Home Routes Classical
Home Routes Classical is a new idea born of old roots. The classical
music home concert was first popularized in the 19th Century when the
development and mass production of the piano meant that everyone could have a
piano at home. During the 1820's, the great Austrian song composer Franz
Schubert would try out his new songs at a patron's home in the company of
friends, food, and wine, everyone infused by the famous Viennese spirit of
"gemuetlichkeit". Chopin did the same in his many piano soirees in
1840's
For our first Home Routes Classical venture, we're staying
close to home, establishing a prairie circuit and involving prairie artists.
The excellence of our inaugural group of performers fairly represents the
vibrant classical scene found in
Let the "gemuetlichkeit" commence!
- Artistic Director Mel Braun
2012 Program
Flin Flon, MB - Swan River, MB - The Pas, MB - McCreary, MB - Brandon, MB
Estevan, SK - Headingley, MB - Balmoral, MB - Winnipeg, MB
February
Soprano Sarah Kirsch & Chris Kayler
An exceptional musician with a penchant for adventurous repertoire, Sarah Kirsch has dedicated herself to the rejuvenation of classical style. She is an emerging force in the Canadian music community performing early and new music as a recitalist and concert soloist.Through her journey as a performer, Sarah has sung a number of operatic roles including, Feu/Princesse/Rossignol in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges and Cecilia in the premiere of Randall Shinn's Sara McKinnon with CU Opera, Jokmeam in the premiere of Isaiah Bell's Oholibah and her lovers with Kingstreet Opera, Despina in Mozart's Così fan tutte with Winnipeg's Little Opera Company and Donna Francesca/The Moon in the premiere of Dean Burry's Angela and her sisters with the University of Manitoba's Opera Theatre School Tour.
As an avid recitalist and new music singer, Sarah has had the distinct pleasure of working with a number of living composers. She was honoured to premiere Mike Krzyzaniak's cycle Two Songs for Coloratura Soprano, Michael Matthews' chamber work Winter is when, and Richard Festinger's Spring Ice.
Since moving to Winnipeg, Sarah has appeared as a soloist with the Southern Manitoba Choral Society, Canzona, MusikBarock, and the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. She was among the winners of the 2009 Orville J Derraugh memorial scholarship, earned first place in the Senior Voice class of MRMTA's 2011 scholarship competition, the Women's Musical Club of Winnipeg's 2011 annual open scholarship competition, and was invited to compete in the final rounds of the
2011 Eckhardt-Gramatté national new music competition. This coming season, she will be performing again as a soloist as part of the Professor Bach Project, with Canzona and MusikBarock, with the Winnipeg Singers, and as part of a world premiere of a new opera by Matthew Ricketts at the 2012 Cluster New Music Festival.
Sarah earned a Bachelor of Music with high honours from the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music. Awarded the University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship, she is currently working towards a Master of Music Performance with the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music.
Christopher Kayler recently graduated with a Master's of Music in Collaborative Piano Performance from the University of Manitoba. He also graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in solo piano from the U of M, and was awarded a Gold Medal for highest standing in Music. An experienced solo pianist, he won the U of M's competition for most outstanding undergraduate performer, and was a featured soloist with the U of M Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Chris has participated in several prestigious summer music programs, including Opera NUVOA in Edmonton and the Franz Schubert Institut in Baden bei Wien, Austria. His choral experience, both as singer and accompanist, has taken him across Canada and as far as Buenos Aires and Stockholm.Chris has also played frequently with Red Moon Road, a popular folk-roots group, throughout Winnipeg and around Manitoba.
March
Charmaine Bacon & Rachel Penner
Charmaine Bacon is a freelance Winnipeg flutist. She holds a Master of Music from the University of Manitoba where she studied with Jan Kocman, Laurel Ridd and Martha Durkin. Ms. Bacon currently performs with the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble. She is active as a flute instructor, teaching privately and at the University of Manitoba Preparatory Division, and has previously been on staff as Flute Choir director at the Canadian Mennonite University. Currently, Ms. Bacon is continuing to expand and promote her concert series, actively collecting and performing new works by Canadian composers, and applying for doctoral studies at the Sheffield University in England, UK.
Born in southern Manitoba, Rachel Penner is a lyrical pianist. Having finished her Bachelor of Music at Brandon University in 2008, Ms. Penner is currently studying Collaborative Piano at University of Manitoba. Her love for music was noticeable at an early age, and her enjoyment in sharing her gift through performance began with local festivals and school music programs. A winner at the provincial festival in 2001 in the Junior/Intermediate Mozart category and performer in the provincial National class in 2007, Ms. Penner has continually sought to play with excellence. Her newest adventure in the world of collaborative work stems from her background as a singer. It has challenged her to explore the limitless possibilities of the piano as it interacts with the sounds of other instruments and as she encounters the personalities and styles of her collaborating musicians.
April
Ian Hodges (B. Mus., M. Mus., DMA)
Ian Hodges recently completed the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Guitar Performance at the University of Minnesota's School of Music, under the direction of Jeffrey Van. A three-year appointment as a guitar instructor at the U of MN provided invaluable experience teaching guitar classes and elective lessons to undergrad and graduate students from around the world. Ian earned a Master's Degree in Guitar Performance at Florida State University in 2003, where he studied with renowned American pedagogue Bruce Holzman. Outstanding work in music research and performance at FSU led to initiation into Pi Kappa Lambda, America's National Honorary Musical Society. Additional training included extensive private study with the great Canadian guitar virtuoso, Norbert Kraft, from 1993-1997, a Bachelor of Music Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the University of Manitoba in 1992, and jazz studies at Humber College in 1983.
Performances as a guitar soloist, chamber musician, and guest soloist with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Musik Barock Ensemble, and the Brandon Chamber Players led the Winnipeg Free Press to describe Ian as "Manitoba's Premiere Classical Guitarist" (November 2001). The 1997 recording of "Canciones", a CD of Spanish Music, with soprano Charlene Pauls received airplay across North America. CBC Radio has featured this recording and many of Mr. Hodges' live performances in national broadcasts.
Dr. Hodges composes music for film and theatre, including two feature-length National Film Board documentaries (the Peabody award-winning "Fat Chance" in 1994; "and so to Bed" in 1999), independent film "Haunts of the Black Masseur - the Swimmer as Hero" (2004), and many shows for Prairie Theatre Exchange.
Ian's professional career began in the 80's as an electric guitarist with top-level jazz, fusion, rock, and country bands, including work with the Ron Paley Quintet and Cathy St. Germain and the Rage. Ian toured all over Canada during this period, and is still active as a studio and session player, recording music for film and television as well as presenting live performances. During his time at the University of Minnesota, Ian performed with the Jazz I Ensemble directed by Dean Sorenson, a jazz combo directed by Phil Hey, and was called upon to accompany visiting artists (including trumpet great Rex Richardson) and to represent the U of MN at special events.
A highly successful teacher for over 25 years, Dr. Hodges has taught at the University of Minnesota, the Canadian Mennonite University, the Preparatory Division of the School of Music (University of Manitoba), and at Westgate Collegiate. His students have won a great number of scholarships, medals and trophies in local competitions and exams, and have been accepted at music schools across Canada and the US. Many have gone on to professional careers in music.
