Overtures
The KWS Patron Newsletter
January 2013
Season Sponsor
Podium Sponsor
Signatures Series
Sponsor
Pops Series
Sponsor
Gala Title Sponsor
Intersections
Co-Title Sponsors
Family Series Sponsor
Carnegie Hall and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony “Link up”
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has just announced an extraordinary
partnership with Carnegie Hall. You may already know the KitchenerWaterloo Symphony has offered primary school concerts for over 30 years,
and that we now reach over 13,000 students each season through our
School Concerts Program. Through this program the KWS partners with our
school boards and educators to provide a rich music education resource for
Waterloo Region. Enriching this program further, the KWS has recently
announced a new partnership with Carnegie Hall’s prestigious Weill Music
Institute. This partnership brings the Weill Music Institute’s ‘Link Up’
program to schools and students across Waterloo Region. The ‘Link Up’
program unites the classroom with the concert hall, giving students the
opportunity to actively engage with music through a year-long curriculum of
classroom activities and a concert experience at
which students sing and perform on recorder
with the KWS at the Centre In The Square.
The KWS is the first Canadian orchestra to
partner with Carnegie Hall in presenting this
world-class program. This program is made
possible through your support, ensuring the KWS
continues as a vibrant, core cultural resource for
schools, students and families across this region.
From School Concert Program attendees…
“Keep up the GREAT work!!! Kids need this kind of musical influence.”
-St. Margaret
“It was one of the most valuable music experiences my students have ever
had. Thank you.”
-Grandview Public School
“My students are requesting to go back again. They like to pretend
play violin now”
-Silverheights Public School
“Thanks SO much for a great presentation today!!! The kids and teachers
loved it! Your wealth of information and instruments kept them intrigued
the entire time. Thanks again!!
-Pioneer Park Public School
519.745.4711
888.745.4717
The Link-Up Program at
a glance…
Step 1: Program support
kit, instructional
webinars, student
workbooks and recorders
are provided to teachers.
Step 2: Students start
making music! Guided
by classroom teachers
and music teachers,
students begin learning
through the ‘Link Up’
program.
Step 3: A musician from
the KWS visits the
classroom forging a
direct connection with
students.
Step 4: Students attend
and perform with the
KWS at the Centre In The
Square.
Step 5: The program
continues, incorporating
post-concert responses
into student’s
experience.
Step 6: Teacher
assessment and
follow-up conclude a year
of music making and
learning.
www.kwsymphony.ca
CBC2 features Edwin Outwater—Top 5 Reasons Why He Conducts
We already know Edwin as our highly imaginative music director, but it is great to have CBC2 take
note as well. Outwater was the subject of an interview recently while in Ottawa to conduct at the
National Arts Centre in December. Juanita Bawagan took note of Edwin’s diverse musical
personality in which programming “...a Bollywood number or Rush cover is hardly out of place in
between the usual fare of Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.” Bawagan framed the interview by asking
the top five reasons why he conducts including the following observation:
1) It is as fun as it looks.
There are some things in life that just feel extraordinary. For Outwater, conducting ranks right
up there with driving an incredible car, climbing a mountain or surfing. He says it’s an honour
for him to work with musicians, but it’s also just fun.
To find out more and see Edwin offer four more reasons why he conducts visit www.cbc2.org/
tempo/ for the full interview.
We want to hear from you...
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony is your symphony, and we take your feedback,
comments and suggestions very seriously. If you have a recommendation on how
we can serve you better, or wish to share an idea that would benefit the KWS
please contact our Associate Director of Patron Experience, Jessica Jones-Deziel,
at 519.745.4711 ext 278 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Tchaikovsky Festival I
Tchaikovsky Festival 2
Fri & Sat Feb 22 & 23 | 8 pm
Centre In The Square
Sun Feb 24 | 2:30 pm
Centre In The Square
What is a festival? It is a celebration of course; and it has to have a theme. Music Director Edwin
Outwater has incorporated the festival idea as a way to emphasize and explore in depth the work of
one composer each season. Past festivals have explored the music of Mozart and Beethoven and
are to be joined by music of the great Russian master Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Unmistakably
Russian yet educated in the formal tradition of Europe, Tchaikovsky’s music stood in contrast to
the folk inspired nationalism of The Mighty Handful that included Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov,
Balakirev, Cui and Borodin. In the mid-19th century artists struggled to balance fealty to Russian
roots with efforts to bring vitality and modernity to their work. Tchaikovsky was subjected to
frequent criticism—a product of his tumultuous life and times—and became acutely sensitive to it.
Yet, his music remained triumphant and heroic, grand and dramatic, as can be heard throughout
works featured at the Festival. As further sense of Tchaikovsky’s deeply felt love of music can be
gleaned from his own words; “...You see, my dear friend, I am made up of contradictions, and I
have reached a very mature age without resting upon anything positive, without having calmed my
restless spirit either by religion or philosophy. Undoubtedly I should have gone mad but for
music. Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven’s gifts to humanity wandering in the
darkness. Alone it calms, enlightens, and stills our souls.“
“Thank You” to Chair
Sponsors
On November 29th at the Conrad
Centre for the Performing Arts the
KWS held a special event to say
“thank you” to those generous
donors who are our Chair Sponsors.
Trombonist Rachel Thomas spoke
and performed for the event, and
was joined by fellow KWS musicians who shared their pursuits
outside of rehearsals and
performances.
