SoundBites

Morningside Music Bridge connecting cultures

musicbridge

Mark your summer calendar for a month of classical music concerts and recitals at Mount Royal University.

The 18th annual Morningside Music Bridge is Mount Royal Conservatory’s annual international summer training school. The prestigious performance program offers a musical and cultural bridge between Canada and top students from China, Poland and North America. Only a select group is invited to Calgary this summer to study with the best classical music teachers in the world.

The intensive training school focuses on performance. Numerous recitals throughout July are free of charge for the public in the university’s Leacock Theatre. There are also affordable concerts starring leading musicians from the world’s best symphonies and music schools, including Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and 1st  concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic Noah Bendix-Balgley, Krzysztof Jablonski, Tian Bonian, Wei Yu, Na Mula, David Moroz, Zhang Jin, Jonathan Crow, Teng Li, Fan Lei, and more.

“Morningside Music Bridge is Calgary’s premiere summer classical music festival — world-class artists in unbuttoned summer mode,” says Conservatory Director Paul Dornian.

“July at the Mount Royal Conservatory is where you can find it. High energy music making in the cozy environs of the Leacock Theatre make this festival the perfect place to chill on warm summer evenings,” he said.

During July, the annual music training school experience will see more than 80 international students ages 12-18  living with Calgary host families for the month. It gives them a home away from home as they delve into intense private lessons, masterclasses and chamber music recitals centered on piano, violin, viola, cello and clarinet. The program is tuition-free — all students are admitted on full scholarships.

Illustrious alumni include world piano superstars Yuja Wang and Calgary’s own Jan Lisiecki.

Morningside Music Bridge is internationally recognized for its excellence. An independent evaluation conducted by the Department of Canadian Heritage described the program as being “without peer in Canada and among the very best in the world.”

Check our recital and concert schedule and buy tickets online.

Sherri Zickefoose, June 18, 2014

The Conservatory is going digital!

MRCons_TransMediaWe’re making history today: Registration is officially open for Mount Royal Conservatory’s first-ever Music and Transmedia program.

The online classes — another first for the Conservatory — will introduce the world of digital music making for movies, video, gaming, and the web to high school music grads and professional musicians.

The new digital music program is an exciting step forward for the Conservatory, which is recognized internationally as a leader in performing arts education.

Here’s what Conservatory Director Paul Dornian has to say:

“The music world has gone digital and the best creative minds now work anywhere at any time on their laptops to create the music we live by,” said Dornian.

“When training musicians to become part of today’s reality it just seemed right to do it online rather than the old model of sitting in a classroom. Creativity is never out of date, but changing digital formats do go out of date. This certificate plugs creative people into the channels that talk to today’s audiences. We don’t tell you what your music should sound like but we will show you how to create it so that the world can listen.”

Through social media and web conferencing with instructors and fellow students, the Music and Transmedia program prepares participants to enter a career path in gaming and animation, video production, web and app development, and other forms of transmedia practice. Students will investigate the digital materials and techniques of music and sound environments in today’s transmedia world.

Our second century is focused on the future — especially with the new Conservatory and Bella Concert Hall opening in fall 2015.

By Sherri Zickefoose, June 9 2014

Conservatory classes for seniors

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It’s Alberta Seniors Week!

At the Conservatory, it’s never too late to learn.

“Many adults and seniors have always wanted to get involved in some aspect of music

Sheldon Nadler, Conservatory manager of general programs
Sheldon Nadler, Conservatory manager of general programs

performance but have never had the time or opportunity,” says Conservatory manager of general programs Sheldon Nadler.

The Conservatory offers group classes — Adult Beginning Band, Beginner Guitar, Sing!, Campfire Guitar, Introductory Keyboard for Adults — specifically for these lifelong learners, he says.

“Mastering an instrument (or voice) and expressing yourself through music is one of life’s great joys, and learning in a group setting adds to the enjoyment,” he said.

This August, the Conservatory is offering a summer camp for adults who want to learn to sing.

Calgary senior Everett Marwood, 68, says he’s coming back for popular instructor Louise Campbell’s Sing! Adult Summer Class Aug. 5-9, 2014.

“I find that with choirs, the director is hesitant to provide individual feedback as they don’t want to embarrass anyone,” he said. “So any feedback is general, and one is unsure if it applies to them. That diminishes the individual learning experience. So I was looking for more voice instruction that was specific to me.”

See what Louise Campbell has in store for summer singers:

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By Sherri Zickefoose, June 2, 2014