The best of the best
Cecilian Concert Series presenting top Canadian classical performers
When asked to describe the attraction of the Cecilian Concert Series, artistic director Lore Ruschiensky kept it short and sweet. “It’s the very best of classical music presented by the best Canadian performers,” Ruschiensky explained in a recent interview.
Entering its third season, the Cecilian Concert Series has developed a nationwide reputation in a relatively short period of time with its World Stage Series. The 201314 season opens Oct. 5 with the New Orford String Quartet, followed by concerts by pianists Jan Lisiecki (Dec. 1) and Andre Laplante (Feb. 15, 2014).
For Ruschiensky, the quality of the artists are a direct reflection of the reputation of the series.
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” said Ruschiensky. “It’s really a great lineup this year.
We’ve got those because of wonderful connections we’ve made over time ... We didn’t have to go looking for them. I’m getting more and more requests all the time from people who have heard of the series and want to participate.”
The series spent its initial season at St. Cecilia before moving to Knox Metropolitan Church for the 2012-13.
The first two seasons featured artists like pianist Maria Fuller, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, The Tommy Banks Trio and violinist James Ehnes.
Here’s a brief look at the featured artists for 2013-14: ■ The New Orford String Quartet, comprised of Jonathan Crow, Andrew Wan, Eric Nowlin and Brian Manker, formed in 2009. They are all principal players in the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras. The quartet’s debut album was released in 2011 and nominated for a Juno Award in 2012. ■ The 18-year-old Lisiecki, born and raised in Calgary, is attending the Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto. He has played with the New York Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra and Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
On Aug. 16 Lisiecki was presented with the Leonard Bernstein Award at a ceremony in Lubeck, Germany. The award, chosen by an illustrious international jury, is given to young musicians for outstanding achievement in classical music. ■ Laplante, a Juno Award-winner, has also earned prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions and a silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
He also performs regularly as an orchestral soloist with symphonies throughout North America and Europe.
The organization also has a secondary tier of concerts called The Cecilian Concert Series Presents. These concerts are for local and emerging artists.
The CCSP will be comprised of two concerts — pianist Dr. Penny Johnson will perform Bach’s Art of Fugue on Nov. 3 while the Armati Strings will be featured on March 1, 2014.
Tickets for the World Stage Series can be purchased at Bach & Beyond and Cobb Swanson Music and are also available online (www.dennisweistpiano.ca/ccs/concerts) and by telephone (306789-8414).
Tickets are $40 for adults and $15 for students. Children under 12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
Season subscriptions are available for $100 for adults and $35 for students.
Admission to the CCSP performance is by donation.