Planning for the 25th Anniversary of Celebration of the Arts

As with anything that is going to be spectacular, and a "cannot miss" event, the planning and ideas happen so many months ahead. Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts 25th anniversary year is not any different. We have been planning for a number of months, but now is the crunch and final organizing of everything.

The best thing about the planning meetings are the ideas that come streaming from the committee. One idea sparks the thoughts of another member, which give another a suggestion to make it even that much better. BUT if we did all of the things that we have been talking about, we would have to extend the celebrations into 4 weeks instead of 2.

If you love arts, and I mean any kind of art in the form of sound, visual, movement, prose and so much more, this really is the event to keep in mind. And we will absolutely forgive you if you can't make it to every event, but boy oh boy, you are going to want to. And it won't be very hard on your pocket book because many of the events will be FREE. Yessssirrrr, that is what I said. FREE.

We are also making a strong increased effort to fit in a number of "children's focused" events as well, and look forward to stirring the imaginations of those young people from Uxbridge township.

Watch this blog and the papers for announcements on events, artists, schedules, descriptions and even deadlines if you want to participate in some of the contents.

Please push this out to your network, and over the next few months you will be as excited as I am and as our executive is.

This is going to be almost as good as the 2010 Winter Olympics!!! Almost? or better.

Brahms and Lauridsen performed by Uxbridge Chamber Choir

The first of this years concerts from the Uxbridge Chamber Choir will be held on Sunday, March 7th at 3pm. It will be held at St. Pauls Anglican Church on Toronto Street.

I am sure that all of you have heard at Johannes Brahms, and some of you can even name a number of the wonderful compositions of this well known composer, but what about the beauty of the poetry of "Liebes Leider Waltzes". This is a collection of love poems put to music, and the highlight of this performance will be not just from the beauty of the voices of the choir, but of the accompaniment. This is composed to be accompanied by 4 hands on 1 piano, and we are thrilled to have Anne Mizen and Dorothy Jovkovic taking on the role of the 4 hands. Something to hear AND to see.

The other work large work that is performed is Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna, beautiful and haunting chanting music for a Requiem Mass. When you hear the beauty of the tones and sound of this Latin texted piece, you will feel as if you're floating, taken away with the movement of the lines and sections as they move with and around each other.

To round out the program, they will also have a selection of pieces by a small group of singers called the Tudor Singers.

Okay this music will not be the foot stomping, hand clapping and dancing in the aisles type of music, but you will appreciate the skill of Tom Baker as director, the choir in sharing their love of singing German and Latin text and the sound of this type of music floating and ringing in the wonderful acoustics of St. Paul's church.

So I've got you itching to find tickets? - they can be purchased for $18 at PharmaChoice, Blue Heron Books or at the door. Wondrous.

PS - if you have a concert or art program that you want to have me mention, please contact me and I will be happy to pass the information along.

Musical Families

As I mentioned in another post, there is a great concert happening on Friday February 12th celebrating the great connection in a family that loves music. This is obviously timed to work with the official Family Day on February 15th, and what a wonderful way to celebrate and help out a valuable cause. This concert will celebrate the music of instruments, voice, and offer you a selection of classical, theatre, contemporary, blues, folk and more.

The information is, because you just have to try to go - is -

Uxbridge Music Scholarship Fund presents Musical Families held at St. Andrew's-Chalmers Presbyterian Church, 40 Toronto Street South on February 12th @ 7:30pm.

Tickets are at the door - Adults $15, Students $10 and children under the age of 10 are FREE.

There is never any lack of art activities in this community of Uxbridge, Ontario.

Guys and Dolls will be hopping at Uxbridge Music Hall

Prepared to be entertained by the cast of Guys and Dolls at the Uxbridge Music Hall from February 4 - 7 and 11 - 14th and for no other reason but this is such a FUN musical to watch. The tickets can be purchased at Woods and Woods (905-852-1810) and they are $10 for youth and $18 for adults.

It is your typical love story of the "good girl" (Sister Sarah Brown) and the "bad boy" (Sky Masterson), how they meet, the sparks between them, how they come from different worlds, and how they fall in love. Beautiful story, at least for those of you who are very sappy.

The secondary love story is the comedic couple, Miss Adelaide and Nathan Detroit, and how their long suffering engagement of many years, is going to be resolved or Nathan will loose his adoring Adelaide.

Also watch for the great character part of Nicely-Nicely Johnson who is hilarious as one of the side kicks of Sky and Nathan. I think that the best song in the whole show, done by Nicely-Nicley is "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat". So funny.

Thank you Ryleepuss Productions for presenting this 'gotta go see' musical to Uxbridge (Ontario, Canada) for all those people in Uxbridge UK who thought excitedly that they were going to be able to see this show.

There is never "hey honey there is nothing happening in Uxbridge" in our little, arts focused town. Trust me.

PS - more on the Uxbridge Scholarship Fundraising "Musical Families" concert later

Uxbridge Music Scholarship Fundraiser

EXACTLY - what the title says. The Uxbridge Music Scholarship Fund is having a fundraiser. This is a fabulous group of people who raise money to distribute scholarships each year to young adults who are pursuing musical education beyond their high school. We have seen some amazing young people win and continue to gain recognition at their chosen schools and instruments.

The fundraiser called "Musical Families" will be just as it reads - family groups performing with a varied and exciting program.

The families that will be performing are - Natalie and Nicole Dnes, Magoo and Mally McGragor, Maggie and Gareth Anderson, Jane and Elsie Loewen, Miram, Mac and Jaqueline Smith, Lesley & Vickie Joosten and John and Rita Jackson with Derik Gould. (More to come about each of these in the next few blogs posts).

WAHOO - this is going to be some kind of a great night.

It will be held at St. Andrew's Chalmers Presbyterian Church on Friday, February 12th at 7:30. Tickets are available at the door at the cost of Adults $15 and Students $10. This will be a great way to start the long "Family Day" weekend. Come on out and support the Scholarship fund.