Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th Anniversary - our first act booked

We, as the executive of the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25, are all so excited and just giddy and happy and thrilled and jumping up and down - as you can tell we are all so easily moved. We have booked our first act of the program and it is a BIG one.

During the Celebration program, over 3 weeks worth of art events and activities, there are two Saturday night extravaganza's. These are called "GALA'S" and we have had some amazing performances from individuals, groups, duets, ensembles and more. We are thrilled to be announcing, that we will be having Ken Whiteley and his big band performing. It has in the past been held at the Music Hall, a historic building, with a stage, wooden floors, balcony made to help you to see everything that is happening below, and we will be enjoying the sound of this Canadian roots music legend. He is a gifted guitar and mandolin player, performing his original songs in blues and folk sound. He is also a 7 time Juno awards nominee.

The Gala will be a wonderful night of Ken with 10 musicians wowing us with guitars, bass, drums, horns, keyboards and singers. It will be a night that you will not be able to sit still and be transported to a place of jumping, clapping, laughing, singing and enjoying the wonders of arts in the Uxbridge community.

Full details will be follow BUT I JUST HAD TO TELL YOU!!!! We are so luck that we have supporters and friends to the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts like Carolyn and Neil Turnbull.

Anne of Green Gables Here? Welcome Anne Shirley

One of the many wonderful theatre groups in the Uxbridge community, OnStage Uxbridge, is staging a Canadian favourite, considered Charlottetown's original musical, Anne of Green Gables Musical, and it will be playing at the Uxbridge Music Hall, January 14th, 15, 16th and again 21st, 22nd, and 23rd at 7:30 and on Saturday Matinees, it will be at 3pm. This is truly a "warm family show" that will touch your heart, and tickle your funny bone.

This play is set in Avonlea on Prince Edward Island in 1908, and features farm folk Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a brother and sister out to adopt a boy to help out on the farm. Instead Anne Shirley arrives, and they consider sending her back. Many touching and hilarious events happen, and they end up loving their new daughter.

OnStage Uxbridge presents 4 shows every year to entertain the community, and people come from all over to watch the strong and disciplined performances on the stage. This group always presents one of their plays at the end of the Celebration of the Arts event, and am very excited to understand what it will be for the 25th anniversary this coming September/October. Watch this blog to find out.

So, do you want to sit around in your house complaining about the cold Canadian winter, or do you want to experience an eastern Canadian tradition of theatre and go to see Anne of Green Gables at the Music Hall? Come on - I don't have to answer that for you!!! See you at the music hall.

Two wonderful voices from Uxbridge - soon to be well known?

I know that there are a number of great respected artists that are living in and around the Uxbridge Community, and some of past blogs have mentioned and described who they might be. But what about the young up and comers. The ones that you may not know of yet, and most likely will sometime in the near future. These are the voices of two young early twenty singers.

And I will apologize at this point if I have missed some famous, semi-famous and soon to be famous new artists, so please let me know who you are and I will devote a blog just to you.

Lauren Christoff is a well known in Uxbridge, and that is not only for the reason that she has had a couple of her songs - including "Won't Stop" - played on the radio stations of Mix 99.9, The New Flow 93.5, CHUM FM and more. She has also done a tour or two and continues to gain some momentum in the very difficult life of a vocal artist. The amazing thing is that while she is working so hard to make her career get a liftoff, she is still studying at Ryerson University. WOW

Leah Daniels (Speers) is also doing a great job making a strong name for herself by teaching, writing, videoing, blogging, and more. She sure knows how to do it. She has recently created a great video titled "Northern Senorita" that is fun to watch and listen to. One thing that I just love that Leah does is her "Leah's Song of the Day" and she does cover songs with just one other instrument and it truly shows the versatility and different styles that she has a strong grasp of.

Both of these gorgeous voices are past students of Jennifer Neveu-Cook, a local voice teacher. She has done some fabulous things with voices in Uxbridge.

Each of these ladies are truly trying following their dreams, and I have to say "hats off to both of you". I wish I had the confidence, passion and joy for what I was doing to do the same thing. I will just have to say that I can feel that I am part of a community that cheers for and supports great young artists like Lauren and Leah.

New Year - are you excited yet??? Just look at the kids

You know when I think of all of the wonderful opportunities that have been offered in Uxbridge and surrounding communities for all aspects of the arts, I am in awe of what is available.

There is for the joy of listening - choirs, recitals, soloists, foundation, in the showers, and just around on the street.

There is for the excitement of the eyes - artists that work in the medium of oil, watercolour, mixed media, marble, wood, stone, pastel, cloth and so much more.

Wearable art in jewellery, clothes and accessories.

Excitement of performances in comedies, dramas, tragedies and musicals.

The art of the spoken word in play readings, author readings, poetry readings and conversations on the streets.

But some of the most exciting buzz about art in Uxbridge is coming from the Uxbridge Youth Centre that is located at 34 Brock Street. They have some great stuff happening for the youth there such as internet, books, computers, planned activities to keep them physically active, and then planned activities to keep them warm and busy. AND they offer a huge variety of art programs.

They continue to offer programs like - Digital Photography, Thursday night Art Jams, Cake decorating, writing, sculpting and multi media mural. Recently, the Roxy Theater sponsored a "graffiti contest" to cover the outside of their building. Using graffiti as a medium, the youth were encouraged to create something in a very large proportion that would reflect themselves, what they hoped to be and their community. From all the entries, only a few were selected and secured on the wall. WHAT a fabulous result and you can see it on the side and back walls of the theatre and is definitely worth a look at 46 Brock Street. Thanks Cathy and Mark for the opportunity.

Art! it starts as a spark - and the Uxbridge Youth Centre is there to ignite.