Arts scene was full of diversity during 2008

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 31, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

A wide range of music and drama was presented to the Huntsville community in 2008 by a number of community theatre/concert groups and organizations.

The Huntsville Association for the Performing Arts (HAPA) entered its 28th year with four chamber concerts in its 2008/9 series.

HAPA had a memorable past year, with new portable stages and a new website (www.hapachambermusic.ca). The group also had their fine Steinway grand piano refurbished and provided a number of complimentary concert tickets to students throughout Huntsville.

“Every concert was well received and it was gratifying for the HAPA board of directors that all performers, all Canadians, turned out to be of the highest level of excellence,” said HAPA president Martina Schroer.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts also enjoyed a good year, despite posting a small deficit for 2008. Following one of the best years in its 16-year history in 2007, which resulted in a healthy $20,000 surplus, this past season offered more in the way of entertainment but netted less in terms of dollars.

However, the festival remains in a solid financial position, and continues with its commitment to providing arts education initiatives for Huntsville youth, supporting local community theatre groups, and providing arts scholarships.

The HFA not only presented numerous mainstage shows this past year, but also offered fringe events throughout its summer festival. These included outdoor concerts with the Muskoka Concert Band, the Poetry Cafe and workshop, Tunes/Jazz at Tall Trees, the Poetry Slam, Arts Walk, Arts Splash and an extended Jazz Festival.

The non-profit organization held its annual major fundraiser at Deerhurst Resort in May. The 2008 May Marche, after expenses, netted about $39,000.

Grease was the word reverberating around Huntsville High School (HHS) in early February, with students and staff getting pumped and ready for their musical production. The show, presented at the Algonquin Theatre from Feb. 13 to 16, was an ambitious project for HHS. With a cast of some 40 students and an eight-piece band, it was the first musical undertaken by the school.

Of Mice and Men opened on Feb. 21 for four performances and was received with much acclaim. Presented by the North Muskoka Players and directed by Gregg Evans, the story, based on John Steinbeck’s novel, told of California drifters George and Lennie and their dream of a place to call their own.

April saw another big local production taking place at the Algonquin Theatre. Annie, the musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, featured a cast of more than 30, including 14 children aged six to 14. It was produced and directed by Jim and Michele Collins and sold out performances netted $24,000 for the St. Johns Anglican Church in Ravenscliffe.

Also in April the stars of Northern Blues Review were back with an all-new show. Northern Blues Review 5 performed at the Algonquin Theatre on April 25, once again filling the house with appreciative fans.

In May, an original musical theatre work titled Knights ran for three performances at the Algonquin Theatre. Knights was written and directed by composer, writer, and performer John Oliver Peel, co-founder of the National Martial Arts Theatre Company, and provided a thrilling and engaging experience for the whole family.

The summer of 2008 offered a cornucopia of concerts, plays and art and artisan shows, which kept the community buzzing through to the fall and serving as a reminder that the arts scene in Huntsville is alive and well.

The year drew to a close with a heartwarming Christmas play that touched all hearts young and old. Produced by Gregg Evans and the North Muskoka Players and directed by Derek Shelly, A Gift to Last told the story of a “real” Christmas in Canada during the early 1900s.

A rousing and uplifting concert from the Soweto Gospel Choir brought the Algonquin Theatre year to a close. Presented by the HFA, the choir played to a sold-out crowd.

It was events such as these that allowed the Algonquin Theatre to shine. For the third straight full year of operations the theatre met the revenue expectations as budgeted. The number of actual shows in 2008 was down slightly from 2007 but overall ticket sales were up by more than $50,000. Gross sales in 2008 were over $800,000.

The Algonquin Theatre has over 15,000 patrons registered and more than 200 volunteers. Patrons purchasing tickets to the theatre this past year came from as far away as New Zealand and Bangkok, and from the United States and all parts of Canada.

Powerful Soweto Gospel Choir performs in Huntsville, following Massey Hall show

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 10, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Stirring gospel music, energetic dancing and vibrant costumes are a feast for your eyes and ears.

The Algonquin Theatre will resound with the emotional sounds of pure African gospel music when the Soweto Gospel Choir performs there on Dec. 20.

Thanks to good fortune and timing, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts has managed to secure the booking of this amazing 26-strong choir.

The choir comes to Huntsville direct from the 3,000-seat Massey Hall, said festival general manager Rob Saunders. “Compared to the $84 ticket price being charged to patrons at Massey Hall, the adult ticket price of $40 is a great deal and would make a perfect early Christmas gift.”

The Soweto Gospel Choir, whose patron is Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music and is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.

OUT OF AFRICA: The world-famous 26-voice Soweto Gospel Choir performs at the ­Algonquin Theatre on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.

The choir, under the direction of David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. It performs in six of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

When it comes to vocal talent, Africa, and more particularly South Africa, has spawned the most evocative sounds on earth and still produces the very best that the world has to offer in this art form. The Soweto Gospel Choir is that very best.

This young, dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding its own unique feel and interpretation to both. Concert patrons can expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, a capella numbers, as well as accompaniment by an exciting four-piece band and percussion section. Add to this, energetic dancing and vibrant, colourful costumes, and the mix is awesome.

This magnificent choir, styled with a contemporary feel, leaves all who hear it stunned with emotion. It is no wonder that they are charting a meteoric rise to international fame.

Those who saw the 46664 Concert in Cape Town in 2003, under the auspices of former president Nelson Mandela, will have witnessed the Soweto Gospel Choir in action alongside other musical greats, such as Bono, Queen, Anastacia, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff, and the Eurythmics.

However, no amount of glittering international recognition and praise has diverted the Soweto Gospel Choir from the mission it holds close at heart, its own AIDS orphans foundation, Nkosi’s Haven Vukani, which the choir founded in 2003. Mindful of the plight of South Africa’s sick and impoverished, the foundation supports families and organizations that receive little or no government support. These destitute families and children rely on the Soweto Gospel Choir to sing all over the world for very much more than their supper. To date, the choir has collected over three million rand ($370,000 Canadian) for Nkosi’s Haven Vukani.

Over the years, the choir has accumulated many awards, including Australia’s Performing Arts Award for Best Contemporary Music Concert in 2003, the 2003 American Gospel Music Award for Best Choir, following it up with another gospel music award for Best International Choir in October 2004. Also in 2004, the choir’s debut CD Voices from Heaven was nominated for a South African Music Award, and on Feb. 11, 2007 received a Grammy award for the CD Blessed. This year, the choir received a second Grammy for its new CD African Spirit.

Tickets for the Soweto Gospel Choir are $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, plus GST, and are available by visiting the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

The concert, which begins at 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, is expected to sell out, so don’t wait to purchase tickets and be disappointed.

More information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts can be found at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Dozens audition for Wizard of Oz musical

(The following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 3, 2008.)

By Rob Saunders, HFA General Manager


Have you ever asked yourself, “What happens if I throw a party and no one comes?”

Well, that was the mild concern of some Huntsville Festival of the Arts board members, prior to the casting call for their 2009 spring presentation of the Wizard of Oz.

Director Gregg Evans had no such concerns and he was proven right, with over 140 members of the community coming out last week and sharing their talents with the judges. They were big and small, young and old (ranging in age from three to 75), but all had to face their fears, stand on the Algonquin Theatre stage and present a song.

Some chose Somewhere Over the Rainbow, while others chose to Ha-Ha-Ha! Ho-Ho-Ho! their way through the merry old Land of Oz. The littlest ones sang We’re Off To See The Wizard, while those with grander aspirations put themselves in the role of the Tin Man, Scarecrow or the Cowardly Lion, and sang those characters’ reprises.

