Every spring the PEI Symphony presents our most important fundraiser, entitled “Serenade to Spring”.   It’s a gourmet dinner and auction featuring high quality items including paintings and works of art by local PEI artists, gift certificates for meals, golfing and quality services by local businesses, special music lessons and concerts by top Island musicians and other special items.

Please support your PEI Symphony Orchestra and plan to attend this key annual fundraising dinner and auction.

For 2013 the event is set for Saturday May 25th in the elegant Georgian Room of the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel, with a gourmet meal and a wonderful assortment of art, gift certificates and donations for both the live and silent auctions.

Saturday May 25, 2013

6:00 Cocktails and Auction Viewing
7:00 Dinner & Bidding

Location:  Rodd Charlottetown

Hosted by Fraser McCallum
Music by Singing Strings

Tickets are $90 per person with a $50 tax receipt. If you’re not available for the dinner why not just send us the $50 donation in return for the tax receipt for next year’s taxes.

Tickets are available by calling  (902) 892-4333.

We need your help. Thank you for your continued support, and please pass the word along!

Since 2000 James Mark has led our dedicated musicians, shaping the collaboration to a high level of artistic excellence and professionalism.

Thanks to his talents and musicality, PEISO audiences have enjoyed so many wonderful performances and we will surely miss his flair for programming!   The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that James Mark will become ‘Conductor Emeritus ‘ effective May 2013.

The PEI Symphony also wishes to thank our talented Composer-In-Residence Jim O’Leary as he moves on to other work. At our last concert the PEISO premiered Jim’s exciting new work entitled “Choose Other Routes”, featuring jazz trumpet virtuoso Paul Tynan to great reviews.  Unfortunately that groundbreaking work was Jim’s last piece for the PEI Symphony under this current contract.  We salute Jim for his great creativity, thank him for his contribution to the PEISO over many years as performer and composer, and we wish him all the best in his future work.

Effective May 2013, Mark Shapiro becomes the next Music Director of the PEI Symphony.

Now is the time to renew your subscription!  This year we are delighted to announce new lower pricing.  Our subscription series continues with four concerts for only $110 for Adults and Seniors, and $50 for Students and Children for any seat in the house; and we are delighted to confirm that we are HST free!

2013-2014 will be a great season of renewal for the PEI Symphony:

• New Music Director – Mark Shapiro
• Multiple ECMA winner Lennie Gallant will perform with the orchestra,
• We have wonderful cellist Julia MacLaine,
• PEI’s Roy Johnstone on fiddle,
• And our Suzanne Brenton award winner from the Kiwanis Music Festival.
• Enjoy interesting new venues for a fresh sound and experience,
• With even more great classical and contemporary orchestral music;
• All for only $27.50 per concert for adults and $12.50 for students, with no HST!

We have even more surprises in the works!   So please stay connected with us for the latest news & updates via our website or Facebook page.

Call 892-4333 to reserve your subscription now!

Mark Shapiro, incoming
PEISO Music Director

We are tremendously excited to announce that Mark Shapiro will become the new Music Director of the PEI Symphony, effective May 1, 2013. Mr. Shapiro was the guest conductor for the PEI Symphony concert in February which was a highlight of this past season and a triumph of music and musicians over a significant snowstorm.

A versatile and talented conductor, Mark Shapiro is one of a handful of conductors in the United States to have won a prestigious ASCAP Programming Award four times, achieving the unique distinction of winning this award with more than one ensemble. He is also the winner of multiple citations for performance and programming from The American Prize. His performances have been praised by the New York Times for their “virtuosity and assurance,” which also remarked on their “uncommon polish.” The New Jersey Star-Ledger characterized his artistic leadership as “erudite and far-reaching.”

Shapiro’s engagements in 2012-13 include a return concert with the Juilliard School to conduct a double bill of operas by Britten and Vaughan Williams; the concert premiere of Paul Crabtree’s new opera “The Ghost Train” with Carolina Coast Chamber Music Festival; two concerts in Carnegie Hall with The Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra where he is Music Director, including the New York premiere of the 1983 “Mass in D” by Dame Ethel Smyth; and a series of collaborative performances of new music with Cantori New York where he is Artistic Director, with prominent artists including violist Nadia Sirota and New York stage actor Kathleen Chalfant.

Shapiro is the principal guest conductor of the chamber Nova Sinfonia in Halifax NS, through which he knows many of the PEI Symphony musicians.

In an effort to make tickets more affordable for PEI families and music fans, the PEI Symphony has announced lower pricing for season subscriptions, now only $110 for adults and seniors, and $50 for students and children. That represents a reduction of $30 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Each subscription provides tickets for four PEISO concerts, bringing the per concert cost to $27.50 for adults and seniors and only $12.50 for students.  We are happy to confirm that there is no HST for PEISO subscriptions!   Call 892-4333 to reserve yours today!

