Push your boundaries, try classical
Classical Series beginning at deCoste with ‘Shake, Rattle ‘n Bow’
PICTOU, N.S. — The philosophy at the deCoste Performing Arts Centre is that it’s not about always making a profit, it’s about having a great balance, supporting the community and providing cultural experiences for many.
Working with organizations like Debut Atlantic allows the Pictou centre to bring in performers who aren’t as mainstream as what the general public may want to hear. The Classical Series has been running for several years at the deCoste and has brought in approximately three to four performing groups each season.
“With the Classical Series, through Debut Atlantic we’re often able to have the artists visit several of the schools in the region to expose students to the music,” said marketing coordinator Jennifer MacLennan. “There are so many talented students who are learning how to play many different instruments, so it’s great that they have an opportunity to see where their talents and interests can take them.
“To complement this school program, we offer students the opportunity to come to the deCoste and see the performers for free.”
For anyone else who might like to push their boundaries and try something different without a lot of financial risk, the deCoste, through a partnership with the Pictou Antigonish Regional Libraries, provides an Arts Are For Everyone Show Pass to each of the branches that can be signed out by anyone with a library card. It is then presented to the deCoste to obtain a pair of free tickets to a performance, two weeks prior to the applicable performances.
“We’re hoping that people take advantage of these types of opportunities to expose themselves to different musical genres,” MacLennan said. “There is something to be said about the positive emotional benefits one receives by seeing a live performance, regardless of the type of music.”
The first performance in the Classical Series at the deCoste this season will be featuring the duo know as Bev and Marc, who combine percussion (mainly the marimba, with the addition of vibraphone and musical saw) and strings (violin) to present a new performance dynamic to the audience.
Beverley Johnston is one of Canada’s leading percussionists, having recorded six solo CDs and has performed extensively throughout the world. She teaches at the University of Toronto and was named the Canadian Music Centre Ambassador in honour of her exemplary commitment to the performance of the music of Canadian composers.
Marc Djokic, an Atlantic Canadian himself, is one of the Canada’s most prolific violinists and was awarded a Prix Goyer and a Prix Opus. He was featured in Bravo’s, The Classical Now and has just released his debut album.
The duo usually plays a style of melodic, contemporary, tonal music; their smoothly paced, eclectic programming shows that not all contemporary music is abstract and atonal.
Anyone interested in purchasing tickets to the Shake, Rattle and Bow performance being held at the deCoste on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. can do so by contacting the box office Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 485-8848 or 1-800-353-5338 or by visiting decostecentre.ca/tickets or dropping by at 99 Water St., Pictou. Tickets are $25 and $22 for members. Students are admitted free.