Evans quickly concluded that, based on the talent pool, he would create two full casts. It was, of course, the role of Dorothy that drew the largest interest. Thirty young ladies put their names in the hat as potential Dorothys and, once again, the talent pool in our community ensured that choosing the play’s star would be a difficult task indeed. Six young stars were identified as deserving of a second look and callbacks followed, where both the applicant’s voice and theatrical skills were reviewed.

Final cast decisions will be made by early December and then the real work begins. For those who have leading roles, scripts will have to be reviewed. Costumes will be a major challenge, not just for their complexity, but also for the sheer volume of costumes required.

Staging will also present a major test, such as recreating a Kansas tornado on a 40-foot-by -40-foot stage and, once the director has the scenes blocked out, set designers must figure out how to best create the magic of Oz given the tools at their disposal.

During the auditions and the discussion that followed, festival members involved in guiding this process reminded themselves that this is not just any play. The Wizard of Oz is one of the all-time children’s classics.

That brings many challenges. For instance, how do you change the status quo? Everyone knows Dorothy for her frail but firm personality and her overall sense of wonder. Bert Lahr was the perfect Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger, the wise Scarecrow. The characters they developed, how they talked and acted, seem to be the only way those characters could be.

Evans will have to guide the evolution of his young cast over the next few months so they will be ready for opening night. The final product will run from Apr. 16 to 18 and also from Apr. 23 to 25, for a total of eight performances.

As an added bonus, the festival has asked the Rotary Club of Huntsville to assist in delivering the production. The Rotary Club has a long and esteemed history in Huntsville of being associated with some of the grandest theatrical productions ever mounted here. It is hoped that this inaugural collaboration between the two groups will rekindle that artistic flame.

Over the next months, further needs will be identified and, possibly, there will be further opportunities to get involved. If you think you have a skill or talent that might help, jump right in. This promises to be a great community collaboration and often those involved take away as much, or more, than they give.

For more information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, go to www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or visit our blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Festival presents popular Celtic tenors

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 19, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

The Celtic Tenors, Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenen, are three of Ireland’s most prized possessions.

These young men, superstars in their homeland, have established themselves as the most successful classical crossover artists ever to emerge from that country.

The Tenors are returning to Huntsville for the third time, performing in concert at the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 27. Showtime is 8 p.m.

UPLIFTING: The unique voices, charm and wit of the three Celtic Tenors (from left), Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenen, are sure to thrill when the three men take the Algonquin Theatre stage on Nov. 27. (Photo by Jon Snelson, HFA photographer.)

Presented as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ fall season, the Celtic Tenors, with their eclectic mix of classical, folk, Irish and pop, have proven to be a festival favourite, selling out their two previous Huntsville appearances in 2005 and 2007.

With total album sales worldwide, including compilations, of over one million, and a full international touring schedule, the Celtic Tenors have topped the charts in the USA, Canada, Germany, the UK and Ireland.

The Celtic Tenors are blessed with beautiful voices, many influential fans and friends and more than their share of Irish charisma and good looks. During former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s visit to Dublin Castle, the lads performed and their version of Danny Boy is now Clinton’s favourite.

They also gave a private performance for then-secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. This was a gift from U2 frontman Bono.

According to Phil Coulter – the composer of the Tenors’ hit Remember Me – the Celtic Tenors continue to re-invent the whole tenor idiom by pioneering a new style of ‘cool,’ never before seen on the classical stage, and by breaking the traditional stuffy tenor mould.

While each of the Celtic Tenors has been influenced by the musical traditions from their own individual parts of Ireland, Simpson (from Omagh in Northern Ireland), Nelson (from Sligo in the heart of Yeats country) and Gilsenen (born into a hard-working farming family in North Meath) show great flexibility in melding their voices to suit the appropriate classical, folk, Irish and pop genres.

The Tenors’ live show is an experience overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish. The unique voices, charm and wit of the three men, combined with talented young musical director Colm Henry, combine an emotive journey with a thoroughly uplifting experience, as anyone who has heard them sing You Raise Me Up can attest.

Equally at home performing to large festival crowds or intimate concert halls and theatres, and whether backed by a live band, symphony orchestra, solo piano or even a capella, their voices and personalities always shine through alongside their undeniable Celtic charm.

The group’s fifth album is due for release just before Christmas. Recorded in the Hollywood Hills, this new album is a collection of songs from North America by various songwriters, including Stephen Foster and Bob Dylan.

Tickets for the Celtic Tenors are $35 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under, and are available at the theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at the festival website www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca or the Algonquin Theatre site www.algonquintheatre.ca.

And don’t forget to check out the festival’s blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com

Wizard of Oz show in April will mark return of the big community musical productions

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 12, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

There can’t be too many people who have never heard of the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The story of little Dorothy Gale of Kansas and her friends Scarecrow, Tinman and the Cowardly Lion in the Land of Oz has been a firm favourite with children and parents since the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was first published in 1900.

The book was soon followed by a 1902 musical play extravaganza, titled The Wizard of Oz, and in 1939 was made into an American musical-fantasy film of the same name. The film is still screened on television today, notably at Thanksgiving on several American channels.

Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the North Muskoka Players and the Huntsville Rotary Club, the Wizard of Oz will once again take the stage, this time at the Algonquin Theatre.

“I really miss the old Huntsville Rotary musicals. They were great community productions. The last one was in 1995 and that was directed by (the late) Jane Hutcheson and music was by Lynn Sargeant,” said North Muskoka Players producer Gregg Evans.

With an idea forming in his mind, Evans approached festival of the arts general manager Rob Saunders this past spring.

“I said I’d like to resurrect the big community musicals, marry the North Muskoka Players with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and bring Rotary back in,” said Evans. “Both organizations liked the idea.”

The proposal went to the festival board at its last meeting and it was agreed by the members that the festival should underwrite the cost of the production. Rotary will provide technical and backstage support.

“Wizard is tricky and I need the festival and Rotary to make it work. I would never have attempted it on my own,” Evans said.

The one stipulation put forward by the festival board was for an open casting call to involve as many members of the community as possible.

Evans also agreed to direct the first show. “I chose Wizard of Oz because the show transcends generations. Whether you are five or 85, everyone loves the Wizard of Oz.”

The show will require a cast of at least 50, plus 15 musicians, and that number again to help with make-up, set design and construction, props, and costumes, said Evans.

“There will be a total of 100 to 120 people involved. There are lots of talented people in town, and we will need people of all ages.”

The staging is very ornate, very technical, Evans continued. “There are flying monkeys and flying witches. Even Toto, Dorothy’s little dog, will be a child in a dog’s costume.”

The casting call, for anyone in whatever capacity, who is interested in becoming a part of the lavish production, is asked to be at the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Evans is also hoping to draw the interest from the town’s youth. “We will need lots of kids to play parts in Munchkinland. Munchkins, trees, poppies, flying monkeys and Winkies, the Wicked Witch of the West’s soldiers.”

Auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, with eight shows scheduled over the last two weeks of April 2009.

Presenting a production of this magnitude does not come cheap. Royalties alone are in the region of $8,000, said Evans.

“It cost $42,000 to produce Jesus Christ Superstar. Big productions are expensive, but will always fill seats.”

Evans is hoping this musical will be the first of what will become an annual event. He already has other shows in mind, including the King and I and Music Man.

“It will be great to resurrect what was once a wonderful Huntsville tradition and bring back the big community musical.”

2008 a challenging year for Festival of the Arts

(The following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 5, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette,
HFA director

This past year, 2008, was one of ups and a few downs for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA).

Following one of the best years in its 16-year history in 2007, which resulted in a healthy $20,000 surplus, this past season offered more in the way of entertainment but netted less in terms of dollars.

