Cafe Classico features Sea and Sky Trio

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2018

Lively, Soulful, and Enchanting Folk-inspired Trio to Perform at Langley’s Concerts Café Classico

Langley Community Music School (LCMS) welcomes Vancouver’s dynamic and nationally-renowned “Sea and Sky” trio to Concerts Café Classico at 2:30 pm Sunday afternoon, March 4, 2018. Performers Joan Blackman, violin, Francois Houle, clarinet, and Jane Hayes, piano, will treat audiences to an eclectic mix of rhythms ranging from a contemporary Canadian-composed Tango (by Patrick Cardy) to the dramatic sounds of early 20th century Russian folk-music (Igor Stravinsky).

The program will feature five works from Stravinsky’s L’histoire du soldat. In particular, “two march-inspired movements, Tango-Waltz-Ragtime and Devil’s Dance, are kind of a Russian hoe-down, all telling the magnificent tale of a soldier selling his soul to the devil,” says Sea and Sky pianist Jane Hayes. The program will also include the works of Jewish-American composer Paul Schoenfeld, whose music “drew on Hassidic tunes and ceremonial dances with a hint of Russian wedding music. Each movement gives a glimpse into Jewish culture: the wild Klezmer-inspired dance, Freylakh; the whining, palm court style March (which hints of Tim Burton); the soulful prayer, Nigun; and the rousing wedding dance, Kozatsche.” The program also includes Largo (1901) by composer Charles E. Ives, known for his distinctive blend of American hymns with traditional European music.

Originally established in 2014, the Sea and Sky chamber group has performed across Canada and abroad. Their clarinet-piano recordings have received rave accolades, citing “the excellence of the musicianship”, their “interpretive prowess” and “willingness to experiment”. Their CD recording “Sassicaia” was also nominated for a 2014 West Coast Music Award for best new classical recording and best new classical composition. The group continues to expand their repertoire with the addition of violin and saxophone and have recently released two more CDs, “Dream Tracks” and “Chromaticity.” Learn more at http://www.seaandskymusic.org/

Clarinetist François Houle, is renowned across Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia, noted as a “Rising Star” and “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” (Downbeat Magazine) and “a spectacularly versatile clarinetist who appears to have no limitations stylistically or sonically” (LA Times). Houle is also a prolific recording artist, with over twenty recordings earning multiple Juno Awards, and has significantly expanded the clarinet repertoire, having commissioned and premiered over 100 new works by many of today’s leading Canadian and international composers. Learn more at https://www.francoishoule.ca/

Violinist, Joan Blackman, is Artistic Director of Vancouver’s Vetta Chamber Music Society and former Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony. She is also an active chamber musician, performing with diverse groups throughout British Columbia. Learn more at https://joanblackmanviolin.com/about-2/

Pianist, Jane Hayes, has performed across Canada, the United States, Europe, China and Mexico, and is an active recording artist, with 20 CDs in her repertoire. Formerly with the Toronto Symphony, Jane is currently on sabbatical from her position as Director of Keyboard Studies at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and has recently been appointed Guest Professor at Henan Polytechnic University in Jiao Zuo, China. Learn more at http://www.kpu.ca/arts/music/faculty/jane-hayes

“This is going to be a fun and engaging concert. The folk-inspired programme promises to bring audiences on a dramatic and lively journey through multiple cultures,” says LCMS Artistic Director Elizabeth Bergmann. “We are also delighted to feature such wonderful home-grown talent as the renowned Sea and Sky chamber music ensemble.”

The event starts at 2:30 pm with a pre-concert conversation with the trio, hosted by LCMS artistic director Elizabeth Bergmann. This commentary will explore some career anecdotes and highlight insights into the selected repertoire. There will be a short break with coffee and refreshments, before the performance from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

Tickets for this Concerts Café Classico event are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students. 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.

-30-