Things to see and do in Niagara this weekend in the Arts

With the first weekend of March set to get underway, I thought I would touch on a few things coming up in the very near future you might want to take in here in Niagara.

The first is actually underway now, the 5th Festival of the Arts known as Industrial Fabric, held under the auspices of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine & Performing Arts at Brock University.  It runs throughout the months of March and April at several venues both on campus and off at Brock, and encompasses the visual arts as well as music, drama and more.

I first became interested in Industrial Fabric last year when I was working part-time at the Brock radio station, CFBU-FM.  I interviewed Derek Knight, director of the MIWSFPA at Brock on my weekly radio show, Inquisitive Minds, and the breadth of arts available to enjoy was quite extraordinary.   This year promises to be even more so.

The Dramatic Arts department will be hosting their One Acts Festival starting March 20th and 21st, and continuing throughout the rest of March and on through April at several locations.  Upper year directing students present a series of short plays featuring student actors for the Festival, and admittance is by donation.

The free community events include Student Recitals from March 14th to the 22nd at the Concordia Seminary Chapel at Brock, as well as the RBC Foundation music@noon recital series each Tuesday over the noon hour until March 31st.  In the visual arts sector, the Walker Cultural Leader series continues with several presentations including Painting the Imaginary Portrait with acclaimed Canadian painter and Concordia University professor Janet Werner.

There will also be a juried art show at the Niagara Artists Centre through to March 6th, with an Opening Reception on March 6th at 7 pm.  In addition, graduating Brock Visual Arts students will be holding a two-part exhibition at Rodman Hall entitled Honours.

The University Wind Ensemble under Zoltan Kalman will perform at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre at Brock on the evening of March 31st, and the Encore! Professional Concert Series concludes with a performance by Trio Surgite entitled Voices of Eastern Europe will perform at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre the evening of March 27th.

Finally, the Viva Voce! Choral Series continues with the Brock University Choirs performing their Spring Choral Concert Saturday evening, March 28th, and the Avanti Chamber Singers directed by Harris Loewen will perform a collection of Folk Songs on the evening of Saturday, April 25th.

For more information on the entire Industrial Fabric, exhibition, you can call the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at 905-688-5550, ext. 4765, or check them out on Facebook.  No matter which performance or performances you decide to attend, you will be impressed by the breadth and variety offered under the Industrial Fabric umbrella at Brock University.

Friday evening, in order to celebrate the coming of Spring, there will be a concert entitled Celtic Colours at Bethany Mennonite Church on East-West Line, beginning at 7:30 pm,  The concert will feature airs, jigs and reels, as well as sacred songs performed by musicians Julie Hoff, Scott Vernon, Steve Abma, Anne Adams and Gail Poulsen.   There will also be a photography exhibit featuring the work of Judy Lunshof as a backdrop to the music that evening.

Tickets are available in advance by calling 905-468-0159, or pick them up at the door.

Finally, The Gallery Players of Niagara in association with Capella Intima will present their first Opera in Concert presentation of Henry Purcell's most famous opera, Dido & Aeneas this coming Sunday afternoon at 2 at Silver Spire United Church on St. Paul Street in downtown St. Catharines.  Performers include Jennifer Enns Modolo as Dido, David Roth as Aeneas, as well as sopranos Sheila Dietrich and Emily Klassen, tenor Bud Roach, and a host of talented instrumental musicians.

For tickets or more information, call 905-468-1525 or log on to www.galleryplayers.ca.

That should keep you occupied in the coming days as we all work together to celebrate the arts in Niagara.  

Enjoy some great music and then some this weekend in Niagara!

March 5th, 2015.