“Ticket sales, on paper, were up $11,000, our highest sales ever, but the artists’ fees were also higher,” HFA general manager Rob Saunders told those gathered for the festival’s annual general meeting, held Oct. 18 in the Algonquin Theatre Partners Hall.

“We also had the most sold-out shows, 14 in total. It seemed that we either sold out the 400 seats or we had audiences in the 200 range. The shows we paid high dollars for all sold out. It was the medium-priced acts we lost money on.

“However, we are still in a good financial position. On the year, we lost $13,296 and our challenge is to understand why it happened and to plan to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The HFA is a non-profit organization which relies heavily on corporate sponsorships and donations as well as ticket sales. Monies raised go toward operational expenses, but a good part of revenues go back into the community by way of arts education initiatives for Huntsville youth, supporting local community theatre groups, and providing arts scholarships.

“Our fundraising efforts were up a bit but corporate sponsorships were down slightly, as were personal donations,” noted Saunders, adding that a new initiative in 2008, the Partners’ Program, attracted 10 new sponsors, which helped boost coffers.

“The Partners’ Program allows existing supporters and potential sponsors to receive various benefits and recognitions by supporting the festival with an investment of $750, which is less than a full sponsorship,” said Saunders. “Our challenge is to continue to develop our sponsorship base and this program has proven to be a creative way to do that.”

The major fundraiser for the HFA is the annual May Marché held at Deerhurst Resort. The 2008 event was the best ever, said HFA president Kareen Burns.

“It was wildly successful, with a bidding war for tickets and great, great food.”

After expenses, the May Marche netted about $39,000.

While artists’ fees were up, so too were production costs. Eight thousand dollars was spent on additional lighting at the theatre and HFA hosted an art show at the Trinity United Church hall for a week at a cost of $2,000. The festival also commissioned local artist Brenda Wainman Goulet to create the Festival Builders Excellence Awards (FBEA) presented to 10 individuals who have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the HFA.

“This will not be a yearly event. Awards will only be given out when warranted,” said Burns.

In light of the previous year’s success, more money was spent on educational programs in 2008, one example being the 20 murals painted by Huntsville High School (HHS) students, which now adorn the exterior walls of the high school and at Muskoka Heritage Place. Overall, the festival invested over $15,000 in community youth programs. Moreover, arts scholarships were increased by $2,000 to a total of $4,500.

The HFA not only presented mainstage shows at the theatre, but also offered fringe events throughout its summer festival. These included outdoor concerts at Dwight beach and Port Sydney beach with the Muskoka Concert Band, the Poetry Cafe and workshop, Tunes at Tall Trees and Jazz at Tall Trees, Arts Walk, Arts Splash and an extended Jazz Festival.

“Due, in part, to last-minute changes in programming, the Jazz Festival didn’t fare as well as hoped. We will look at that for 2009 and perhaps have a shorter more condensed (event) and make use of the new outdoor park,” said Saunders.

ON BOARD: The 2008/9 Huntsville Festival of the Arts board of directors stand outside the Algonquin Theatre following their Oct. 18 annual general meeting. From left at back are Jon Snelson, Ron Baker, ­Helena Renwick, Ross Kirwin, Suzanne Riverin, general manager Rob Saunders, Peter Wood, Jenny Cressman and Bruce Gowan. Front, from left, Tia Pearse, June Salmon, Gillian Brunette and president Kareen Burns. Missing are Carol Gibson, Mike Malone and Sharon Stock-Feren.

In her report, Burns addressed the many education outreach programs that were supported by the festival in the past year: Kaleidoscope at Spruce Glen, the inaugural HHS film festival, which was open to secondary students across Muskoka, the HHS mural project and Song Project, and spoken-word poetry workshops, which were expanded into Bracebridge and Gravenhurst this year.

“The Children’s Canadian Dance Theatre put on four shows for us and filled the theatre each time. They were absolutely fantastic and will be coming back,” Burns said.

One new initiative this year was a marketing questionnaire handed out to patrons and also posted online. The results are currently being tabulated and, it is hoped, will offer the festival board some idea of what patrons would like to see in terms of future programming.

All artists who are booked by the HFA to perform at the Algonquin Theatre are well taken care of backstage. “Their dinners were provided by Three Guys and a Stove and were much appreciated,” said Burns.

A farewell and thanks were extended to Marion Haggart, who for years has organized the Music at Noon series at Trinity United Church. Board member Carol Gibson has offered to take on the responsibility.

Burns also extended thanks to the “dynamic” members of the board, all of whom are returning for the HFA’s 17th season. “I would like us to be the foremost eclectic festival in Canada,” she said.

Bringing the meeting to a close, Saunders thanked the Algonquin Theatre staff for all their hard work throughout the festival season.

For more information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and to review upcoming programming, go to www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or visit our blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

HFA supports HHS’s Got Talent show

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 22, 2008.)

Tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 23, Huntsville High School will prove it’s not only America and Canada that have got talent, when they present their very own Huntsville High’s Got Talent show at 7 p.m.

The evening will showcase a variety of talents from singing to dancing and even a little magic. There will be cash prizes in four categories as determined by a panel of judges.

The top prize of $300 and sponsored by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts will go to the star performer. The other prizes worth $100 each will go to the performer who is Most Entertaining (sponsored by Rockscape Designs), Most Creative (MBRP), and Most Likely to Make it Big (The Finds).

The variety show will be held at the school and is open to the general public. Everyone is invited to attend what promises to be a very entertaining evening.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

Spirit of the West concert won’t disappoint

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 22, 2008.)

Celebrating 25 years as one of Canada’s perennial favourites, Spirit of the West is coming to the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 29, for what promises to be a great evening of music.

Popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s, before evolving into a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences, the group became one of Canada’s most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.

The band started in 1983 as a Vancouver-based folk trio called Evesdropper, consisting of John Mann, Geoffrey Kelly and J. Knutson, playing neighbourhood pubs for very small amounts of money. Armed only with a love of music, the three recorded their first album the next year. They soon changed their name to Spirit of the West and independently released a self-titled album in 1984 before signing to Stony Plain Records, an Edmonton, Alberta, roots music label.

PARTY TIME: Spirit of the West, the ultimate feel-good party band, and alternative rock group, with hits such as Home for a Rest, stops in Huntsville for one concert on Oct. 29.

Stony Plain released Tripping Up the Stairs in 1986. Following that album, Knutson left the band and was replaced by Hugh McMillan.

Twenty-five years later the group continues to make records and has developed a following across the country.

There have been some personnel changes through the years, but Mann and Kelly have been there from the start. Over the years McMillan, Vince Ditrich and Tobin Frank joined on to form the band as it appears today.

Along the way, the group has recorded 12 CDs and has toured throughout Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Europe. They have four gold and two platinum albums to their credit, and are responsible for such songs as Home For a Rest, And if Venice is Sinking, Five Free Minutes, Save This House, and The Crawl. The band’s newest album Star Trails is the first studio recording in several years.

This month, Spirit of the West will be inducted into the West Coast Music Awards Hall of Fame, and drummer Ditrich, who produces House of Doc and Quinzy, has been nominated for Producer of the Year.

In addition to the release of the 25th anniversary anthology, Spirit also taped a live show on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in March this year at one of their favourite venues, the Commodore ballroom in Vancouver. The taping is meant for a Bravo! Network television special to be broadcast in 2009. As well, the band is planning to remount its live symphonic show Open Heart Symphony, recording sessions toward an album of brand new songs and a live, in-concert DVD.

At the very least, Spirit of the West has earned a reputation as Canada’s favourite party band. Their unique blend of pop, rock and Celtic music has been imitated, but rarely equaled.

