Follow Deacon around Brandon and the surrounding area to be informed on local music and cultural productions in our great province of Manitoba.
The last two weeks were quite eventful here at Brandon University's Queen Elizabeth II music building. It seemed not a day was going by without someone's performance going on or coming up. Tyleen Haywood had a recital on the 25th of January that I was unable to attend. Congratulations on your achievements and your performance! There was also an event hosted by the Brandon Chamber Players that day called Konekted, which I did attend. It was at the McDiarmid Drive Alliance Church, which was a phenomenal venue. During the shows, choirs were singing as a light show danced around the performers. Eventually the performers broke out into many different types of dances from the cultures they were representing. For me the stand out piece was “Amihan,” composed by Ily Matthew Maniano. “Amihan” means “northeast breeze” in Tagalog, but can also represent other forms of winds or a season in general. This piece was really well performed, and accompanied by a spectacular light show. I thought it was amazing to see this fantastic composition sharing Filipino culture with a Canadian audience, particularly the way the repeated flowing lines from the upper voices created a soundscape that brought a tear to my eye. There were plenty of amazing musical theater performances, choral works and cultural explorations. January 26th featured a choral celebration between BU and U of Regina choirs at the Knox United Church. I personally did not attend, although close colleagues have said that the union between the two universities was strong and provided a diverse range of repertoire, Canadian musical expression and talent from the Prairie Region of Canada.
Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th, BU hosted the New Music Festival, featuring artists and composers from all over Manitoba and abroad. Tuesday featured pieces from Manitoba composers Gordan Fitzell and Orjan Sandred, unconventional and innovative expressions performed by Allen Harrigton, Lauren Loewen, Tori Sparks, and Megumi Masaki. It was truly a wonder in exploring immersive soundscapes - that night, I witnessed prepared piano playing, looping recordings glued together in-person, and alternative techniques galore. The expressive might of the performers really highlighted the uncomfortableness of these compositions, with resolutions that seem clear although never provide a true answer.
Wednesday featured more local talent. In particular, the BU New Music Ensemble, directed by Professor Megumi Masaki, and talent from BU’s roster of small and large ensembles. Although I did not attend, I heard amazing feedback from this concert. Particular performing names I heard were Nora Wilson and Koda Maxon. Both Gordan Fitzell and Orjan discussed their compositions with the composition class on Tuesday, offering great insights on their works and the composition world in general. Thank you for coming to Brandon and sharing your works of art with us, I guarantee you will inspire many Manitoba students to pursue and explore this amazing world of music.
Friday the 31st was the Big Band Dance at Bailey’s. I did not attend, but I heard it was a great event for Bailey’s, and I look forward to more dances put on by the BU large ensembles!
The 1st of February featured Cade Zacharias’ First Love Recital, which I took photos for. This event was a pleasure to attend, and view the Calvary Temple as a musical venue. The light, sound, and seating were well set up for ease of access, and there was a crowd growing for some of the worship songs. The recital began as a traditional trombone recital with appearances from trombonists Dr. Nora Wilson, Kurtis Johnson, and Jon Fetsch on piano, but suddenly transformed into a mini worship session with lights and dance/praise music. Most of the night was spent with a crowd on their feet, and I would like to congratulate Cade on a successful recital.
As for upcoming concerts and events, Nora Wilson is holding an “Out of Bounds” conference on Trans Allyship in Challenging Times. This will be on February 10th at 6pm, in the Queen Elizabeth II Building, Room 1-57. There will be a reception with pizza afterwards. On Monday, February 17th, there will be a Louis Riel Day celebration taking place. Ivan Flett Memorial dancers will perform at 1pm in the Evans Theater, and there will be local Metis trappers discussing trapping, hunting and all things Metis. Come kickstart Indigenous Excellence Month with a celebration, and see what BU’s Indigenous communities have to display and honour. There is a Pro Series concert on Tuesday the 11th featuring many BU faculty members. This will be held at 7:30 in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. There are also two more student recitals coming up for mid-February - Rocio Luna Perez (violin) Feb 14th at 7:00pm and Jeremy Littlefield (jazz piano) Feb 15th at 7:30pm. Go and attend these student recitals and see what incredible talent our student body has to offer!