• Symphony No. 40 in g minor, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Choose Other Routes, by Jim O’Leary featuring jazz trumpet master Paul Tynan
• Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saëns and featuring piano soloists Frances McBurnie and Dr. Frances Gray, with narration by Patrick Ledwell.

On Sunday April 14th the PEI Symphony Orchestra will present a concert celebrating Mozart, Canadian composers and the career and contributions of PEISO Conductor James Mark.  This concert will be Dr. Mark’s last leading the PEI Symphony as Music Director. After more than twelve years of inspired leadership, and many more years of inestimable contributions to the PEISO, James Mark is retiring, and will become ‘Conductor Emeritus ‘ for the PEI Symphony Orchestra.

As the PEISO’s Music Director since 2000, James Mark has masterfully lead the PEISO’s dedicated and gifted musicians, shaping the musical collaboration to a high level of artistic excellence and professionalism befitting the premiere orchestra of a provincial capital.  Thanks to his talents and musicality, PEI audiences have enjoyed years of wonderful orchestral performances and his flair for concert programming that fostered in PEISO performers both young and mature, while providing orchestral music with great appeal.

On the program for this concert, Dr. Mark will lead the orchestra to perform Mozart’s very popular “Symphony No. 40 in g minor”, often called the “Great G Minor Symphony”. One of his most admired works, this tragic and emotional work is one of only two that Mozart wrote in a minor tonality, and has been described as “a work of passion, violence and grief” by Charles Rosen in The Classical Style.

Also on the program, the orchestra welcomes guest artist Patrick Ledwell as narrator for Camille Saint-Saëns’ multimedia work “Carnival of the Animals”; an early example of poetry set to orchestral music, and a brilliant example of the composers’ ability to musically describe his animal subjects so the audience can visualize them. For this work, the PEISO is delighted to welcome back two of our finest piano soloists: Dr. Frances Gray and Frances McBurnie. French composer Saint-Saëns penned this suite as entertainment for his friends and family and never meant for the piece for public consumption, but it certainly has become a global fan favourite. “A kangaroo can jump incredible. It has to jump because it’s edible!” Saint-Saëns’ motifs musically describe creatures ambling across the stage: lions, hens, wild asses, tortoises, an elephant, and the kangaroos skipping along to the pianos.

Jim O’Leary, the PEI Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence will see the world premiere of his latest work.  A departure from his previous works, “Choose Other Routes” has been written for the acclaimed jazz trumpet performer Paul Tynan, who will be its featured soloist. O’Leary has dedicated this work to retiring music director James Mark. According to Jim “the only honest attitude of an artist is to express himself, to bring something in which one really believes. Because to follow the tastes of other people, to try to please them, it’s a false direction.” – Witold Lutoslawski.

The PEI Symphony is delighted to partner with Cedar’s Eatery with the latest edition of our popular “Symphony and Supper” special offer. Bring two ticket stubs from the April 14th concert, order two entrées, and receive 50% off the second entrée. Offer valid Sunday April 14th from 4pm to 11pm or Monday April 15th all day, at Cedar’s Eatery at 81 University Avenue.

To help make it easy for families to enjoy the beauty and power of live orchestral music, the PEI Symphony continues to offer discounted tickets for children and students at $15 for any seat in the house.

Concerts begin at 2:30pm, and everyone is welcome to the pre-concert talk at 1:15pm in Studio One.  Tickets at the Confederation Centre Box Office, or online.

The forecast for Sunday is still calling for the blizzard to wind down by morning.  We are not able to reschedule a concert weekend – we either cancel or proceed – so as long as it’s safe for our musicians and patrons we will proceed.   Our guest conductor is here in PEI and our rehearsals are underway even during the stormy weather.  Each musician is making their own decision to attend the rehearsals at the Confederation Centre this afternoon.

During the day today we will work with our partners at the Confederation Centre to monitor the weather and will keep you posted via social media if anything changes.   At this point it looks like the worst will be over by Sunday morning. So if you feel safe, we hope you will join us Sunday at 2:30pm as we Celebrate New Directions with:

• Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2,
• Violin soloist Adrian Irvine performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1
• and the world premiere of Richard Covey’s new work “Arise”

The PEISO Fruit Sale is back! Beat the winter blues by biting into a taste of sunshine! Help support live orchestral music in PEI by purchasing some juicy naval oranges, or perfect pink grapefruit from us this year.

