New Canadian Publisher in town

On the weekend I attended the provinical NATS AGM in Toronto (thanks everyone for a great day!) and had the oppotunity to meet Brian McDonagh of Plangere Publishing.

What a great vision and a great guy...I bought the TORONTO SONG BOOK with works by John Greer, David Passmore, Colin Eatock etc.etc.etc....it felt like going home to be back at UofT and surrounded by these names! This is a nicely printed, well bound book that was $40 and gives a great bang for your buck. It also stays open on my piano which is a bonus!


Plangere [plän'jâ'rā]: to be struck, or moved, effected by.

I am definitely struck by Plangere and look for the Kingston Song Book next to include Clifford Crawley, John Burge, Martha Hill Duncan and more!

Montreal International Music Competition - Go Canada!

This just in from my friend Kathy Domoney....


Press ReleaseFor immediate releaseVoice 2009 : and the candidates are...

From May 18 to 28, 2009
The Montreal International Musical Competition, Voice Edition 2009

THE MIMC 2009 AT A GLANCE
- 29 candidates
- 15 women, 14 men
- 9 countries
- Total prizes: over $150,000 in grants and engagements, including a $30,000 First Prize
- People’s Choice Award “Tribute to André Turp” – $2,500
- Imposed Canadian work in the Quarter Final round, Darkness Comes, commissioned by the Competition from Gary Kulesha

- Recording of a CD by the First Prize winner, offered by the Analekta record label

- Quarter Finals (29 candidates): May 19 to 21 at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm; Salle Pierre-Mercure

- Semi-finals (16 candidates): May 22 at 7:30 pm and May 23 at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm; Salle Pierre-Mercure

- Master classes: Sunday, May 24: Tom Krause (2:30 pm) and Sherrill Milnes (7 pm); Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur

- Finals (8 candidates): May 25 and 26 at 7:30 pm; Orchestre Métropolitain; Alain Trudel, conductor; Théâtre Maisonneuve

- Gala Concert: May 28 at 7:30 pm; Orchestre Métropolitain; Alain Trudel, conductor / With the special participation of tenor Joseph Kaiser (3rd Grand Prize and Joseph Rouleau Award in 2002) and mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne (4th Prize in 2007)

- Spokesperson: Simon Durivage, news anchor on Radio-Canada’s Réseau de l’information, and music lover

BROADCASTERS
- Espace musique, official broadcaster- Espace classique- CBC Radio 2- Euroradio

From May 18 to 28, 2009,Montreal welcomes some of the best young singers in the world !

THE CANDIDATES
This 8th edition of the Montreal International Musical Competition presents:
Pascale BEAUDIN, soprano, Canada
Jennifer BORGHI, mezzo-soprano, Italy
Leslie Ann BRADLEY, soprano, Canada
Charlotte CORWIN, soprano, Canada
Anthony Roth COSTANZO, countertenor, United States
Catrin Aur DAVIES, soprano, United Kingdom
Marta DE CASTRO DE LAGO, soprano, Spain
Leslie John FLANAGAN, baritone, Australia
Andrew GARLAND, baritone, United States
Elena GUSEVA, soprano, Russia
Lee HEE SANG, countertenor, South Korea
Stephen HEGEDUS, bass, Canada
Falko HÖNISH, baritone, Germany
Byoung Nam HWANG, tenor, South Korea
Sharleen JOYNT, soprano, Canada
Taehyun JUN, bass, South Korea
Jeong Kyu KIM, tenor, South Korea
Seil KIM, tenor, South Korea
Mariane LEMIEUX, soprano, Canada
Angela MEADE, soprano, United States
Yannick-Muriel NOAH, soprano, Canada
Sidney OUTLAW, baritone, United States
Irina SHISHKOVA, mezzo-soprano, Russia
Maghan STEWART-McPHEE, soprano, Canada
Alexandre SYLVESTRE, bass-baritone, Canada
Christina TANNOUS, soprano, Canada
Giles TOMKINS, bass-baritone, Canada
Kijong WI, tenor, South Korea
Jegyung YANG, soprano, South Korea

The candidates’ order of appearance is determined by random draw on May 18
The complete musical programme of each round is available at www.concoursmontreal.ca

COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
QUARTER FINALS – 6 sessionsMay 19, 20, and 21 at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pmSalle Pierre-Mercure, Centre Pierre-Péladeau300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East, Montreal
Single ticketsPer session – Regular: $10 / Student: $5
Quarter/Semi-finals Pass(9 sessions, official programme included)
Regular: $70 / Student: $35
Reservations: 514-987-6919 / Admission Network: 514-790-1245www.admission.com
MIMC Pass(All rounds and Gala Concert, official programme included)Regular: $165 / Student: $55Outlet: Jeunesses Musicales of Canada

SEMI-FINALS – 3 sessionsMay 22 at 7:30 pmMay 23 at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pmSalle Pierre-Mercure, Centre Pierre-Péladeau300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East, Montreal
Single ticketsPer session – Regular: $12 / Student: $5
Quarter/Semi-finals Pass(9 sessions, official programme included)Regular: $70 / Student: $35Reservations: 514-987-6919 / Admission Network: 514-790-1245www.admission.com
MIMC Pass(All rounds and Gala Concert, official programme included)Regular: $165 / Student: $55Outlet: Jeunesses Musicales of Canada

MASTER CLASSES
May 24 at 2:30 pm (Tom Krause) and 7 pm (Sherrill Milnes)
Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur100 Sherbrooke St. East, Montreal
Telephone: 514-872-5338
Free admission

FINALS – 2 sessions
May 25 and 26 at 7:30 pm
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts175 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montreal
Single tickets
Per session – Regular: $22.50 / $32.50
Student: $10
Reservations: 514-842-2112 / 1 866-842-2112
www.laplacedesarts.com

GALA CONCERTMay 28 at 7:30 pm
Théâtre Maisonneuve, Place des Arts175 Sainte-Catherine St. West, Montreal
With the special participation of tenor Joseph Kaiser (3rd Grand Prize and Joseph Rouleau Award in 2002) and mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne (4th Prize and Professional Chamber of Opera Managers Award in 2007)
Single ticketsRegular: $27.50 / $45Student: $10
Reservations: 514-842-2112 / 1 866-842-2112
www.laplacedesarts.com

The complete musical programme of each round is available atwww.concoursmontreal.ca
Simon Durivage, spokespersonSimon Durivage—news anchor on Radio-Canada’s Réseau de l’information, pianist, and music lover—is the media spokesperson for the 2009 Voice edition of the MIMC. The Competition organizers are especially proud to be able to collaborate with one of the country’s most highly respected journalists.

Tickets:Admission: 514.790.1245 / www.admission.com
Place des Arts: 514.842.2112 / www.laplacedesarts.com
Details: www.concoursmontreal.ca

Richard Miller joins the Company of Heaven

I just learned last night from the Collaborative Piano Blog that vocal pedagogue Richard Miller has died. Chris at the CPB has posted the press release and you can find more information at the Oberlin Conservatory where Miller taught.

On a personal note, I have had a few opportunities to work with and hear Richard Miller speak about singing. When I was a young singer and just graduated from the University of Toronto, my teacher Mary Morrison encouraged me to sign up for his master class series that was being hosted at the University of Ottawa. That master class was pivotal in my life for many reasons - it was there that Miller encouraged me to do my graduate work with the late Dr. William McIver at Eastman. I also met my future sister-in-law and many people who would become friends and colleagues.

Just last year I attended Paul Kiesgen's week-long workshop titled Training Soprano Voices at Indiana University. After 4 days of discussing the history of pedagogy writing and the issues related specifically to the female voice, Miller arrived to talk about his own writings and to teach some of the young singers. What was incredible to me was that after 40 years of teaching and writing and lecturing all over the world, he still had the same passion and energy I had heard almost 15 years earlier! He was still committed to his message and to getting the most out of a singer and their teacher.

He was truly an inspiration and his writings will forever prove to be the most influential of the 20th Century.

Canadians Sweep Palm Beach Opera Competition

Congratulations to Canadian soprano Yannick-Muriel Noah and baritone Elliot Madore who recently won First Prize in the Senior Division and Junior Division respectively at the Palm Beach Opera Competition . Noah was also selected for the audience award after her performance of Verdi's aria Pace, pace, mio Dio from La Forza del destino.