Cowichan Classical Concerts

Tag: Piazzola

  • Show of Hands

    Ann Mendenhall, piano;  Catharina de Beer, piano; Emily Armour,  piano; Rykie Avenant, piano

    Sunday, April 14 at 2pm

    This concert is at Duncan United Church

    Back by popular demand, Ann, Catharina, Emily and Rykie have prepared another program of works for four, six and eight hands at one piano. Included are compositions by Liszt, Mozart, Schubert, Czerny, Bizet, and a few fun pieces that will bring a smile to your face. A concert not to be missed, by four performers who find profound joy in this close collaboration.

    Programme

    Bolero-Fanfare (8 hands) – Gabriel van Calt

    Air, from Suite no 3, BWV 1068, arranged by Amadeus Gati (6 hands) – Johann Sebastian Bach

    Allegro in A minor for Piano, Four Hands, D. 947, Op. 144, “Lebensstürme” – Franz Peter Schubert

    Two Minuets in G Major, arranged by Franzpeter Goebels (6 hands) – Franz Joseph Haydn

    Les préludes (Symphonic Poem after Lamartine), S591  (4 hands) – Franz Liszt

    Anyone for Tennis? & Bénodet Breeze (6 hands) – Mike Cornick

    Children’s Games (4 hands) – Georges Bizet
    The Top; The Doll; The Merry-Go-Round; Trumpet and Drum; Puss in the Corner; Blindman’s Buff; Leapfrog; Little Husband, Little Wife; The Ball

    Sonata in D major for Piano Four Hands, K381 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    1. Allegro  2. Andante  3. Allegro molto

    Fantaisie sur des thèmes d’opéras de Mozart, opus 741 no 1 (6 hands) – Carl Czerny

    Libertango, arranged by Khatia and Gvantsa Buniatishvili (4 hands) – Astor Piazzolla

         

    Biographies

    Ann Baker Mendenhall grew up in Costa Rica, received her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, and pursued her Master’s degree at the University of Victoria, studying with the late Dr. Robin Wood. Ann has been passionately involved in both teaching piano and performing for most of her life. In addition to solo performances, she enjoys collaborating with other musicians, playing chamber music and works for piano ensemble. Widely sought after as a teacher and mentor, she is dedicated to imparting to her students the joy of accomplishment and love of music. An ardent promoter of music in the wider community, Ann has served many years as President of the Cowichan Valley Music Teachers’ Association (CVMTA). She also was Chemainus Classical Concerts’ Artistic Director for a dozen years before handing the baton to Rykie and Catharina.

    Catharina de Beer lives and works in Cobble Hill, BC. She completed her Teacher’s Licentiate Diploma in Piano at the University of South Africa. She also holds a degree in Teaching with specialization in inclusive education from the University of South Africa.  Before immigrating to Canada, Catharina worked in the private school system, teaching piano as well as group music lessons. She was active as a collaborative pianist, organist and music director of various churches and choirs. Soon after settling in the Cowichan Valley in 2010, she established a music studio where she teaches piano and music theory. She is frequently called on for collaborative work, and performs piano music for four hands as a member of Double Digits Duo.

    Emily Armour has a Masters’ in Piano Performance from UVic and now teaches online to a studio of 30+ students. Recently, she was selected by a jury consisting of Canada Council, National Gallery, War Museum, and DND, as 1st alternate for the prestigious Canadian Armed Forces Artist Program Group 11. A veteran spouse, and composer specializing in commemorative music, Emily was inspired to create a federal non profit: Music for Veterans Project (MVP). MVP honours past and present members of the Armed Forces through original music, in order to help them feel seen & valued. Not only is this empathic work highly beneficial to veterans, it also greatly enhances the lives of young composers by allowing them to contribute towards something bigger than themselves that has profound historical significance. If you’re reading this, please consider making a donation to MVP. Your support can ensure that those who defend the freedoms we enjoy are recognized by future generations through the most universal language.

    www.musicforveteransproject.com

    Rykie Avenant is a graduate of the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. After obtaining a Licentiate in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Music Education, she worked as repetiteur for the Cape Town and Pretoria opera companies before relocating to Canada in 1991. Rykie came to Vancouver Island 21 years ago via Powell River, where she appeared regularly in concert for the Academy of Music, as well as at the International Kathaumixw Choral Festival.  In the Cowichan Valley she is in demand as teacher, coach and performer, and currently focuses primarily on collaborative work with various voice studios and instrumental ensembles.  She performs piano music for four hands as a member of Double Digits Duo.

  • Buttons and Bellows

    Walter Martella, accordion, piano; Karina Inkster, accordion, piano

    Sunday, March 17 at 2pm

    With their fresh and unique approach to accordion music, Walter (instrumentalist, conductor, and music director of the Powell River Academy of Music) and Karina (musician, writer, and nutrition and fitness coach) will charm you with a program of multi-genre music including works from movie scores, pieces by Piazzolla, and even Chopin and Bach arranged for their instruments!