Still only $10 per bag, or pick up a half box $30 or full box $50 to really beat the blues! You can pick up your fruit order at any of the following locations:

Fundraiser Depot:

On Brackley Point Road, right beside Chucker’s Trophies and across the street from Birt’s Furniture. The mailing address is 161 St. Peter’s Road, but the actual storefront is right on the Brackley Point Road in the old Canada Revenue building just before the mall.  Many thanks to Fruit Sale sponsor R. Birt & Associates for donating the depot.

Our depot will be open on Fridays from 12pm to 6pm and Saturdays from 9am to 3pm.

• Friday February 8th and 15th, 12pm to 6pm, and
• Saturday February 9th and 16th, 9am to 3pm

Confederation Court Mall:

Our booth is located by the TD Canada Trust and we’ll be there on:

• Thursday February 7th and Friday February 8th
• Wednesday February 13th and Friday February 15th
• 10 am to around 4pm each of these days.

Charlottetown Farmer’s Market:

Our volunteers are at The Doctor’s Inn booth across from Island Taylored Meats, on:

• Saturday February 2nd, 9th, and 16th
  
• NOTE – due to the big storm the Fruit Sale at the Farmer’s Market has been cancelled for Saturday February 9th.

***

Fruit will also be available for sale in the lobby during our concert Sunday February 10th at the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

To order by phone please call 892-4333 and leave a message, or send us a message to fruit@peisymphony.com

For more information call Dan at 388-6042, or Natalie at 892-4333.

• Symphony No. 2 in e minor, by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Arise, by Richard Covey – world première performance
• Violin Concerto No. 1 in g minor, by Max Bruch featuring Adrian Irvine

On Sunday afternoon February 10th the PEI Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor Mark Shapiro as he leads the orchestra to perform the third concert of this 45th season.   A resident of New York, Mark Shapiro’s work has been praised by the New York Times for its “virtuosity and assurance,” with “uncommon polish,” and has been characterized by the New Jersey Star-Ledger as “erudite and far-reaching.” Dr. Shapiro is currently music director of the St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra in New York, Artistic Director of Cantori New York, and principal guest conductor of the chamber orchestra Nova Sinfonia in Halifax.

For the concert Dr. Shapiro has chosen Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in e minor, written in 1906. “Romantic music doesn’t come any more romantic than Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony,” wrote musicologist Barry Fogden in 2008. “. . . There is an epic grandeur to this long work which almost overwhelms the listener. The sweeping melodies – what Rachmaninov called his ‘big tunes’ – come thick and fast…” and the famous third movement inspired the 1976 Eric Carmen song, Never Gonna Fall in Love Again.

Dr. Richard Covey teaches music theory, composition and counterpoint at the University of Prince Edward Island. He is the recent winner of the P.E.I. Symphony’s Call For Scores competition in which P.E.I. resident composers were invited to submit works that demonstrate skills in writing for orchestra. His new work entitled Arise is the result, and the PEISO is truly delighted to present the world premiere performance. Dr. Covey explains “…during one of the coldest and darkest times of year, this piece seeks to awaken, motivate and inspire, drawing upon and developing brief motives from inspirational popular music, including Christian contemporary songs…”

The concert will also highlight another young PEI talent Adrian Irvine performing Bruch’s Violin Concerto #1 in g minor. Adrian is this year’s recipient of the Suzanne Brenton Award, given each year to deserving advanced students who have performed exceptionally in the PEI Kiwanis Provincial Music Festival. Bruch’s famous concerto is a beautiful piece to enjoy so close to Valentine’s Day, with its romantic and sweet melodies.

February also features the return of the annual PEI Symphony Fruit Sale fundraiser.  A popular tradition for more than thirty years, the Fruit Sale is one of the PEISO’s most important fundraisers and a bright spot in the winter for the people who buy the high quality fruit. Symphony supporters will be able to purchase fruit on Saturday’s at the Charlottetown Farmer’s Market, on Sunday February 10th in the lobby at the PEISO concert, on Thursdays and Fridays at the Confederation Court Mall, or at the main fundraiser depot at 161 St. Peters Road on Fridays and Saturdays.   Please check the PEI Symphony website for details and the final schedule.

To help make it easy for families to enjoy the beauty and power of live orchestral music, the PEI Symphony continues to offer discounted tickets for children and students at $15 for any seat in the house.

Concerts begin at 2:30pm, and everyone is welcome to the pre-concert talk at 1:15pm in Studio One.  Tickets at the Confederation Centre Box Office, or online.

Christina Bouey to perform Brahms’ Violin Concerto with PEI Symphony Orchestra

Come Celebrate your PEI Symphony as we celebrate an exciting performance with New York’s newest violin sensation, and PEI’s own Christina Bouey!