Concert tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth under 18 and can be obtained from the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Festival presents fiddling supergroup Leahy

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 8, 2008.)

The siblings have been playing together their whole lives and remain one of Canada's top musical groups

On Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m., the Algonquin Theatre stage will resound with the toe-tapping, Celtic sounds of fiddling supergroup Leahy, as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts' fall line-up.

Leahy’s eight musical brothers and sisters bring their whole being to each and every performance. When they opened for Shania Twain on her inaugural world tour, Leahy brought 175 audiences to their feet.

GREAT EIGHT: The Canadian powerhouse Leahy, comprised of eight musical brothers and sisters, takes the stage Oct. 10 at the Algonquin Theatre, thanks to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

Their life story reads like a Hollywood movie: a large family raised without a television on a farm in the small town of Lakefield, Ontario. In fact, their story was so compelling that it became the subject of an Oscar- winning documentary titled The Leahys: Music Most of All.

When Irishman Michael Leahy came to Canada in 1825, he brought his fiddle with him. Five generations later, Leahy has become an eight-piece whirlwind of Celtic music, dance, and song.

The 11 children of Frank and Julie Leahy were raised just a few miles from the farm that Michael established near Lakefield. Each of them learned fiddle music from their father and received classical violin and piano lessons as well.

Their mother, a champion dancer from Cape Breton, taught them their first routines, and in the evenings the old farmhouse shook with music and dancing. Soon the Leahy family was performing throughout rural Ontario, and the house filled with ribbons and trophies won at festivals and competitions.

Leahy’s eight musical brothers and sisters have been playing together their entire lives. The band’s three acclaimed CDs – Leahy, Lakefield, and In All Things – have world-wide sales of over half a million copies.

Onstage leader Donnell Leahy turned out to be the musical prodigy. By 16, he was an oft-decorated veteran of the fiddle-contest circuit, with a firm command of Celtic as well as jazz, bluegrass and classical styles. In 2005, he married Nova Scotia fiddle favourite Natalie MacMaster.

The family continues to move forward as musicians and performers. The winter of 2007 saw them release their first live DVD and CD. They are also in the midst of working on their second DVD and live CD, which are to be released this year.

On their recent American tour, new audiences learned that the family of instrumentalists, singers and dancers brings a rare level of originality and musicianship to the stage. This originality includes music that Leahy writes, arranges and produces. Known for their unique blend of musical styles and genres, their repertoire is more distinct than ever.

Leahy is the recipient of many awards, including Junos for Best New Group, Best Country Group, and Best Instrumental Album. Their self-titled album rose to number four on the Billboard world music charts and found its way onto the soundtrack of the award-winning movie The Hanging Garden.

Pure and authentic, the band continues to be one of Canada’s most sought after exports.

Tickets for Leahy are $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 18 and are available through the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Volunteers, patrons, sponsors, all add to the success of Huntsville's arts festival

(An abridged version of the following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 1, 2008.)

By Kareen Burns,
HFA president

Comme le temps passe vite! My second season as president is winding down. My passion for the arts and our eclectic festival exceeds my expectations. Roll on, year three!

Our dynamic festival board, the Algonquin Theatre personnel, volunteers, sponsors and our wonderful audiences have made our 16th season challenging and incredibly exciting.

I have a dream that the Huntsville Festival of the Arts will evolve into Canada’s foremost eclectic arts festival. Imagine the 2009 season. We will continue to expand our vision, raise the bar in excellence, diversity, education, avant garde fringe projects, and foster community partnerships. I am immensely proud!

Allow me to count the global ways to say thank you. Merci, takk, arigato, spasibo, toa chie, danke, gracias, obrigado! There are never enough ways to say thanks, thank you, and many thanks. Thanks to the very special recipients of our newly minted FBEA award (Festival Builders Excellence Award), who have made a profound contribution to our success and growth over the past 16 years. Thanks to our creative team who developed our new Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival, the Festival Image Makers Art Show, and our beautiful festival brochure image.

Thanks to the front-of-house Algonquin Theatre team, wearing the friendly smiles and funky festival ties while directing you to your seat with a little flashlight when running late, and the efficiency of intermission cocktails or selling performers' CDs. They are a positive and knowledgeable band of Huntsville hospitality promoters. Thanks to the back-of-house Algonquin Theatre volunteers. Led by the stage manager and dressed in black, they are a highly energetic and strong team. They welcome star performers at the theatre's back door, assist with their equipment set up and rehearsal in readiness for an 8 p.m. show. New volunteers, full of curiosity and excitement, are mentored and trained by the team.

Huge attention is paid to detail – electrical cables are taped down, there must be no fingerprints on the beautiful piano, the lighting and sets are arranged to complement the mood. Even the microphone on stage is set at the right height for my introduction. When the word comes from the front-of-house manager, “The house is yours,” the pre-show screen goes up, the lights go down, the audience hushes with anticipation and the magic begins.

Thanks to our hospitality team, who set up snacks and dinner for our performers in the green room, with tablecloths, candles, china, fresh flowers and a delicious meal. Huntsville TLC at its best!

Thanks to the performers’ magical moments: John McDermott’s Danny Boy, Les Stroud’s multi-media show, premiered in his home town, Stephen Lewis’s overwhelming passion, Jesse Cook’s unplugged song at the end of his show and many, many more memories. Thanks to our dear and loyal sponsors, patrons and supporters. You make it possible to be incredibly creative, bold and unafraid to showcase new performers and events.

Thanks to a dynamic festival board of directors. You create our festival season, meeting in October to plan the main stage shows and exciting fringe events for the following year. The board is a hands-on team, who put up tents and banners, took tickets, put on kids’ tattoos, introduced shows, built a beautiful art gallery in a church hall, created our marvellous Marche excitement and so much more.

Our amazing education outreach committee continues to deliver new ideas and directions with public and high school students. These include a spoken-word poetry workshop, painting 20 Group of Seven murals, which are now proudly displayed on the exterior of Huntsville High School. The students are our future audiences and we strongly believe in giving back to our community. Merci mes amis.

Finally, without an audience we would not exist. Thank you with all my heart. A full Algonquin Theatre festival audience is a joy indeed.

In Scottish, thenk ye.

Rock to great ’50s and ’60s sounds at the Algonquin Theatre this weekend

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 24, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Join Freddy Vette and the Flames for a rock 'n' roll revival in Huntsville on Friday night, Oct. 3

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is bringing back the dynamic Freddy Vette and the Flames to the Algonquin Theatre on Friday, Oct. 3, beginning at 8 p.m.

Last here on Aug. 22, 2007, Vette will again be resurrecting the ghosts of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bill Haley and others when he and his musical entourage kick back to the 1950s and ’60s. The dynamic costumes and creative choreography allow audiences to relive this classic era with their favourite jukebox hits.

Following last year’s show, HFA general manager Rob Saunders noted: “After the show, our audience members left still singing and asking us to bring them back. Freddy is wonderful with the audience. Everyone loved the performance. It was a really great night.”

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! Freddy Vette, in this photo taken at last year's show, brings his band the Flames, plus three backup singers, to the Algonquin Theatre Oct. 3. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

So, how does a guy born in 1972 end up as the real-deal front man for a ’50s rock 'n' roll show? That seems to be the most-asked question when it comes to Vette.

“Good music is good music, no matter what kind it is or when it was made. You don’t have to be from the 1700s to play Mozart, you don’t have to be from the ’30s or ’40s to play jazz, and you sure don’t have to be from the ’50s to play rock 'n' roll,” Vette says in reply.