    Programme

    Set 1:

    Tango Pour Claude – Richard Galliano

    Blue – Richard Galliano

    Prelude in C / Ave Maria – J.S. Bach/Charles Gounod

    Oblivion – Astor Piazzolla

    Si Dolce è Il Tormento – Claudio Monteverdi

    Il Postino – Luis Bacalov

    Sur le fil – Yann Tiersen

    Set 2:

    Fracanapa – Astor Piazzolla

    Chiquilin de Bachin – Astor Piazzolla 

    Apnea – Richard Galliano

    Nocturne – Ernest Marsden

    Serenade sur l’eau – Jacques Ibert

    Monster waltz – Yann Tiersen

    Tanti Anni Prima – Astor Piazzolla

    Libertango – Astor Piazzolla

         

    Biographies

    Conductor and Music Director of the Powell River Academy of Music, Walter Martella is an accomplished pianist, accordionist, and trumpeter. He earned a Diploma in Jazz Trumpet from Malaspina College (VIU), a Bachelor of Music Degree from UVic, and attended the Banff School of Fine Arts.
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    Conducting became a significant part of Walter’s life and career when he returned to Powell River to study at PRAM under Don James.
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    He has participated in the British Columbia Choral Federation’s conducting program and has collaborated with world-renowned conductors. He has led noteworthy works like Holst’s Rig Veda for choir and harp, the Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. He conducts the Academy Chamber Choir, Chor Musica Men’s Choir and the Powell River Chorus, as well as maintaining a full private teaching schedule.
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    Walter is a strong believer in the power of music as an important part of community, and has been an adjudicator for instrumental and choral festivals throughout British Columbia. He has recorded five jazz CDs, performed provincially with many well-known musicians in multiple genres, and continues to be in demand all along the West Coast as a trumpet soloist and jazz pianist.

    Karina Inkster is a fitness and nutrition coach, author of 5 books, magazine writer, and host of the No-B.S. Vegan podcast (syndicated on Powell River radio). Founder of K.I. Health & Fitness, she and her online coaching team work with vegan clients all over the world. Karina holds a Master’s degree in Gerontology, specializing in health and aging.
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    What does all this have to do with music? Well, nothing. When she’s not working (or doing a ridiculous number of chin-ups), Karina attempts to make time for her musical pursuits. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 5, has been playing Australian didgeridoo for over 2 decades, and picked up the accordion in 2013. She’s been studying accordion with Walter Martella since 2018 after moving from Vancouver to Powell River. 

  • Piano de colores

    Angélica López-Arzate, piano

    Sunday, January 21 at 2pm

    THIS CONCERT IS SOLD OUT!

    A graduate of the National University of Mexico, Angélica now makes the Cowichan Valley her home. She naturally demonstrates a deep understanding of Latin-American rhythm, colour, texture, and interpretation, and has performed as soloist in Mexico, Bolivia, Cuba, USA and Canada. Angélica warmly invites her audience to explore international horizons with her through the music of Liszt, Chopin, Albéniz and Piazzolla, amongst others.

    Programme

    Danza Cubana No.7: La Siete — Mario Ruiz Armengol (1914—2002)
    Intermezzo No. 1 – Manuel Ponce (1882—1948)
    La Comparsa – Ernesto Lecuona (1895—1963)

    Trois Études de Concert, S. 144. No. 3: Un Sospiro – Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

    Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23 – Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)

    Salsa Creek (BWV 847 “Salsa”) – Michael Schütz (1963– )

    Asturias (Leyenda) – Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)

    Andalucía – Ernesto Lecuona (1895—1963)
    Ante el Escorial – Ernesto Lecuona (1895—1963
    Malagueña – Ernesto Lecuona (1895—1963)

    2 Konzertetüden, S.145. No. 1: Waldesrauschen – Franz Liszt (1811–1886)

    Pan con Timba – Aldo López-Gavilán (1979– )

         

    Biography

    Angélica López-Arzate received her Bachelor´s degree in Music with honors from Mexico´s National University (UNAM) and her Master´s in Music from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she was awarded as a Fellow of the Graduate Studies.
    She has received multiple awards in piano performance throughout her career and different scholarships to continue with her music education.
    As a soloist she has performed in different venues in Mexico, Cuba, Bolivia, USA, and Canada. She also has collaborated as a musical arranger, soloist pianist and accompanist with music producers in radio and TV channels. Angélica has broadened her musical horizons through composition and musical arrangements.
    Nowadays she is learning music production, and she is passionate about teaching music and composition with the aim of motivating the love to the music.