HAMILTON, ON – We are looking forward to a busy month of April at the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra with our annual Composer Festival. After a few years of virtual composer festivals, we can’t wait to reconnect with our community in person around Hamilton and Burlington in April! This year, we celebrate the life and music of Franz Schubert from April 1 to April 15 with performances in the community, music appreciation talks, and our mainstage concert, An Evening with Schubert. The details, tickets and registration forms for all events can be found at hpo.org/composer-festival/.
The Schubert Composer Festival kicks off with our Schubert Community Recital at St. Paul’s United Church Recital on Saturday, April 1 at 2pm. At this free recital, participating musicians of all levels and ages will perform works by Schubert and his contemporaries for an audience of friends, family and community members.
Next, we are teaming up with Shawn and Ed Brewing Company for a Schubert Happy Hour on Monday, April 3 at 5:30pm! Our Brass Quintet will perform short works by Schubert and his contemporaries while audience members enjoy a curated beer pairing to go with each piece of music. Tickets are $35 advance, $45 at the door.
On Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30pm, we’re back at St. Paul’s United Church for “The Influence of Franz Schubert”, a music appreciation talk exploring the life and music of Schubert with piano demonstrations of some of his music. This talk is hosted by our Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte and co-presented by The Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art (HAALSA). Registration is required for this event. Abigail hosts another music appreciation talk called “Schubert: His Life and Music” on Thursday, April 6. Catch this free presentation at the Hamilton Public Library central branch at 11am or at the Burlington Public Library central branch at 2pm. The Burlington Public Library talk requires registration as well.
On April 14 at 11am, the day before our Mainstage concert, we host our Schubert Talk & Tea where participants learn about the works being performed on the mainstage and get a sneak peek at an HPO rehearsal. Tickets are $14.
Our Composer Festival wraps up with our mainstage concert, An Evening with Schubert, on April 15 at 7:30pm. Sarah Ioannides conducts this concert program that includes Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 and Ave Maria. We will hear Beethoven’s energetic Egmont Overture and Canadian composer Zosha di Castri’s Dear Life, a powerful work that blends music and narration with words adapted from the short story Dear Life by Alice Munro. Canadian soprano Alexandra Smither is soloist for Ave Maria and Dear Life. Maria Fuller joins us from Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership program as Assistant Conductor.
HPO Event Listing for April 2023:
Schubert Community Recital
Saturday, April 1 at 2pm
St. Paul’s United Church (29 Park St W, Dundas)
Free event, registration to participate is required
Schubert Happy Hour
Monday, April 3 at 5:30pm
Shawn & Ed Brewing Co. (65 Hatt St., Dundas)
Tickets: $35 advance, $45 at door (prices reflect taxes and fees)
The Influence of Franz Schubert
Co-presented with The Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art (HAALSA)
Wednesday, April 5 at 7:30pm
St. Paul’s United Church (29 Park St W, Dundas)
Schubert: His Life and Music
Thursday, April 6 at 11am
Hamilton Public Library (55 York Blvd)
Free event, no registration required
Schubert: His Life and Music
Thursday, April 6 at 2pm
Burlington Public Library (2331 New St., Burlington)
Free event, registration is required
Talk and Tea: Schubert
Friday, April 14 at 11am
FirstOntario Concert Hall Stage Door (10 MacNab St. South)
An Evening with Schubert
Saturday, April 15 at 7:30pm
FirstOntario Concert Hall (1 Summers Lane)
_______________________________________________________________________
Twitter: @H_P_O
Instagram: @HamiltonPhilharmonic
Facebook: facebook.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic/
YouTube: youtube.com/HamiltonPhilharmonic
About the HPO: For over a century, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has presented orchestral music and education programs with a mission to enrich the wellbeing of the greater Hamilton region. Music Director Gemma New and the professional musicians of the HPO present dynamic orchestral performances ranging from standard classical repertoire to popular music and world premieres by living composers. As one of Canada’s leading professional orchestras, the HPO has proudly contributed to the shaping of Hamilton’s cultural landscape and continues to uphold values of high calibre, inclusive and accessible orchestral music and education for all.
About the WML: Women in Musical Leadership (WML) is a three-year program designed to collectively develop the next generation of women and non-binary conductors and music directors in Canada.
Led by Tapestry Opera with lead orchestral partner Toronto Symphony Orchestra and lead partner Pacific Opera Victoria, the program addresses a historic gender inequity on the podium by providing women and non-binary conductors active mentorship with leading conductors in the field, deep and varied experience with professional companies, and a robust artistic network.
WML provides conductors with the opportunity to assist, observe, conduct, and build experience within a range of organizations in symphonic, chamber, operatic, and contemporary repertoire – giving conductors the professional experience and training that will enable them to take the podium anywhere in the world.
Media Contacts:
| Varinder Nandhra Marketing and Communications Manager Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra 905.526.1677 x 209 vnandhra@hpo.org | Kyla Lacroix Bardsley Marketing and Communications Coordinator Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra 905.526.1677 x 211 klacroix@hpo.org |