Call for Composers

For Immediate Release: May 5, 2014

LANGLEY COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL CALLS FOR YOUNG COMPOSERS AS PHASE TWO OF YOUTH OPERA PROJECT – OPERA-TION YOUTH
Three Langley residents selected to have their stories set to music as part of the project

Langley, BC – Langley Community Music School (LCMS) is seeking young B.C. composers between the ages of 12 and 24 to set opera librettos by three young writers to music. The call comes as LCMS embarks on the second phase of its ambitious OperaTion Youth project, which will involve youth in all aspects of the creation of a new opera, from story development and music composition through to performance.

“We are excited to announce that stories by three talented young writers have been selected to be developed into librettos,” says Marcel Bergmann, LCMS director of program advancement and OperaTion Youth project co-director. “The stories, though quite different, are united by their exploration of socially relevant themes, and we look forward to presenting them as three short one-act operas.”

The winning young writers are Langley residents Jasmin Soomin Jeong (12), Lauren Trotzuk (19) and Kaitlyn Gisler (21).

With the first phase complete, the school is now seeking young B.C. composers to set opera librettos by the three writers to music. The composers will be selected through a competitive process, and will work with Marcel Bergmann to develop their scores. There will be cash awards presented to the selected composers. Performances are planned for June 2015, and will take place in LCMS’ Rose Gellert Hall.

OperaTion Youth lead artists include Marcel Bergmann, project co-director; Elizabeth Bergmann, project co-director; Kico Gonzalez-Risso, librettist/director; and Joel Stobbe, conductor.

The call for entries is open to B.C. residents between the ages of 12 and 24. Interested individuals must submit an expression of interest to LCMS including a cover letter with their contact information and age, a brief summary of their composition experience, a list of works and a sample composition (in pdf format; preferably also with an MP3 audio file).

Applicants must attend the July 24, 2014 workshop at LCMS. Additional dates and deadlines are outlined below:

June 20, 2014 Composer expression of interest deadline.

July 4, 2014 Selected composers notified.

July 24, 2014 5-8pm Workshop with composers and writers.

August 16, 2014 Composition workshop.

September 13, 2014 Composition workshop

December 15, 2014 Deadline for complete compositions (score)

June 2015 Performances at LCMS

Interested applicants should submit their expression of interest by email to development@langleymusic.com with OperaTion Youth in the subject line or by mail to Langley Community Music School, 4899 207th St., Langley, BC V3A 2E4, attention: OperaTion Youth.

“As the project progresses, it will bring many more opportunities for youth in surrounding communities,” says Marcel Bergmann, “including vocal soloists, instrumentalists, and others looking to help with stage management and set design to name a few.”

For more information please contact Marcel or Elizabeth Bergmann at 604-534-2848.

ABOUT LANGLEY COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL LCMS is a non-profit charitable organization committed to providing the highest quality music education to the community. It is one of the largest community music schools in the province, offering comprehensive and innovative music programming to students of all ages and levels, from early learning to pre-professional, and adult programs. To learn more about the Langley Community Music School, please visit www.langleymusic.com or call 604-534-2848.

BIOGRAPHIES – OperaTion Youth Lead Artists

Marcel Bergmann – Project Co-Director, Composer
For the last 20 years, Marcel has enjoyed an active musical career as a performer, composer, improviser and teacher. His broad range of musical interest and experience in both, classical and popular music has led to an output in a variety of styles and genres. He has been involved as composer and musical director in a variety of theatre, cabaret and multimedia projects. The BavarianTelevision, Arte and other European broadcasting corporations, have broadcast his music for television features. In 2004, he was a composer-in-residence for Calgary Opera’s Let’s create an Opera programme. In December 2005, Marcel’s Urban Pulse for two pianos was premiered as the commissioned work for The 10th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition (past commissioned composers included Morton Gould, Ned Rorem, William Bolcom and John Corigliano). His music appears on the Canadian National Conservatory’s series Making Tracks- An Expedition in Canadian Piano Music. He has been commissioned by various organizations including the CBC, the Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, the Spiritus Chamber Choir, the Langley Community Music School and the San Francisco International Music Festival. His most recent large-scale work, Two Bit Oper-Eh-Shun (an oratorio on homelessness) was premiered at the 2010 High Performance Rodeo in Calgary and was presented as part of the New York Music Theatre Festival in July 2012. Marcel is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. Marcel is currently Director of Program Advancement at the Langley Community Music School where he also teaches piano, composition and chamber music.