“There’s such a huge audience out there who are hungry for this music and aren’t able to see it performed live. We continue to discover them, and they continue to discover us. It’s a great relationship that keeps rock 'n' roll alive.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Vette came from a musical family. His mother and father had a country music band, so there were always instruments around the house. The first thing Vette tackled was the drums, then guitar, and piano along the way.

At 14, Vette played with his parents on the road and that was the beginning of his performing career. He appeared in various bands playing various kinds of music, until the music of his childhood – rock and roll – came back to him.

Over the next few years, Vette joined several rock and roll bands, and during that time he re-acquainted himself with the piano, an instrument he had played as a child but gave up for guitar.

“Piano rock 'n' roll is such a big part of this music and I knew I had to learn that style of playing. As I started learning from those old recordings, it gave me a new love for the piano. Now, it’s my favourite instrument to play.”

In 2002, Vette formed his own band featuring drums, upright bass, sax, guitar, three female singers and himself on guitar and piano.

The show is a musical journey through the beginnings of rock and roll, not only featuring the biggest hits from the biggest artists, but telling the story of the music along the way.

The three women who share the stage with Vette perform all the great ‘girl’ hits from the rock 'n' roll era including songs from Leslie Gore, the Shirelles, the Shangri-Las and Patsy Cline. Four outstanding musicians round out this high-energy, exciting eight-piece act.

Tickets for Freddy Vette and the Flames are $25 for adults and $15 for youth under 18, plus GST, and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. The festival blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com also features past festival stories and photos.

Popular musical Anne and Gilbert stops at the Algonquin Theatre Sept. 23 and 24 only

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 17, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Ontario tour is part of the celebrations taking place for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables

For the past 100 years, young girls have fallen in love with the adventures of Anne Shirley, the heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series, and her home on Prince Edward Island (PEI).

Known for her braids of fiery red hair, unending chatter, limitless imagination and unshakable optimism, Anne has been a beloved friend for readers of all ages since Montgomery published the first edition in June 1908. The novel has since been published in 33 languages and become an industry that made PEI famous around the world.

SHOW STOPPER: Anne and Gilbert, a musical about Anne of Green Gables growing up, is touring through Ontario this fall, making its only Muskoka stop in Huntsville on Sept. 23 -24.

Anne and Gilbert, co-written by Nancy White (of CBC fame), Jeff Hochhauser and Bob Johnston, is a lively and engaging musical sequel based on the second and third books in the series Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island.

The musical picks up where the original novel left off and tells the story of Anne Shirley’s journey into young adulthood and her romance with Gilbert Blythe.

Blythe is the young man who is destined to be the love of her life – a prickly relationship that has been brewing ever since an 11-year-old Anne broke her slate over Gilbert’s head when he called her Carrots.

The precocious redhead is now a young woman wanting to go to university. However, she first takes a position as a schoolteacher in Avonlea in hopes of saving enough money. Everyone assumes that she and Gilbert will get married but, ever the contrarian, Anne resists.

Reaching Redmond University, Anne makes new friends, including a wealthy suitor named Roy. Gilbert also turns up at Redmond, waiting patiently for Anne to see the light.

This musical sequel to Anne of Green Gables (itself a perennial fixture in Charlottetown theatre), has been playing in Summerside, PEI, for the last three summers to sold-out houses and rave reviews. The first off-island production of Anne and Gilbert at the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque last summer also played to sold-out audiences.

Now, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables and courtesy of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the 1000 Islands Playhouse is taking Anne and Gilbert on an Ontario-wide tour, making its only Muskoka stop for three performances at the Algonquin Theatre on Sept. 23 and 24.

Some of the very popular cast members of the original production will appear on the tour. Ashleigh Ireland and Adrian Marchuk take up the roles at the heart of the story, as the feisty Anne Shirley and dashing Gilbert Blythe.

“We always call the show a family show, but it does have a lot of edge,” said White. “It’s not a kids’ show, but kids do love it.”

“We are very pleased with the enthusiasm of theatres across Ontario for Anne and Gilbert,” said senior producer David Malahoff. “What began as a modest production at the Victoria Playhouse (in PEI) in 2005 is quickly becoming a national phenomena.”

PEI entrepreneur Campbell Webster, who mounted the sequel, recently announced that Anne and Gilbert is being translated into Japanese for a production in Japan. He also has plans to tour the show in Western Canada, possibly in 2009.

Toronto Star critic Richard Ouzounian said Anne and Gilbert “keeps the essential tone of L.M. Montgomery’s work without seeming like a fusty museum piece. The music has real melodic grace and invention, often veering off into unexpected harmonies and rhythms that lift it above traditional musical theatre fare. The lyrics are well crafted, serious when called for, but often wryly amusing.”

The result is a lively and authentic island-style musical, full of laughter and romance and a brand new take on a heroine Canadians have loved for years.

Anne and Gilbert takes the Algonquin Theatre stage for three performances on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under and area available at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts supporting literacy project in elementary schools

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 10, 2008.)

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is supporting a literacy project next week involving elementary students in three local schools: Spruce Glen, Pine Glen and VK Greer.

Students at all grade levels in the schools will be encouraged to expand their literacy skills by exploring their own stories and writing about them. This exercise will culminate in an exciting activity where a compilation of stories will be bound into a book form for all to read.

In order to kick-start this initiative, two gurus of the storytelling genre will be on hand to work with the schools on Sept. 18 and 19. Bob Barton of the Storytellers’ School of Toronto and Larry Swartz, a teacher and consultant with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto, will be travelling to Muskoka to spend time with students and their teachers in order to work through the nitty gritty of the storytelling genre.

The two champions of literacy will be hosting a workshop at Pine Glen on Thursday, Sept. 18, between 4 and 5 p.m. which is open to all teachers. Those who plan to attend should contact organizers Mary Spring or Terri Howell.

This initiative is a pilot project which will no doubt open up similar opportunities in the future for other elementary schools in the area.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts announces fall lineup of shows, beginning Sept. 23

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 27, 2008.)

Variety of world-class artists to perform at the Algonquin Theatre, September through December

Summer coming to a close does not mean the end to entertainment opportunities.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has an aggressive fall program that offers a variety of world-class artists, all coming to perform in Huntsville’s lovely Algonquin Theatre.

Responding to many requests from theatre patrons, the festival is bringing in a professional theatrical production in late September. The iconic Canadian story of Anne of Green Gables is presented in three performances of Anne and Gilbert.

ANNE AND GILBERT: The cast of Anne and Gilbert, a musical about Anne of Green Gabes growing up, is seen here during the show's lengthy run on Prince Edward Island. The show is touring through Ontario this fall and making its only Muskoka stop at the Algonquin Theatre, Sept. 23-24.

This new Canadian musical tells the story of Anne Shirley’s journey into young adulthood and her romance with Gilbert Blythe. After its inaugural presentation in the fall of 2005 at the Victoria Playhouse in Prince Edward Island, the play continued for 48 consecutive sold-out performances.

The Gananoque Theatre Festival acquired the rights to the play last season and decided to tour it throughout Ontario this fall, with Huntsville being the only Muskoka stop. There are evening performances on Sept. 23 and 24 and a matinee on the Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 24).

Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the writing of the original Anne of Green Gables books, this timely play is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Mark Friday, Oct. 3, on your calendar for the return of festival favourite Freddy Vette and the Flames. A great hit the last couple of years, Vette is returning by popular demand and will once again recreate all those rock and roll favourites by Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry and Bill Haley, among others.

Vette’s rollicking piano playing, while sitting atop the piano, is worth the price of admission alone.

The next Friday, Oct. 10, Canadian fiddle supergroup Leahy will return to the festival after an eight-year absence. The festival first presented Leahy just as the group was gaining popularity. Since then, they have toured the world and played with a host of international stars, including a tour with Shania Twain.

