Young singers to be mentored in 2013 Master Class Youth Series

Innovative program offers Ontario students workshops on performance and composition Thunder Bay (May 10/11), Aurora (May 10/11), Kanata (May 17/18), Midland (November 15/16), Kingston (November 15/16)

LONDON, ON, March 15, 2013 /CNW/ - Conservatory Canada and The Canadian Music Centre are delighted to announce the launch of the second year of The Master Class Youth Series. The two-day program will run in five communities across Ontario, offering vocal students an opportunity to be mentored by both a professional performer and a professional composer in an intensive workshop setting.

Intended for musicians aged 9 to 18 from rural areas across Ontario, the Master Class Youth Series is generously supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Designed to continue over three years, last year's focus was on piano; the series wraps up in 2014 with guitar.

"Students who live in smaller communities do not usually have the opportunity to participate in this type of program without travelling to a larger centre," comments Conservatory Canada executive director, Victoria Warwick. "Conservatory Canada and the Canadian Music Centre wanted to remove the geographic barriers for these students by brining this type of Master Class experience to their home towns."

A maximum of ten vocal students will be chosen to participate in each two-day workshop. "There is no cost to participate, but any student who wishes to attend must be recommended by their private teacher or school teacher," says Warwick. Application forms are now available from Conservatory Canada.

The program has been developed so that any student can benefit regardless of experience, Warwick explains, and each participating student and their teacher will receive a complimentary repertoire consultation to help find Canadian repertoire suited to their needs and interests. Students will also have the opportunity to showcase their talents with a public performance at the end of each Youth Series program.

Conservatory Canada is a national charitable organization focusing on advancing the performing arts through music education.

The Canadian Music Centre promotes the work of its associate composers in Canada and throughout the world, loaning scores and selling CDs, as well as providing an on-demand publishing service and consultations.

2013 Master Class Youth Series schedule
City: Thunder Bay 
Location: Lakehead University Music Building
Date: Friday/Saturday, May 10/11
Facilitators: Aris Carastathis (CMC), Todd Wieczorek (CC)

City: Aurora
Location: Aurora United Church, 15186 Yonge Street, Aurora
Date: Friday/Saturday, May 10/11
Facilitators: Dean Burry (CMC), Catherine Gardner (CC)

City: Kanata
Location: Fellowship Baptist Church, 1078 Klondike Road, Kanata
Date: Friday/Saturday, May 17/18
Facilitators: Elise Letourneau (CMC), Michael Faulkner (CC)

City: Midland
Location: St. Paul's United Church, 308 King Street, Midland
Date: Friday/Saturday, November 15/16
Facilitators: Alex Eddington (CMC), Catherine Gardner (CC)

City: Kingston
Location: St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 263 Victoria Street, Kingston
Date: Friday/Saturday, November 15/16
Facilitators: Martha Hill Duncan (CMC) and Michael Faulkner (CC)

SOURCE: Conservatory Canada

Victoria Warwick, Conservatory Canada National Executive Director
[email protected]
1-800-461-5367
www.conservatorycanada.ca

Canadian Music Centre
[email protected]
416-961-6601 x 207
www.musiccentre.ca