Elizabeth Bergmann – Project Co-Director
Elizabeth Bergmann has an active performing career as pianist and chamber musician and is the recipient of many awards and prizes of international competitions such as the International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Italy and the 4th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition. She performs most regularly with her husband as the Bergmann Piano Duo and has recorded numerous CDs with various ensembles and artists appearing on the Arktos, Naxos and Brilliant Classics labels. Recitals and concerts with orchestra have taken her to many parts of the world including the United States, Italy, Germany, Holland, Greece and Canada. Elizabeth is nationally and internationally involved as a lecturer, presenter and juror of festivals and competitions. She is Artistic Director of Concerts and Director of Summer Programmes at the Langley Community Music School in Langley, BC. She has been on faculty at The Mount Royal University in Calgary and at the University of Calgary and for many years was involved in various musical activities at the Banff Centre for the Arts. She was a core member of Calgary Land’s End Chamber Ensemble and in the 2004-2005 season, she and her husband served as Artistic Directors of The Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition and Foundation in Miami.

Kico Gonzalez-Risso – Librettist, Director
A published playwright, director and librettist, Kico has had his work produced at various theatres, including The Arts Club, Waterfront Theatre, Richmond Gateway Theatre, Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary Opera Association, Lancaster Opera, The Cleveland Institute of Music, NYU’s Black Box Theater, Heartland Opera Theater in Missouri and the Maryland Arts Festival. Among his professionally produced plays are the musical GHOSTS IN LOVE (book and lyrics), WONDERVILLE, SLEEPWALKER, INSPECTOR SLY’s SECOND-TO-LAST CASE, ART ATTACK, PHONING IT IN (for CBC Radio Drama), INQUISITION, THE FOREPLAY and VOODOO. His work has been broadcast on C.B.C.’s West Coast Performance and SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT THE OPERA. His play, HARP & SOLO (featuring harpist Rita Costanzi) sold out its run at Vancouver’s prestigious Music in the Morning series. Kico then wrote A SCORE TO SETTLE for Rita which premiered at MusicFest Vancouver, and continues to be performed internationally. With Japanese composer Koji Nakano, Kico wrote BRUSH, a chamber opera about Goya commissioned by Tapestry New Opera. He wrote the chamber opera La Señorita Mundo with Chinese Canadian composer Njo Kong Kie for Toronto’s Summerworks Festival. Kico’s choral texts have been performed by musica intima, Vancouver Bach Choir, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Turning Point Ensemble and Vancouver Cantata Singers. In 2011, Kico and composer Cameron Wilson wrote SUPERNATURAL NOIR a film noir opera produced by Fugue Theatre. Last season Kico wrote SECRET SERVICE, an espionage operetta composed by Neil Weisensel and presented at Performance Works. Kico is a member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada and SOCAN.

Joel Stobbe – Conductor
Born and raised in Prince George, Joel Stobbe has received his Artistic Diploma of Music Performance from the Augsburg Conservatory of Music in Germany, regularly performing as soloist and with chamber groups in Germany, France and Italy. Upon his return to Canada, Joel was a founding member of the Borealis String Quartet (2000-2005). He toured with the quartet, giving performances throughout Canada and the United States, with frequent broadcasts on radio and television. In addition to regular quartet activities, Joel enjoyed giving educational concerts and masterclasses to young people from Dawson City to New York City. Joel is currently the principal cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony, and enjoys an active career giving frequent concerts as soloist and chamber musician. Joel is the Program Coordinator for Advanced Programs at LCMS, and conducts the LCMS Concert Orchestra.

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Media Contacts:
Meagan Baker
Communications Consultant
604.351.0525
mb.baker@telus.net

Carolyn Granholm
Assistant Principal
Langley Community Music School
604.534.2848
development@langleymusic.com