UPEI Music Professor Directs National Youth Band of Canada in Maritime Tour
Fifty-five of the country's most outstanding young musicians will congregate at the University of Prince Edward Island this weekend to begin four days of intensive rehearsals for their Maritime tour as members of the 2007 National Youth Band of Canada. Their first concert takes place at the Confederation Centre of the Arts on Tuesday, May 1, beginning at 7:30pm.
The National Youth Band of Canada provides an opportunity for young musicians between 16 and 21 to engage in intensive and#145;musicing' with a professional conductor and soloist, and to share and demonstrate their musical achievement and creativity. Each year this auditioned ensemble meets in a different location to rehearse before a performance tour of the region.
The band will feature guest soloist D'Arcy Philip Gray on percussion and UPEI's Dr. Karem J. Simon as Music Director. Dr. Simon is well known throughout this region for his work with the UPEI Wind Symphony which has recorded eight CDs under his direction. He has also directed a variety of provincial honour bands in PEI and Nova Scotia.
"It is my privilege to conduct this year's National Youth Band of Canada and I eagerly await our rehearsals and the opportunity to create wonderful music with these fine musicians," says Simon. "It is an unparalleled opportunity for the community to hear such a distinguished ensemble perform."
Prince Edward Island is well represented with five UPEI music students performing and#150; Third-year Meghan Harris on percussion; and fourth-year music education majors Karri Shea, clarinet; Steve Giddings, trombone; John Giberson, euphonium; and Genevieve Mullaly, tuba.
"This is the second time I have had the opportunity to participate in this esteemed ensemble, and I am very honored this year to have been given the responsibilities of principal clarinetist," says Karri Shea. "I look forward very much to seeing what Dr. Simon, one of the finest band directors in Canada, can lead us to accomplish."
"This year's programming reflects the rich diversity of our wind band genre's heritage," explains Karem Simon. "It will include original and transcribed classics by Jacob, Grainger, Bach, and Turina, complemented with contemporary works by Nelson, Menard, and Gillingham. In addition, vibraphone soloist D'Arcy Gray, one of Canada's pre-eminent percussionists, will be featured in a performance of Windhorse by Canadian composer Peter Hatch."
Tickets for Tuesday night's performance in Charlottetown are available at the Confederation Centre's Box Office. Performances are also scheduled for Amherst and Halifax.