“Classic Fireworks” , November 25th 2:30pm, at the Homburg Theatre of the Confederation Centre of the Arts.

• Brahms Violin Concerto in D Major, by Johannes Brahms, featuring PEI’s Christina Bouey on violin
• The Firebird, by Igor Stravinski
• Overture to Hänsel und Gretel, by Engelbert Humperdinck
• Excerpts from The Dolly Suite , by Gabriel Fauré

With PEI’s Christina Bouey as featured soloist for the demanding and beautiful Brahms’ Violin Concerto, and Stravinski’s Firebird on the program, this is sure to be a highlight concert for the PEI Symphony Orchestra this year!

On Sunday November 25^th, The PEI Symphony Orchestra will present the second concert of its 45^th season, under the direction of PEISO Conductor James Mark.    “Celebrate Classic Fireworks” will feature New York’s newest violin sensation and PEI’s own Christina Bouey, who will perform Brahms demanding and beautiful Violin Concerto with the orchestra.  The concert will also include Stravinski’s “The Firebird”, and works by Humperdinck and Fauré.

Christina Bouey received her Master of Music in Violin Performance, and Professional Certificate in Performance from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Laurie Smukler and Nicholas Mann, and where she is currently studying on a full scholarship with Glenn Dicterow and Lisa Kim. Christina received her Bachelor of Music, magnum cum laude from the Boston Conservatory studying with Irina Muresanu; has won numerous prizes at the Canadian National Music Festival, Queens Concerto Competition, the Balsam Duo Competition and the Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition in New York; and has played concertos with the Hemenway Strings in Boston, as well as recitals across Canada and the United States including Weill Hall in Carnegie.  Following in her parents’ footsteps, in her spare time Christina enjoys singing as well!

For the concert program, Christina will be performing the famous and formidable Violin Concerto in D Major, composed by Johannes Brahms in 1878.  His only violin concerto, it was written for one of Brahms’ closest friends, the great violinist Joseph Joachim.  Although the concerto is famous for its technical difficulty with rapid scale passages, multiple stopping and rhythmic variation, Christina’s performance is sure to dazzle the home town crowd, and the PEISO is delighted to feature Christina, who indicates this concerto…

“…has always been a special one for me, and is perhaps my favourite. It is brilliant from beginning to end in that the melodies and counter-melodies weave a continuous wave of the sublime. This work is so beautiful, and has so much emotion…but it demands that your musicality and technique are solid. I am so excited to share this with PEI and my hometown…I can’t wait!”

Another major highlight of the program is certainly The Firebird, written by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky in 1910.  His first major work for the Russian Ballet, it’s based on Russian folk tales of the magical glowing bird of the same name that is both a blessing and a curse to its captor.  When first performed it was received enthusiastically, and immediately served notice of a major new talent.

The orchestra will also perform excerpts from The Dolly Suite, written by Gabriel Fauré between 1893 and 1896 to celebrate special events in the life of the daughter of his mistress, and the Overture to Hänsel und Gretel from Engelbert Humperdinck’s most famous opera – the celebrated German composer, not the pop singer from the 1960’s!

The PEI Symphony is delighted to continue our partnership with The Maple Grille restaurant with the popular “Symphony and Supper” special offer. Bring two ticket stubs from the November 25th concert, order two entrées, and receive 50% off the second entrée. This offer is valid for reservations only on Sunday November 25th and Monday November 26th at The Maple Grille at 67 University Avenue.

To help make it easy for families to enjoy the beauty and power of live orchestral music, the PEI Symphony continues to offer discounted tickets for children and students at $15 for any seat in the house.

Concerts begin at 2:30pm, and everyone is welcome to the pre-concert talk at 1:15pm in Studio One.  Tickets at the Confederation Centre Box Office, or online.

After more than twelve years of inspired music direction and leadership, and many more years of inestimable contributions to the PEISO, Dr. James Mark has decided to retire as Music Director of the PEI Symphony Orchestra.

This current season of the PEI Symphony will be Dr. Mark’s last full season as Music Director, but Dr. Mark will retain a strong connection to the orchestra and will return for special engagements from time to time.  The Board of Directors is very pleased to announce that Dr. Mark will become ‘Conductor Emeritus ‘ for the PEI Symphony Orchestra, effective October 2013.

In the next month the PEISO will be issuing a request for applications for Dr. Mark’s successor.  In the meantime, the rest of this 45^th season of the PEI Symphony will be a celebration of the incredible contribution Dr. Mark has made since becoming Music Director in 2000, and the wonderful music created under his direction.

For more information please send a message to president@peisymphony.com or call 902-892-4333.