All brothers and sisters, Leahy’s music features great fiddling and step dancing and their stage energy is unparalleled.

Closing the busy month of October is Spirit of the West, performing on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The ultimate feel-good party band, Spirit of the West became one of Canada’s most successful alternative rock groups, successfully blending hard rock, Brit-pop and Celtic folk influences.

Known for songs such as Home For a Rest, If Venice is Sinking, Five Free Minutes, Save This House, and The Crawl, their concert will be a must-see event.

On Thursday, Nov. 27, the Celtic Tenors return to the Algonquin stage. Following two previous sold-out shows, the Tenors provide a mix of amazing voices and a wide-ranging repertoire that goes from classical to pop. Originating in Ireland, this trio has performed internationally and establishing themselves as masters of their art.

Closing out the festival fall season is a very special presentation of the Soweto Gospel Choir on Saturday, Dec. 20. This 26-member ensemble is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.

With Archbishop Desmond Tutu as their patron, the choir performs in English as well as six of South Africa’s 11 official languages. The evening is sure to leave those in attendance stunned with emotion.

Tickets for all festival shows are available through the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975 or online: www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

For more information on any of the shows visit the festival website.

Popular Jesse Cook returns to Algonquin

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 20, 2008.)

Tickets are limited for this Latin/flamenco sensation

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is closing out its successful summer season with master acoustic guitarist Jesse Cook.

The Latin/flamenco guitarist has been wowing Huntsville audiences since his first visit in 2001 at the Delta Grandview Inn. There he had the crowd roaring for more, so the festival brought him back for two more performances in 2002 and 2003.

In 2006, in answer to public demand, Cook performed for two nights at the Algonquin Theatre to sold-out crowds. The same is expected when he makes a two-night return visit on Aug. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m.

LATIN SPICE: Festival favourite Jesse Cook ignites the stage with his infectious Latin/flamenco/world rhythms and, backed by a group of stellar musicians, is sure to deliver memorable performances on Aug. 27 and 28. [Photo by Jon Snelson, taken at a previous HFA show.]

Cook is a Toronto-based Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, born in 1964 in Paris to Canadian parents. He was raised in the region in southern France known as the Camargue, where he grew up with the sounds and influences of Gypsy music.

Guitarist Manitas de Plata, who lived in the Camargue, and Nicolas Reyes, lead singer of the flamenco group Gypsy Kings, who just happened to live next door, heavily inspired him.

After his parents separated, Cook and his sister accompanied his mother to her birth country, Canada. Recognizing the musical aptitudes of her son, lessons followed at Toronto’s Eli Kassner Guitar Academy (Kassner’s other famous pupil was classical guitarist Liona Boyd). There he continued his studies in classical and jazz guitar in North America’s music schools, then attempted to unlearn it all while immersing himself in the oral traditions of Gypsy music. This helped him widen his range of musical tastes.

Like other guitarists of his style of music, Cook incorporates jazz, Latin and world music into his playing. He is also well known for the energy of his live shows.

Cook has recorded six studio albums and traveled the world exploring musical traditions that he has blended into his style of rumba flamenco. In addition to headlining concerts and festivals, he has opened for such legends as B.B. King, Ray Charles and Diana Krall. He has performed with British soprano Charlotte Church on the Tonight Show and toured with legendary Irish band The Chieftains.

In 2001, Cook won a Juno Award in the Best Instrumental Album category for Free Fall. Most recently, he has been nominated for two 2008 Juno awards, for his 2007 release Frontiers (World Music Album of the Year) and for the One Night at the Metropolis DVD (Music DVD of the Year) which captures his performance during the 2006 Montreal Jazz Festival.

Tickets for Jesse Cook are $40 and $20 for youth under 18 and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street 789-4975 or through the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Led Zeppelin fans will be wowed by re-creation of their classic album

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 13, 2008.)

Festival also presents Compadres and their exciting fusion of sound.

One of history’s all-time favourite groups will be captured in music tonight, Aug. 13, at the Algonquin Theatre.

More precisely, one of Led Zeppelin’s monster albums will be on show, as Led Zeppelin II is recreated sound for sound and note for note.

The folks at Classic Albums Live, most recently at the Algonquin Theatre with their Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd evening in February, have made an excellent name for themselves with these re-creations. Not a tribute band per se, Classic Albums focuses more on the music. Every sound is critical, and is often enhanced in the studio as the music is being mixed.

CLASSIC CUT: Members of the Classic Albums Led Zeppelin II band got the audience stirred up during their concert at the Alqonquin Theatre Aug. 13. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

In matching the studio sound, that may mean adding players past the original four. The first half of the evening is dedicated to the Led Zeppelin II album, with songs such as Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, The Lemon Song, Ramble On and Moby Dick.

Released on the heels of their first album, which was an international success, the second album was even more widely acclaimed and arguably more influential.

The second half of the evening will be an all-out Zeppelin jam, with favourites from a wide range of their amazing discography. Needless to say the Algonquin Theatre will be a rocking place to be.

On Thursday, Aug. 14, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts welcomes two of Canada’s finest artists. Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan joins good friend Oscar Lopez in an evening of diverse styles that combine to create a fusion of sound that will be sure to entertain.

FAB FUSION: Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan (right) joins fellow musician Oscar Lopez, combining diverse musical styles to form a creative and entertaining evening of sound fusion.

Keelaghan is a Juno winner, a three-time Juno nominee and a two-time winner of the USA Songwriting Competition’s folk category. He has played with the Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony and has established himself as an avid tourer, playing to critical acclaim across the country

Lopez is a two-time Juno winner and the recipient of the Haygood Hardy Jazz/
Instrumental Music Award. Originally from Chile, Lopez moved to Canada in 1979, where he established a solid career that includes three CDs released under the Narada label.

Together, the two are Compadres, an example of the world-music fusion that has taken off in recent years. Keelaghan and Lopez jokingly refer to their sound as Celtino, fusing the rollicking, sometimes melancholy influences behind Keelaghan’s folk material with the fiery guitar vibe of Lopez’s work.

In Lopez’s two previous appearances as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts line-up, he left no doubt that his talents with the Latin/flamenco guitar are exceptional and can raise the temperature of any room in which he plays. Lopez’s playing injects energy and edginess into Keelaghan’s smooth baritone, while Keelaghan’s skillful song-craft creates a superb structure for Lopez’s amazing guitar work.

On Friday night, enjoy a stunning spectacle of traditional Irish dance music and song with the Magic of Ireland.

A consistent sell-out on a recent tour through England and Europe, the show features 10 champion Irish dancers and five multi-instrumentalists, featured on the accordion, fiddle, guitar, Bahrain, pipes, whistles and flutes. At press time, tickets were selling fast but some should still be available.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

High-energy fiddler Anne Lindsay returns to the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 7

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 6, 2008.)

Triumph’s guitarist Rik Emmett pays tribute to the music of Eric Clapton the next night.

If you attended the Jim Cuddy or the John McDermott concerts this summer and were impressed by the quality and sound of the fiddle/violin artist in both bands, then take advantage of the opportunity to see Anne Lindsay once again, on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada, adapting her unique violin/fiddle style to the eclectic sounds and musical languages of this country’s rich cultural texture.

Currently composing, performing and recording with her own band, Lindsay has acted as side person, composer, arranger and background vocalist, for not just Cuddy and McDermott, but she has also played and recorded with Blue Rodeo, the Chieftains, Led Zeppelin, Roger Daltry, Dionne Warwick and Natalie McMaster, and she played a key role as folk fiddler in The Lord of the Rings stage show.

SOLO SCORCHER: Anne Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada. She brings her band to the Algonquin Theatre stage on Aug. 7.

