Dame Emma Kirkby, one of the world’s most prominent Early Music singers, is coming to Kelowna for a master class and performance in February as part of UBC Okanagan’s popular Minds and Music series.
Kirkby was unable to travel for a previously scheduled master class and performance in November 2007. “We were fortunate to have Nancy Argenta, an acclaimed soprano in her own right, step in on short notice to lead the voice master class in November 2007,” says Manuela Ungureanu, organizer of the Minds and Music series. “We’re now in a great position to build on the tremendous success of our previous special events with Dame Kirkby coming to lead a master class and also performing for an Okanagan audience — we’re sure people in our region will be very excited about the opportunity to hear this distinguished Early Music specialist sing and coach young artists.”
Kirkby’s visit on Feb. 15, 2009 will include a master class coaching two to three audition-selected Okanagan voice students, as well as a performance of core Early Music repertoire including pieces by Purcell, Dowland and Handel. The event starts at 2:30 p.m. at Kelowna’s First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Road. Tickets to be in the audience for both the master class and performance are $25, and are available online from www.ticketweb.ca or by phoning 1-888-222-6608.
An associate professor of philosophy at UBC Okanagan, Ungureanu says education through experiential learning is a big part of the Minds and Music initiative.
“With someone like Dame Kirkby providing instruction and role modeling, we create an enriched learning environment, and offer a powerful learning experience through the arts for our students, whether they are or not active participants, and for the public at large.”
Auditions open for Okanagan voice students
Voice students from the Okanagan region have until January 15, 2009, to submit audition recordings for a chance to study with Kirkby. Two to three singers will be selected through a blind audition process to participate in a Feb. 15 UBC Okanagan Minds and Music master class led by Kirkby at Kelowna’s First Lutheran Church, 4091 Lakeshore Road.
Senior-level voice students interested in participating in the one-hour master class must be 28 years of age or younger and reside in the Okanagan region. To audition, candidates are asked to submit five copies of an audio CD featuring their performances of two or three pieces — an operatic aria, German lieder or French art song, and one selection from the Baroque repertoire.
Along with five copies of the audio CD, candidates are asked to include a separate page with their name, contact information, a brief note about their record of relevant performance and study, and their interest in pursuing a career in vocal performance.
Applications should be mailed to:
Minds and Music Series
c/o Manuela Ungureanu
Arts Building, ART236
UBC Okanagan
3333 University Way
Kelowna, B.C. V1V 1V7
To ensure blind judging, the CDs should not bear any identifying information about the voice student. Deadline for receiving applications is January 15; while the final selection for the master class will be announced by January 30, 2009.
For more information about the Minds and Music series, visit:http://www.ubc.ca/okanagan/publicaffairs/mindsandmusic
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