For the first time, The Collingwood Music Festival invites young, talented musicians under the age of 25 to audition for a dedicated youth concert to be presented on July 10th as part of their 2024 festival.
This initiative, titled Step into the Spotlight: Calling Young Musicians offers the opportunity to exhibit musical talent and passion in a professional setting, engagement with professional musicians, the potential for collaboration and future opportunities in the music industry, name exposure in the media, plus a free pass for the 2024 festival.
To secure an audition slot, musicians must RSVP by May 25 and follow the instructions on the festival website here.
In mid-May, ticket sales will open for our fifth-annual festival titled "Summer Serenades" at collingwoodfestival.com/buy-tickets, and will also be available at the box office (705-416-1317). The festival runs July 5-12. Most concerts run from 7-9 pm and will be presented in First Presbyterian Church. Most opening weekend concerts in Millennium Park.
In anticipation of the festival, an enthusiastic, full-house audience was treated to a satisfying array of musical, visual, culinary and refreshment delights at the Collingwood Music Festival's annual fundraiser last week.
The performance starred renowned string ensemble, the Odin Quartet, joined by the festival’s artistic director, Daniel Vnukowski.
“The evening was nothing short of magical at our Spring fundraiser this year: the musical selections offered an array of emotions from quiet reverie to monumental triumph," said Vnukowski. "I especially enjoyed meeting the composer of our festival’s commissioned work, Simon Bertrand, who travelled all the way from Montreal to join us. Simon's work offered a poignant tribute to his mother and filled the room with unique, atmospheric sounds that intertwined quotes from various piano works by Robert Schumann, including the monumental Piano Quintet performed that night."
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE AND LINEUP:
July 5: Opening Night Concert in Millennium Park - "Viennese Violins" with The Toronto Concert Orchestra
July 6: Renowned local Jazz saxophonist John MacMurchy and his Quintet - in Millennium Park
July 6: The versatile Toronto Welsh Male Voice Choir - from folk tunes of Wales to Broadway tunes
July 7: Montréal's Stick & Bow, cello and marimba duo – surprises from Bach to Radiohead (British rock band)
July 8: Africville - Award-winning Canadian artists Jackie Richardson, and, Joe Sealy and trio, bring the powerful stories of close-knit Africville, the former Halifax black community, back to light and life
July 9: “Postcards Lost” - Juno-winning clarinetist James Campbell and acclaimed concert pianist Daniel Vnukowksi, with Jaclyn Grossman, Andrea Ludwig and Moshe Hammer bring the love story to life of a couple who wrote Yiddish postcards to each other in WWII
July 10: "Step Into The Spotlight" Youth Concert (see above description)
July 11: National Indigenous Achievement Award-winner Thompson Highway, playwright and novelist with Peruvian-Canadian cabaret vocalist Patricia Cano singing his songs in the Cree language
July 12: Closing Night: An Enchanted Evening, featuring world famous baritone Gino Quilico and Julie Nesrallah; favourite opera, operetta and Broadway songs
The Festival also offers their popular annual Youth Music Day, and a new series “Beyond Music” featuring an array of presentations and introductions giving insight in the future of music.