Chair sponsorships are not only a
way to acknowledge the generous
support of KWS donors, but affords
an opportunity to bring musicians
and donors closer together. By all
accounts the highlight of the event
was when the musicians took the
opportunity to give a standing
ovation to our donors. A well
earned “Bravo” to you, our donors!
Pictured above is Rachel Thomas, a
member of the KWS trombone section,
performing at the Chair Sponsor thank
you event. Her chair is supported by
Steve Hornett & Laura Robertson.
Who is Ian Hopkin?
Recently appointed bassoonist for the KWS ,Hopkins has a
background in neuroscience, a love of soccer, and with
eleven years on each coast is now exploring the delights
southern Ontario has to offer. A few words from Ian;
What is your favorite part about being a member of the
KWS? My favourite part about being a member of the KWS
is how incredibly kind and relaxed everyone is around me.
Though we are lucky to enjoy what we do for a living, the job
is very difficult, and there is a lot of pressure on everyone to
perform at their best. The people in this orchestra have made
me feel very comfortable and welcome. This really helps me
to explore all aspects of musical expression in my playing,
rather than sitting in my chair, tense, nervous, and trying to
play everything safely. The audience doesn't want to hear
safe, they want to hear music, and the members of the KWS
make that possible.
A tricky question—as for most people this is based on mood
and circumstance—but name your top three favorite
composers and why. Stravinsky, because of his brilliant
writing for the bassoon. Rachmaninoff, because his music is
so incredibly moving. Mahler, because of how he writes
power music of epic proportions, that is still be so musically
engaging.
What challenges, in particular musically, have you come
across? My biggest challenge musically was playing catch up
with everyone around me. I jumped into my masters of
music, and therefore felt that I should be playing at masters
level right away, or that those around me held that
expectation. Therefore the three years I spent doing my
masters, and trying to advance my mental capacity, musical
capacity, and general playing ability as quickly as possible
was my biggest challenge. Also not letting other people,
peoples actions, or personal failure deter my confidence and
persistence. We live in a world of competition and
comparison, and I'm so fortunate to have grown up hearing
so often from my parents, "If you compare yourself with
others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will
be greater and lesser persons than yourself" (From the
Desiderata). Any time someone else won a competition, or
got to play that solo, or was accepted to that festival, I would
repeat those words to myself. Then I would continue to work
hard to make myself the best musician I could be, rather
than working with the goal of trying to be better than this
person or that person. Understanding that the life of a
musician is an ongoing learning experience, musically, and
mentally; that is the challenge. If some day you feel you're
finally "there", you've lost touch with what it is to be a musician, and an artist.
Congratulations ...
...to the KWS Volunteer Committee!
The Volunteer Council of the League of American
Orchestras announced in January that the KWS Volunteer Committee has won an Award of
Excellence in the annual Gold Book Online
competition for the Love of Music Marathon! This
award will be presented at the 68th League of
American Orchestras National Conference and
recognizes outstanding projects created and
executed by volunteer associations throughout the
United States and Canada.
The Love of Music Marathon has been a
tremendous success that not only supports the KWS
but brings our community together in the celebration
of live music. The Volunteer
Committee is an important part of the success of the
KWS. Their support includes Love of Music Marathon and a House & Garden Tour of Note, as well as
the transportation of guest artists and working the
reception desk at the Conrad Centre. So when you
see a Volunteer, be sure to say not only thank you
but congratulations too!
School Concerts Program and You
Each and every season the KWS must raise $1.8
million from companies, foundations, and supporters
like you to ensure the continued artistic excellence,
innovative programming, and education & outreach
programs that inspire audiences of all ages and unite
our community. As well, a goal of the KWS is to serve
as a training ground for future musicians and be the
foundation for audiences of tomorrow. Our School
Concerts has always been central to our mission; this
year’s budget commitment to young audiences is
$150,000. To support our new partnership with
Carnegie Hall we have set a goal of $25,000 in
annual fund gifts from donors like you. We hope you
will consider playing your part in achieving this
exciting Carnegie Hall Partnership goal by making an
additional gift. Please contact us at:
Phone:
Online:
In person:
519.745.4711 x.275
kwsymphony.ca
Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts
We thank you for your continued support.
The Dress Rehearsal
The last rehearsal before concerts
begin, the “dress” is an exciting time
for orchestra members. The work of
playing individual parts is replaced by
the extraordinary music making that
results from a unified, cohesive ensemble.
You can now have a glimpse of these
final preparations by watching The
Dress Rehearsal on the KWS website.
For each of the Signature Series
concerts a behind the scenes vignette
is filmed from the stage bringing you
closer than ever before. Whether you
enjoy hearing an excerpt of the music
to come, want to know highlights to
listen for or want to see the orchestra
in jeans; simply visit the Know Before
You Go section www.kwsymphony.ca
for your sneak peek.
Development & Donor
Relations Team
519.745.4711
Ext.
Paul Pedersen
Development Manager
[email protected]
280
Sandra Villaraga
Donor Relations and Friends
Campaign Manager
[email protected]
275
Michelle Cutts
Development Assistant
[email protected]
310
Sheela Sur
Donor Relations Assistant
[email protected]
310
Genevieve Twomey
Executive Director
[email protected]
284
Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts
36 King St. W. Kitchener, ON N2G