Lindsay’s innovative music is drawn from a palette of heartfelt ballads, hot club jazz, South Indian karnatak, various root and folk styles and rocking fiddle-driven grooves. Her fluency is evident in her wide-ranging repertoire, encompassing jazz, rock, classical, country, old-time fiddle, Celtic, Cajun and Klezmer styles.

Master of a wealth of diverse styles and blessed with a rare talent for improvisation, Lindsay brings all of her skill into fine focus on the 14 powerful tracks of her new CD News from up the Street. Co-produced by the late Oliver Schroer, it features her wonderful band: Colleen Allen, saxophones, Al Cross, drums, Jason Fowler, guitar and David Woodhead, bass.

JUST FIDDLING AROUND: Anne Lindsay performed in the Algonquin Theatre on Aug. 7 to a very enthusiastic crowd. This photo was taken during that show by Jon Snelson, the HFA's official photographer.

What really sets it apart from the first CD is the addition of Lindsay’s heart-catching vocals, and her debut as a songwriter.

Lindsay’s playing is incomparably expressive, capturing the violin’s unique ability to sing like the human voice. With her innovative, yet down-to-earth compositions, and exquisite lyrics, Lindsay and her violin sing together in a universal language.

On Friday, Aug. 8, Rik Emmett, lead guitarist for Canadian super group Triumph, comes to the Algonquin Theatre with his tribute to the music of Eric Clapton.

Who better than this guitar master to interpret the music of Clapton, whose virtuosity on the guitar sets him in the upper echelon of all time great artists.

From classic rock to smooth jazz, Emmett has shown he can handle all musical styles. Named to the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame in 1993, receiving a Juno as best guitarist at the 1981 ceremonies and being recognized as Best Smooth Jazz Guitarist at the 2005 Smooth Jazz Awards, are just three examples of his talent.

However, this concert will be focused on the music and sound of Eric Clapton. From his days with the legendary rock groups Cream, Derek and the Dominoes and Blind Faith through to the present, Clapton has created monster hits such as Layla, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and After Midnight.

“For me, doing the Clapton repertoire is like digging right down to the roots of why any person picks up the guitar to play,” Emmett said. “It’s a show about heart and soul, and about how the blues informs one great song after another.”

Both shows start at 8 p.m., tickets for which are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

MLC's marathon story relay is continueing

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 6, 2008.)

By Tracy Nita Pender

The 2008 edition of the Muskoka Novel Marathon, a yearly event hosted by the Muskoka Literacy Council, was a rousing success — both in the number of pages written and the amount of money donated.

“For the writers to have gathered close to $5,000 in pledges is amazing,” said Susan Lowe, president of the Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC). “It is one of the highest amounts ever raised since the inception of the Muskoka Novel Marathon seven years ago.”

The fundraising dollars are greatly appreciated at the MLC.

“Our present government funding allows us to support only 40 students at any one time; however, our current student base has risen to over 65 per month as a result of the diverse programs we now offer,” explains Lowe. “Fundraising allows us to support and welcome those adults into our programs as they come in, rather than having to ask them to wait for an opening at some unknown date in the future. Fundraising goes directly toward student programs in the form of print and tech resources as well as improved technology for our ever-expanding computer programs and workshops.”

Held from Friday, July 11 to Monday, July 14, the event saw 26 writers immerse themselves in their craft, with 18 of them submitting a final product for judging.

“We’re shooting right now for a wrap-up party for the novel marathon near the end of September, and that’s when the winners will be notified,” said Lowe.

The Muskoka Novel Marathon also took to the Internet, offering a way for the public at large to get in on the writing action with an online Story Relay. And there’s still a chance to donate to this great element and help push the dollar figure over the $5,000 mark.

Thought up by Paula Boon, a member of the MLC’s Muskoka Novel Marathon committee, the relay let people log in and add a line, a sentence or more to three separate stories during the same time that the authors were writing away on site. The online stories, started by Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch, saw about a dozen people log in and participate.

“This is the maiden run of the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay and we hope to make it an annual event. For seven years, only a limited number of writers have had the opportunity to support adult literacy initiatives at the Muskoka Literacy Council through their participation in the Muskoka Novel Marathon and through the pledges they have raised. This initiative allows the larger community to contribute in a fun, creative, and literary way through their writing and through their pledges, and, better still, you don’t need to be an accomplished writer to participate,” says Lowe.

Unfortunately, the site experienced a minor glitch on the Sunday.

“We experienced technical difficulties which rendered the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay inaccessible from Sunday on,” said Lowe. “To make up for the lost hours, and to enable sponsors to include their contributions to the stories, the Story Relay site will be re-opened from 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.”

After that time, the writers who started the stories will read over the entire work and will close the relay with a line.

To take part in the Muskoka Novel Marathon Story Relay, log onto www.huntsvilleforester.com and click on Story Relay under the "Features" list on the left side of the screen. Follow the prompts thereafter to add your contribution.

Lowe is looking forward to seeing what people add to the stories this week and encourages the entire community to check out the site.

“A successful first go will ensure that the event will continue to grow in the future,” she explained. “Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch are all looking forward to where the community will take their original ideas.”

[NOTE: The Muskoka Novel Marathon began as an event under the Huntsville Festival of the Arts banner, and it is still held during the July festival season. Susan Lowe is also currently a member of the festival's board.]

Jazz on the fringe presents outdoor events around town throughout the weekend

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 30, 2008.)

In addition to the jazz concerts taking place at the Algonquin Theatre this week, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents outdoor events at several venues around town.

The popular Jazz in the Garden series returns to Spencer’s Tall Trees Restaurant on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. Nestled in the gardens of the restaurant grounds, live music will be provided by local musicians Doug Banwell and Tim Sullivan, among others. Jazz purists will enjoy their journey through some of the great jazz classics. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy light refreshments and pastries provided from the Tall Trees kitchen.

On Friday, Aug. 1, and Sat., Aug. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., the popular Trillium Dixie Jazz Band will entertain at the town dock. Featuring John Minnis (trombone), Rick Faye (drums), Ted Richardson (trumpet), Marguerite Urban (banjo), Louis Tusz (bass) and Bill Urban (clarinet), this seven-piece ensemble has been a good-time summer tradition in Muskoka for over 25 years.

Also on Saturday afternoon, the Muskoka Concert Band, with a membership of musicians from around Muskoka, plays jazz to classical music in a delightful summer blend from the town hall steps from 1 to 3 p.m.

Apart from Jazz in the Garden, tickets for which are $15, the outdoor concerts are free. Jazz in the Garden tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will also be sold at the gate.

Hilario Duran Trio open jazz festival

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 30, 2008.)

Second annual event runs until Aug. 3 and features highly acclaimed, world-class acts

The Huntsville Jazz Festival is returning for its second year and promises something for all jazz lovers.

Sponsored by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the ‘festival within the festival’ runs from July 30 to Aug. 3.

Leading off tonight, Wednesday, is Cuban/Canadian piano wizard Hilario Duran and his three-piece trio. This ensemble produced the CD New Danzon in 2005 and received a Juno nomination for their efforts.

Duran is one of the greatest virtuoso jazz pianists to emerge from Havana. He played for nine years with Arturo Sandova and has shared the stage with legendary musicians such as the late Dizzy Gillespie and composer/arranger Michael Legrand.

Duran and his band will make this evening a musical celebration.

Tomorrow evening, July 31, audiences will be treated to the sounds of Marcus Belgrave. Backed by six fabulous musicians Belgrave, one of North America’s premier trumpet players and an original Ray Charles band member, will honour the music of Louis Armstrong and team up with his wife Joan Bow-Belgrave to pay tribute to the great ladies of song.

