Long-time Huntsville Festival of the Arts supporters are opening up their barn for a unique classical concert that will benefit the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music.
The concert will be held Sunday, June 21, on Joan and John Jerrett’s Hwy. 60 property. The couple, who renovated the barn and use it for occasional public gatherings, have agreed to allow the building to be the venue for the presentation of a Nancy Telfer piece, since it was written to be played in a natural environment.
Telfer, a renowned Canadian composer, approached Linda Drennan, head of the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music, about producing a piece of work for the Suzuki Strings group. Telfer recently relocated to Bracebridge; she had heard the string group in recital and came up to a couple of rehearsals.
It was agreed that the school would commission a piece. Drennan then approached festival organizers about helping set up a significant event to launch the world premiere of her piece, titled Water, Rock, Trees.
Drennan has put together a program that includes offerings from Amanda Penner, a teacher at the Suzuki school, as well as students. Joining these musicians on the program are former Suzuki students Sarah Jane Johnson and Ashley Hill, who are both currently pursuing musical studies at post-secondary institutions. Both girls are also former scholarship winners with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.
Drennan also touched base with Alija Bos, a talented young photographer from Bracebridge who agreed to work with Telfer to create a visual interpretation of her music through pictures that will be screened simultaneously with the playing of the piece. He will also have a display of some of his work for show and sale.
To round out the afternoon, local professional dancer Meredith Thompson will contribute a dance number and percussionist Glenn Kay will play a Liberian greeting song. The afternoon concert runs from 2 to 4 p.m. The recital will be followed by light refreshments supplied by the Butcher’s Daughters deli.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the Algonquin Theatre box office by calling 705-789-4975, online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca or at the barn, located at 2295 Hwy. 60. There will be a limit of 150 tickets sold.
The event is a fundraising effort and net proceeds from the afternoon will go towards the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music. For more information visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.
