PING! Creating new music for young musicans
A celebration in support of the Norman Burgess Fund

Music, Food & Wine at Gallery 345
Sunday, October 26, 2008 (2-4PM)

For Immediate Release - TORONTO, ON, October 2, 2008: On Sunday, October 26, 2008 at Gallery 345 in Toronto, the Canadian Music Centre (Ontario Regional Office) proudly presents PING!, a celebration of new music for young musicians. In a rare Toronto appearance The St. Lawrence String Quartet — “remarkable not simply for the quality of their music making, exalted as it is, but for the joy they take in the act of connection" (The New Yorker) — performs R. Murray Schafer's notorious and sublime Quartet no. 3. From outbursts of yelling to spell-binding mysticism, the work is a landmark of the contemporary repertoire and a favourite of the St. Lawrence String Quartet.  Eve Egoyan — “a player of incredible, often very quiet intensity” (The Wire) and the mesmerizing Gregory Oh perform Linda Smith's entrancing piano duo Velvet. The afternoon features world premieres of the 2007 Fund commissions by Andrew Staniland and Abigail Richardson performed by Daniel Lee (guitar) and the SOCMI orchestra with conductor Michael Schulte. Two young composers going places, Andrew Staniland’s music has been described as “beautiful and terrifying” by New Yorker magazine while Abigail Richardson won top prize in the under-30 division of the prestigious International Rostrum of Composers in Paris.

Norman Burgess: a legacy of creativity and innovation.
Throughout his career Norman Burgess worked passionately to foster innovation, creativity and excellence in music education.  As Director of the Conservatory at Mount Royal College he launched the internationally renowned Academy for Gifted Children and the Calgary Fiddlers. At the Royal Conservatory in Toronto he served as Dean and helped found the Centre for Learning Through the Arts.

Musician, educator, administrator and proud advocate of Canadian music, Norman Burgess dreamed of expanding the repertoire for young string players. The Norman Burgess Memorial Fund makes this vision possible. The Fund selects and commissions Canadian composers to work in partnership with professional string educators and their students with the goal of creating enriching new musical works for study and performance.

PING!
Sunday, October 26, 2008 – 2 to 4PM
Gallery 345: 345 Sorauren Avenue, Toronto
Reservations: 416.961.6601 x 201 | aayotte@musiccentre.ca
Tickets include performance, delectable local food & wine
Admission:  $50 regular; $30 arts worker; $20 (20 years & under);
Free for kids under 12
Cash / Visa / Mastercard accepted

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Contact:
Francine Labelle/flINK                                                
416-654-4406                                                            
labellefrancine@rogers.com