Looking for some musical inspiration this weekend?

 The wondrous thing about this time of year is you have music all around you wherever you go, thanks to the birds from morning to night.  Some may not like it, but I love it, especially as I am an early riser.  But having worked the night shift for many years I do commiserate with those trying to sleep during the day, especially at this time of year.

That being said, if the birds are inspiring you to find some music elsewhere this weekend and you don't mind being indoors for a couple of hours on a beautiful spring day, The Gallery Players of Niagara have just the ticket tomorrow afternoon.

The Players present the Odin Quartet in a performance of string quartet music composed over the last 225 years.  The group promises to cover a lot of ground from Schumann to Schickele, Dvorak to Price in what they call an Odin-Edition anthology bridging that very long period of time.  Personally, I think the price of admission would be worth hearing the music of Schickele, which is certainly wanting these days in recital halls.

The Odin Quartet is made up of Alex Toskoy, violin; Tanya Charles Iveniuk, violin; Matt Antal, viola; Samuel Bisson, cello, and Alexander Panizza at the piano.  Okay, the piano is a special addition at this concert of largely string quartet music, but what a nice addition he is!

The spring concert season largely comes to a close with this concert, and indeed this will bring The Gallery Players' entire season to a close.  They will be announcing the new season for 2023/24 come August.

The concert featuring the Odin Quartet along with pianist Alexander Panizza takes place tomorrow afternoon, May 28th at 3 pm at St. Catharines Mennonite Church at 335 Linwell Road, where I have attended many a concert over the years and in fact during my mail carrier days at Canada Post I delivered that particular route quite often.

For tickets, go to the Gallery Players website or pick them up at the door.

With the start of June we really get into the summer music festival season announcements, so I will offer some of those as the month progresses, as well as some of the summer theatre performances I attend this season at both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals.

But for now, out to chase some sunshine...

Have a great weekend!

May 27th, 2023.

Looking for an early Mother's Day surprise?

 It's Mother's Day weekend and that means lots to see and do in Niagara, including of course hitting up your local market for some home-grown goodness as I did this morning, and of course, flowers!  Either bunches for sale or head out with Mom to the Niagara floral displays along the Niagara Parkway this weekend.

It's the traditional weekend for the Pelham Art Festival too, which draws fans - and Moms - from far and near and has been for years.  If you are planning to head down to the Pelham Art Festival today there is another, musical, reason to go.

I received word the A Capella Niagara spring concert is happening this afternoon at 2 pm at Fonthill United Church at 42 Church Street in the heart of Fonthill, and it promises to be a great outing for you and Mom.

A Capella Niagara is a male chorus singing a wide range of repertoire, all unaccompanied, throughout the Niagara Region.  The spring concert is called "It's a Good Day for Singing a Song!" and indeed it is.  And joining the chorus this afternoon is renowned jazz singer and St. Catharines resident Juliet Dunn, who of course is also Executive Director of the TD Niagara Jazz Festival.  That festival has come to define jazz music in Niagara pretty much year-round, with concerts in venues both large and small throughout the Region.

I have not met up with Juliet in person for some time now, but in spite of losing her beloved husband and business partner Peter not that long ago she keeps busy with music and of course the jazz festival she has fronted for several years now.

There is no program listed in advance of the concert but it promises to be varied and more than a little jazzy at times, I suspect.

Tickets are available at the door this afternoon for only $20 and children under 12 years of age are admitted free.

Take Mom, enjoy the drive and the Pelham Art Festival, and some great music this afternoon as well!

Have a great weekend!

May 13th, 2023.