Contemporary Showcase is a festival of contemporary music by Canadian composers. ESFRS students participate in this festival both as soloists and in ensembles. Here are some performances from the 2019 festival:
Tag Archives: Community
Bach in the Subways, March 21 2019
On J.S. Bach’s birthday (March 21 and into the weekend) musicians all over the world unite to perform free Bach in subways & public spaces, all day & all night, to share our love for our art form and sow the seeds for future generations of classical music lovers.
ALREADY PLANNING FOR 2021:
Hi all, due to the new recommended protocols for social isolation to prevent spread of infectious disease, our Bach in the Subways event at Bonnie Doon has been cancelled by our host venue. Please celebrate Bach’s birthday at home, by playing his music, and stay healthy! We’ll be bach in 2021!
Still planning to play at Bonnie Doon LRT station and shopping centre. Watch this space for details as things are finalized!
Bach in the Subways, March 2019:
Our 2019 event was at City Hall on March 21, the actual day of Bach’s birthday! So we threw him a party complete with cards, hats, and noisemakers. The music was a “lottery concert” (selections drawn at random) of pieces by Bach and his family from Suzuki books 1 through 6 for recorder and flute.
Bach in the Subways, March 2015:
In Edmonton,we were at the City Market in City Hall, and at the Churchill LRT station We started at noon and stopped when we ran out of Bach.
The flutes, recorders, violins, violas, and cellos played everything from the Anna Magdelena Bach notebook to the Double Concerto for two violins.
The students were from the Suzuki organizations for both string and wind instruments:
Society for Talent Education
https://ste-suzukistrings.org
Edmonton Suzuki Flute & Recorder Society
https://suzuki-flute-recorder.ca
Here’s a short video taken by one of our parents: Post.
November Group Concert
At the end of November, our students perform duets, trios, quartets, and other ensemble music that they learn in their group lessons. The group lessons are an important community building part of our program, and it is in the group lessons where the students learn the skills that will keep them able to play music with their friends throughout their adult lives.
We welcome families who are interested in having lessons with their children. Come to the concert and see what we do! Registration in our program is open year-round. Click here for registration information.
In 2018 and 2017, the concert was at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, where we also have our regular weekly group lessons. Here are some highlights from the 2018 concert:
And highlights from the 2017 concert:
Here is the link to the rest of the playlist, if you want to see the whole concert:
In 2016, the concert was at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church. Here is a short selection featuring the Silverwinds playing in 7/8 with a bass flute:
And another selection from 2016, featuring our beginners playing their very first ensemble piece:
In 2015, the concert was at the Strathearn United Church. Here are some highlights from that performance:
In 2013 and 2014, the concert was in the Expressionz Cafe. There were many favourable comments about the coffeehouse setting. Many parents enjoyed being able to sit back with a latte while enjoying the concert. Unfortunately, Expressionz had to close, so in November 2015 we found a new venue. Thank you Expressionz, for hosting us!
Opening Play-in and FREE drop-in beginner class
The first group event of the year is our opening play-in to start the fall term of group classes. All the students gather at the same time to play their known repertoire together. This is an opportunity for the youngest and the oldest students to play together and learn from each other in a multi-level group.
The beginner class, which we call the “Toolbox” class, includes students who have just begun their lessons. Often they will be working on fundamental skills away from the instrument. Since having the instrument is not a requirement to participate in the beginner class, we open it up to any parents with children who would like to try a class to see what it is like.
Group classes are normally on Thursday evenings, but we moved the play-in to the weekend in order to be part of the Alberta Culture Days events. Time and location of this year’s event:
Saturday Oct. 1, 2016 – Nordic Studio A, Arts Barns
- Beginner drop-in class (anyone can participate) 11:30 am – 12:15 pm
- Multi-level demonstration class noon – 1 pm
- Grand march and performance in the Gazebo in McIntyre Park 1 – 2 pm
Check out our listing on the Alberta Culture Days page: click here