Canadian Music Week

For Immediate Release: November 21, 2012

Canadian Music Hits a High Note at LCMS this Weekend

LANGLEY, BC – Langley Community Music School (LCMS) is celebrating Canadian Music Week with a number of exciting performances for the community to enjoy this weekend – from the Bergmann Piano Duo, to a Canadian music recital featuring LCMS students and faculty, and performances of student compositions by members of Vancouver’s renowned Turning Point Ensemble.

This year LCMS is paying special tribute to the music of Barbara Pentland (1912-2000) in celebration of her centenary.  LCMS had a connection with Pentland, who visited LCMS several times during her lifetime, and also premiered some of her compositions at the school.   LCMS was also the recipient of her grand piano, and a few other items from her estate.

On Saturday, November 24 at 2pm, students of all levels will perform works by Pentland and other Canadian composers.  At this concert, LCMS faculty members Leslie Janos, piano, Luiza Nelepcu, violin, and Ian Hampton, cello, will also premier a new work written by Janos for piano trio.

Later in the evening of November 24, LCMS presents “A Portrait of Barbara Pentland” with the Bergmann Piano Duo at 7:30pm.  The concert will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with Ian Hampton, LCMS artistic director emeritus, who knew Pentland well and describes her as having been a dear old friend.  The concert is sponsored in part by the Canadian Music centre, an organization Pentland helped to found, and will feature the Bergmann Piano Duo playing Pentland’s two-piano works.  To round out the programme, they will present works by composers who influenced her and had an impact on her compositional work. On the programme is Stravinsky’s Concerto per due pianoforti soli, Copland’s El Salon Mexico and Hindemith’s Sonata for piano four hands. Pentland studied with Copland and Hindemith and was influenced as many were, by Stravinsky’s striking compositional style.

The duo will also be premiering a new work by Marcel Bergmann written especially for this occasion.  Marcel was inspired by Pentland’s work News, which she wrote on the brooding news topics of the time.   “I have been exploring various aspects of our current ‘culture of fear’ that have been disseminated by the many different types of mass media present today,” explains Bergmann.  “For this particular composition I am using an additional ‘soundscape’ and include some prepared piano sounds as well, creating a kaleidoscope of impressions and musical commentary on this topic.”

On Sunday, November 25 at 3:30pm, LCMS presents the final recital of the innovative “Creating Composers” program.  At this recital, members of Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble (TPE) will premier works by students aged 12-20 from LCMS, Kwantlen and Trinity Western University who have worked together with internationally renowned composer Rodney Sharman and TPE members in the program.

All events will take place in Rose Gellert Hall, located at 4899 207^th Street, Langley.   Admission is free for all events, with donations welcome.

About Bergmann Piano Duo

Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann have been performing together since 1989 and have garnered many awards including first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Italy and at The 4th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition. Their recitals and concerts with orchestra have taken Elizabeth and Marcel throughout the Americas and Europe, and they have recorded numerous CDs.  Elizabeth Bergmann is artistic director, concerts and director of summer programs at LCMS.  Marcel Bergmann is also on faculty at LCMS.

About Turning Point Ensemble

The Vancouver-based ensemble was formed in 2002 by its musician members, and its mandate is to increase the appreciation of music composed during the past 100 years, linking the music of earlier times to the music of today through innovative programming and outstanding performance.  The Ensemble was recently honoured with the prestigious Rio Tinto Alcan Award for Performing Arts, 2011.

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 school’s 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.

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Media Contacts:

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