I suppose one can liken it to the famous question, “if a tree falls in a forest, and there is no one there to hear it, does it really make a sound?”. In other words, if you are playing music, but there is no one there with whom to share it, are you communicating anything?

When performing new music (i.e. twentieth century, or twenty-first century music), one often performs the piece only once. This is quite a shame, since the more you perform a piece, the more life you can discover in it. So, it is a real treat when I get to perform new music several times – as is the case with Robert Lemay’s “Territoires intérieurs… homage à Bernard Émond” for piano and string quartet. I have had the pleasure of performing this work for the first time in Banff, AB in March 2011, and again in Sudbury in October 2011, and will be performing it again this Saturday February 4, 2012. This piece is really starting to live within us as an ensemble, and I am really looking forward to playing it this weekend.

For more info: www.5pennynewmusic.ca

For those of you who like listening to music in the relaxed environment of the Fromagerie Elgin, drop by at noon today to hear an assortment of cello music. The Cello Café is an open, positive environment for cellists of all levels to share their music. For more information on the Cello Café, click HERE.

It is free and open to the public.

See you there!

John Roney is not only a talented jazz pianist, but also a composer and arranger. He studied classical composition under one of Canada’s finest contemporary composers – Gary Kulesha, and is comfortable in both the jazz and classical idioms. In his hands, the two worlds of jazz and classical chamber music blend together seamlessly, effortlessly, and without pretence.

The idea of combining John Roney and the Silver Birch String Quartet was first made real right here in Sudbury as part of Silver Birch Concerts. At that time, there was about half a programme of repertoire created for us by John. The rest of the programme featured works by Glenn Buhr, Stravinsky, and a few of John’s solo piano pieces. This concert sparked a passion in both John and the SBSQ to expand the idea into a full length album. The resulting album “John Roney: Silverbirch” was nominated for a JUNO award in 2010.

As cellist of the Silver Birch String Quartet, I have had the privilege of being a part of this project since the beginning. Each time we have performed this show, it matures and evolves. Whether you were in Sudbury for our first show with John, or whether you have seen us in Ottawa or Montreal jazzfests, you are sure to feel as if it is a brand new experience. One that you will not forget!

Saturday January 28th, 2012     8pm

St. Peter’s United Church, 203 York Street, Sudbury

Tickets at Black Cat.

(P.S. If you’re still in town on Sunday January 29th at 12pm, check out the Cello Café at Fromagerie Elgin!

New Year’s Resolutions are a great way to revitalize your practice schedule! Make new goals! Create good habits! Begin new projects! This is the time to turn over that new leaf and refresh your cello playing.

Mark your calendars: Cello Café: Sunday January 29, 2012. 12pm, Fromagerie Elgin.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wishing you all the happiest during this holiday season!

Friday December 16, 2011

4:30pm

Join us for an afternoon of beautiful cello music, surrounded by works from the amazing permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Sudbury. Featuring the cello students of Alexandra Lee. Admission is FREE, though donations are appreciated to help us offset the hall rental. Kids are welcome! We hope to see you there!

For more info, click HERE.

The Cello Café is a performance initiative that allows cellists to perform in a casual and positive environment. Performers can play as often as they like. Listeners can enjoy the beautiful and diverse repertoire of the cello, while also partaking in the delicious offerings of the Fromagerie Elgin.

For more information on the Cello Café, click here.

Winds of Thera is inspired by the island Santorini. The myth is that Triton once gave the Argonauts a clump of earth, which when dropped into the ocean grew into the island of Thera. Evoking the music of the wind on the island, each movement is based on exotic wind instruments and the myths associated with them.

Though Joseph Petric does not physically use his own breath to produce sound, the accordion is in essence a wind instrument as well – drawing air through reeds. Petric is a virtuoso, and this programme shows both his skill and also the versatility of this beautiful instrument.

Click on Performances for more details.

Cello Café gives cellists of all ages and levels a chance to share their music in a casual, supportive environment. For more information read up about it to find out about this new performance initiative!

If you are interested in participating, contact me: alex@alexandralee.ca