University’s annual celebration of the guitar commences at 7:30 pm on Saturday Nov. 11 in the Cairns Recital Hall.  An orchestra of 60 guitars comprised of Brock students, local amateurs and professionals will be directed by Brock University Guitar Instructor, Timothy Phelan. Special guest soloists include Matthew McAllister (Scotland) and Emma Rush (Canada).  The concert features a tribute to the late Warren Stirtzinger with George Kane (USA) and James Bryan McCollum (Canada), music composed by Timothy Phelan and the World Premiere of Carpe Noctem – a six-movement work written especially for this occasion by Niagara composer Floyd Turner.  For more information, please visit the Department concert events webpage and the ExperienceBU page.

  Tickets for both events can be ordered from the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre Box Office (905.688.0722) or from their website.

  Tags: Brock University, cairns recital hall, Canada 150, Encore! Professional Concert Series, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, FOPAC, Guitar Extravaganza, Karin Di Bella, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, Piano, Walker Cultural Leader Series, Walker String Quartet
  Categories: Encore! Professional Concert Series, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Special Events

• Music Archive in the Library

  Wednesday, November 01, 2017 | By dtemprile

  

  Pictured is an example of a “Writing for Music” poster displayed in the Learning Commons of the James A. Gibson Library.
  Photo by Evelyn Smith. 

  Each year the fourth-year Music students perform a series of recitals as they proceed to successfully complete their studies in the Department of Music. In order to announce the performance each student must produce a poster.

  Students in the Studies in Arts and Culture program have selected a few posters from previous concert seasons and responded in creative and critical ways to create a music performance poster archive. This playful archive is now on display in the Learning Commons of the James A. Gibson library.

  The fourth-year Music Student Solo Recitals return for the 2017-18 season beginning March 2 through April 2, 2018. For more information on the Student Solo Recitals, please visit the music website. For information on past Student Solo Recitals, please visit the 2016-17 season concert details.

  This mini showcase will be on display in the Learning Commons of the James A. Gibson Library until 8 pm on Saturday Nov. 4, 2017 and is available to view during Library hours.

  For further information, please visit our ExperienceBU page.

  Tags: Brock University, display, james a. gibson library, learning commons, library, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, music, recital, stac, studies in arts and culture, writing for music
  Categories: Current Students, Events, News

• Percussion Improv at the MIWSFPA

  Friday, September 22, 2017 | By dtemprile

  

  Join us for an outdoor improv performance!

  Percussionist Devon Fornelli will converse in real time with the city soundscape using traditional instruments and found materials.

  Mr. Fornelli has extensive experience as a soloist, an orchestral percussionist, and as a chamber instrumentalist. His range of talent covers all the diverse areas of percussion and drums from the orchestral percussion section to contemporary art music, and most traditions in-between. This is his third improv performance in the Raceway that runs adjacent to the MIWSFPA.

  The performance will take place in the Lancaster, Brooks & Welch LLP Pathway, between the MIWSFPA and FOPAC.

  In case of rain, the performance will be relocated to the MIWSFPA lobby.

  Tags: concerts & shows, Devon Fornelli, Festivals, FOPAC, free, MIWSFPA, music, Niagara community events, Outdoors, Recreation, Social
  Categories: Events, Faculty & Instructors, Special Events

• Brock University welcomes Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff!

  Tuesday, July 04, 2017 | By dvivian

  

  Brock University welcomes Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff to the Department of Music at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts.

  Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff is the newly appointed Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Brock University. She has also been named Artistic Director of the Niagara-based Avanti Chamber Singers.

  Former conductor of the McMaster University Choir and founder of the McMaster Women’s Choir, Dr. Rensink-Hoff completed her Doctorate and Master of Music degree at Western University, pursuing additional studies at the Eastman School of Music Conducting Institute, the Voice Care Network of St. John’s University, Minnesota, and the University of Toronto. She has engaged in master-classes under conductors Helmuth Rilling, Joseph Flummerfelt, Anton Armstrong, Dale Warland and the late Sir David Willcocks.

  Vice-President of Programming for Choral Canada, Rachel Rensink-Hoff is the 2014 winner of the prestigious Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting awarded by the Ontario Arts Council. In 2015, her McMaster Women’s Choir was awarded first prize in the National Choral Competition for Amateur Choirs of the CBC and Choral Canada. That same year she was nominated for the Excellence in Teaching Award at McMaster University.

  She publishes regularly in the Choral Journal of the American Choral Directors’ Association as well as in Choral Canada’s Anacrusis and The Canadian Music Educator. Rachel works frequently as guest conductor, adjudicator, conference presenter and workshop clinician. Current engagements include a session on Canadian and American women choral composers at the 2017 national conference of the American Choral Directors’ Association in Minneapolis, Minnesota and a presentation on Canadian choral music at the 2017 World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona, Spain. She also looks forward to serving as guest conductor of this year’s 2017 Nova Scotia Provincial Youth Choir.

  Tags: Choir, choral, Dr. Rachel Rensink-Hoff
  Categories: Announcements, Faculty & Instructors, News, Viva Voce Choral Series