Cafe Classico – Rachel Mercer & Jeanie Chung

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 6, 2015

Canadian Composers Celebrated at Langley Concert

Langley Community Music School (LCMS) is pleased to showcase Canadian chamber music composers at the upcoming Concerts Café Classico concert at 2:30 pm on Sunday afternoon, November 22, 2015, in celebration of Canada Music Week.

Performed by the dynamic Rachel Mercer (cello) and Jeanie Chung (piano), these Canadian works are as timeless and riveting as the classics. The selected works will include Abigail Richardson-Schulte’s “Crossings”, Mark Nerenberg’s “I Thirst”, and Andrew Downing’s “Viyolonsel Semai” (for solo cello). The duo will also perform 19th century composer, Mendelssohn’s Sonata No 2 in D major.

A passionate advocate of Canadian music, cellist Rachel Mercer says, “Abigail’s piece has a really wonderful range of style, and one of the most exciting endings in the repertoire! Based on two of the seven last words of Christ, Nerenberg’s piece is powerful and beautifully etherial. And Downing’s work is a wonderful little piece with a recurring refrain, almost like a pop tune! It’s not meant to be complicated or intense. It is just itself.”

LCMS artistic director Elizabeth Bergmann will explore these insights, anecdotal stories and more at the 2:30 pm pre-concert talk show with the Mercer-Chung duo. Then after a short break with coffee and refreshments, the performance will start at 3:30 pm.

Concert performer and Toronto native Rachel Mercer is a world-renowned cellist, performing as a soloist across Canada, Europe, United States, Balkans and Israel, and teaching master classes across North America, South Africa and Israel. One of Canada’s award-winning musicians, Rachel was granted the honour of playing the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius from 2009-2012 and the 1769 Joannes Guillami Filius Cello from 2014-2015. Her critically acclaimed work can be heard on Naxos, Dalia Classics and EnT-T record labels. Visit: www.rachelmercercellist.com

Pianist Jeanie Chung is equally renowned, having performed solo recitals, concerto performances and chamber music concerts throughout North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Chung attended the Juilliard School where she obtained Bachelor of Music, Masters of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees, and continues today as a faculty member of The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists and at the Banff Centre.

“It is a great treat to feature such high caliber interpreters of Canadian music,” says LCMS artistic director Elizabeth Bergmann. “It will be a wonderful and engaging performance. And there’s even a LCMS connection to one of the composers. Some of the audience may remember the performance of jazz bassist Andrew Downing with singer Trish O’Callaghan and pianist-conductor Les Dala some years ago.”

Canada Music Week is celebrated annually in the third week of November to showcase Canadian composers and performers, to introduce this contemporary Canadian music to the public, and to stimulate a keener appreciation of this music. LCMS acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

As part of this annual celebration, LCMS is also hosting an all-Canadian Saturday afternoon concert at 2:00 p.m., November 21, 2015. This event will feature students of all ages and levels, the children’s choir, fiddlers, as well as some faculty performances.

Tickets for the Concerts Café Classico event are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. There is no charge for the Saturday afternoon concert. Call the box office at 604-534-2848. The Rose Gellert Hall is located at 4899 207 Street, Langley, BC.

ABOUT LANGLEY COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL
Langley Community Music School (LCMS) is a non-profit organization and registered charity that is committed to providing the highest quality of musical education to students of all ages and levels, from early learning to pre-professional and adult programs. With the support of the community, LCMS has become one of the largest non-profit music schools in the province, earning both national and international acclaim for their comprehensive and innovative programs. Learn more about LCMS programs, scholarships and bursaries.

The Langley Community Music School hosts multiple musical concerts from October to May, including the Rose Gellert Hall Series, a Saturday evening concert featuring renowned Canadian and international musicians, as well as the Concerts Café Classico Series, a Sunday afternoon concert series featuring stellar local and touring musicians playing classical, jazz or contemporary works.

Visit langleymusic.com or call 604-534-2848.

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