The music of Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughn will come alive, as will Satchmo’s trademark gravelly voice. Marcus has been a major hit at festivals and venues across the country and promises to deliver an ace performance in Huntsville.

On Friday night, festival favourite Michael Kaeshammer returns for his first performance at the Algonquin Theatre. A brilliant piano player, Kaeshammer has added vocals to his music, and his performances have been critically acclaimed by audiences across the country.

Anyone who has seen Kaeshammer at work comes away amazed by his piano mastery and his lightning-fast finger work.

Acclaimed vocalist Dione Taylor brings her soulful style to the Algonquin stage on Saturday, Aug. 2. Citing Aretha Franklin, jazz chanteuse Sarah Vaughn and opera diva Leontyne Price as influences, Taylor has established herself as a rising star on the Canadian jazz scene.

SOUL QUEEN: Jazz vocalist Dione Taylor appears at the Algonquin Theatre on Aug. 2.

Closing the jazz festival will be jazz-fusion masters Manteca. A staple of the Canadian jazz scene in the '80s and '90s, the group re-formed in 2006 and re-established themselves as masters of their craft. Tight as always, this nine-piece group promises not to disappoint their old fans as well as new converts to their music.

Tickets for all shows are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will also be sold at the door for all events, if available.

Arts Walk returns this weekend

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 23, 2008.)

Annual event features a variety of artists and artisans demonstrating their craft, beginning at Avery Beach.

The third annual Arts Walk, an outdoor demonstration event on the Hunters Bay Trail, takes place this Sunday, July 27, from noon until 3 p.m.

Presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the walk begins at Avery Beach and meanders west along the trail.

Arts and crafts people will be demonstrating a large range of creative techniques, including painting, printmaking, stonecarving, fibre arts, photography, jewellery-making, woodcarving, and more. They will eagerly share their skills and tricks of their trade.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Bird carver Jack Slade works on a small wood sculpture during last year's Arts Walk. Slade returns to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts event on Hunter's Bay Trail July 27.

Greenbean Studio is a new addition this year. This is an eco-friendly business that is reducing the amount of plastic that enters our landfills. After collecting clean flexible plastics, they then turn them into one-of-a-kind pillows. A portion of their sales is donated to Canadian conservation programs specific to forestry and freshwater.

GREEN COMFORT: The eco-friendly Greenbean Studio showed off their pillows at the 2008 Arts Walk. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Habitat for Humanity held a contest this year for an artist to create an image depicting its mission. Dale Durnan submitted the winning painting from which posters have been created. The sales from the posters will raise funds for Habitat projects, the next being a home that will be built in Huntsville. Durnan will be at Arts Walk to talk about her painting.

A big attraction for all ages will be bird carver Jack Slade. He is often surrounded by fascinated children as he carves numerous bird likenesses.

An Arts Walk favourite since its inception three years ago is Emilie Mimra, who will once again present the art of belly dancing.

Admission to Arts Walk is free, although artists may have items for sale.

What better way is there to spend a beautiful Huntsville summer afternoon than by taking a pleasant stroll along the Hunters Bay Trail? Your walk will be enhanced with creative activity and an opportunity to learn something more about the arts.

Festival heats up with four great shows in four days – July 23 through July 26

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 23, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Award-winning country music star Michelle Wright will perform for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

A keynote speaker, a country music star, the toe-tapping sounds from the east coast and tenor John McDermott are the offerings from the Huntsville Festival of the Arts this week.

While tickets for Stephen Lewis, the former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, are sold out for tonight, seats are still available for Michelle Wright tomorrow (Thursday), the Barra MacNeils on Friday and McDermott on Saturday.

SPEAKING OUT: Stephen Lewis, former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, greets a fan following his keynote address to a sold-out crowd at the Algonquin Theatre July 23. [This photo was taken by Jon Snelson in Partners Hall after the on-stage presentation.]

Michelle Wright is a Canadian country music singer and one of the country’s most widely recognized and awarded female country singers of the 1990s, winning the Canadian Country

Music Awards Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year award twice in 1993 and 1995.

As of 2007, Wright has sold nearly two million albums and received over 30 major awards in both the United States and Canada.

Wright was born in Chatham, Ontario, and has lived in Nashville for 17 years, although she spends a lot of time travelling back and forth between the U.S. and Canada.

QUEEN OF COUNTRY: Michelle Wright, Canada's first lady of country music, appears at the Algonquin Theatre July 24.

Married late in life, Wright and her husband Marco celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in April. “I waited a long time for the right person for me and I’m glad I waited for Marco. He’s a fine Italian man, wonderful, funny and a great friend,” said Wright in her trademark husky voice.

Her mother also now lives in Nashville, but the rest of her family remains in southern Ontario, as well as one sister who lives in Barrie.

“She’ll be hanging out with me for the three shows I’ll be doing in Palmer Rapids, Mattawa and Huntsville,” Wright said from her Tennessee home.

ROAD TRIP: Michelle Wright, who now lives in Nashville, had some of her Ontario-based family with her for shows in Huntsville and nearby locations. [This photo was taken by Jon Snelson during the July 24 performance.]

Unlike her previous tour, that had Wright performing 20 concerts in 25 days, this is a mini summer tour. Her next will be her annual I’m Dreaming of A Wright Christmas tour.

It was in 2005 that Wright released her first-ever holiday album titled A Wright Christmas. Since then, she has released two singles off the album, I Know Santa’s Been Here and Joy to the World. She tours annually to support the album.

In 2006, Wright returned to the country scene with her current album, Everything and More. Six singles have been released from the album, Everything and More, Love Me Anyway, I've Forgotten You, Dance In The Boat, Riding Around The Sun and her current Canadian single, I Don’t Wanna Be That Strong.

In 2009 she will be touring her CD throughout Europe.

“Everything and More was released in Europe six weeks ago,” she said, adding that thanks to the Internet, Europeans are now more exposed to country music and it’s becoming more popular than it once was.

“(Country music is) not a lifestyle or a format they are familiar with. There is a small traditional country fan base, but the more contemporary music has not caught on there,” said Wright.

Wright has been travelling the globe for 27 years — “I’ve been on every continent except Antarctica,” she says — and has had numerous hits including 25 top 10 hits and seven that reached the number one spot.

“With all that material, I can put together a wonderful show, and the people in Huntsville can expect to hear lots of familiar hits. That’s the funnest part of my concerts, when people sing along,” she said.

Wright is a high-energy performer whose sense of fun is contagious. Backed by her five-piece band, this promises to be, as Wright said, “a rocking country show.”

The Barra MacNeils take the Algonquin Theatre stage on Friday, July 25.

A RIOT OF RHYTHM: The Cape Breton siblings, the Barra MacNeils, ripped it up in Huntsville on July 25, during a return visit to the HFA stage. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

This is the third time the Barra MacNeils have performed for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts; the last time, in 2001, at the Delta Grandview Inn was to a sold-out crowd.

From the heart of the Celtic tradition in Cape Breton, the four MacNeil siblings, Sheumus, Lucy, Kyle and Stewart, showcase their musical prowess with rhythmic fiddling and step-dancing.

John McDermott appears on Saturday, July 26. This super tenor needs no introduction. A perennial Huntsville Festival of the Arts favourite, McDermott plays to a full house each time he appears in Huntsville, which is a testament to his incredible popularity with audiences.

FAN FAVOURITE: Popular tenor John McDermott never fails to pack the house when he performs in Huntsville. He was on stage July 26, backed by fiddler Anne Lindsay, also a featured HFA guest on Aug. 7 at the Algonquin Theatre. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Tickets for all performances are available through the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or by visiting the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.