THE CANADIAN ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS AND SCIENCES & MUSIC EDUCATION CHARITY OF CANADA ANNOUNCES 2009-2010 OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sep 30, 2009 Culture, Film, Music
Toronto, ON (September 30, 2009) – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Music Education Charity of Canada (MusiCounts) announced today its 2009-2010 Officers, Board of Directors and incoming Chair following its Annual General Meeting.
CARAS and MusiCounts announced the appointment of Ed Robinson as Chair to the Board of Directors. With a long and distinguished career in the Canadian television industry, including many years of association with the JUNO Awards at both CTV and CBC, Robinson brings to CARAS a wealth of knowledge and experience. Robinson recently retired from CTV where he was the Executive Vice-President for Programming, as well as President and General Manager of The Comedy Network and SPACE: The Imagination Station. His career in entertainment began at CBC Television in 1980 as Deputy Creative Head for their Arts, Music, Science and Variety Department.
“This is a real honour,” said Robinson. “I have incredible respect for CARAS and the great work it does on behalf of our music industry. CARAS plays a critical role in not only promoting Canadian music around the world but also by helping foster new talent from coast to coast. I’m looking forward to learning all aspects of the music industry during my tenure as Chair.”
In a related announcement, Melanie Berry, President, has been promoted to the title of President & CEO of The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and the Music Education Charity of Canada (MusiCounts).
“Ed is a perfect fit as Chair of the Board,” said Berry. “This position requires someone who will take an active, hands-on role while blazing a trail for CARAS in the coming years. Ed’s exemplary leadership skills and passion for the music industry will ensure that we continue to steer this organization towards a bright future.”
CARAS and MusiCounts gratefully acknowledges the commitment of its Board members who continue to proactively impact Canada’s music industry and bring forth their expertise, insights and leadership to the organizations.
The Complete List of the 2009-2010 CARAS and MusiCounts Officers and Board of Directors:
Chair: Ed Robinson: CARAS & MusiCounts Chair
1st Vice-President: Steve Kane: President, Warner Music Canada
2nd Vice-President: Randy Lennox: President & CEO, Universal Music Canada
Secretary/Treasurer: Humphrey Kadaner: President, HMV Canada
Melanie Berry: President & CEO, CARAS & MusiCounts
Bruce Allen: President, Bruce Allen Talent
Vivian Barclay: General Manager, Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd.
Deane Cameron: President, EMI Music Canada
Shane Carter: Co-President, SONY Music Entertainment Canada Inc.
Vinny Cinquemani: President, SL Feldman & Associates
Rob Farina: Executive Vice President, Content for Astral Media Radio
Paul Haagenson: President, Canada, West, Live Nation
Ralph James: President, The Agency Group Canada
Aideen O’Brien: President, Mighty Craic
Julien Paquin: President – Agency Division, Paquin Entertainment Group
Ed Robertson: Artist, Barenaked Ladies
Patti-Anne Tarlton: VP Live Entertainment, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
Chris Taylor: Owner & Founder, Taylor Mitsopulos Klein Oballa
Louis Thomas: President & CEO, Sonic Entertainment Group
About CARAS:
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/L’academie canadienne des arts et des sciences de l’enregistrement (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music and recording industries and to contribute toward higher artistic and industry standards. The main focus of CARAS is the exploration and development of opportunities to showcase and promote Canadian artists and music through vehicles such as The JUNO Awards. For more information on the 39th Annual JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit our websites at www.junoawards.ca and www.carasonline.ca.
About MusiCounts
MusiCounts, the music education charity of Canada associated with The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, is helping to keep music alive in schools across Canada. MusiCounts continues to inspire young Canadians through its mandate to ensure that every student has the opportunity to receive quality music education, develop their talent and build self-esteem. MusiCounts provides grants, fosters music programs and awards scholarships. Since the Program’s establishment in 1997, over $3 million has been donated impacting close to 200,000 students, their schools and communities from coast to coast. MusiCounts has also honoured four extraordinary music teachers through the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. MusiCounts is supported by various initiatives such as the JUNO Award nominee compilation CD; annual contributions by CTVglobemedia; EMI Music Canada Inc.; Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc.; Universal Music Canada and Warner Music Canada Ltd.; as well as Songwriters’ Circle sponsored by CMPA and SOCAN; Juno Cup sponsored by The Keg Steakhouse and Bar; and individual and corporate contributions, including Astral Media, Rogers Broadcasting Limited and SIRIUS Canada Inc. For more information, please visit: www.musicounts.ca
20 Year Celebration for the Young’Uns Band Sept 30 at the Ok Corral!!
20 years and counting for the Young’uns Band!!!..?
Holy crap! That’s like, like…the Rolling Stones of the Okanagan! Ok, ok, let’s not go quite that far but yes, it’s a very long time in musician years. Brad Krauza and Tim Reardon have put in 20 solid years, 50 weeks per year with their band “The Young’uns”. That is strange in itself now calling themselves Young’uns don’t you think? No need to name change though because they are young at heart right…? 
This is a celebration of great live music from a band that has brought smiles, tears and mostly hangovers into many people lives.
We now have drummer #5, Don Mutter keeping the “young” in Young’uns. He has been a fantastic addition to the band with his amazing talent on the drums and vocals. Don has been with the band for 3 years now and hopefully won’t pull a spinal tap and explode in the middle of “Sweet Child of Mine”.
The Event
The 20 year celebration will be held at the Ok Corral Wednesday September 30th, 2009 with a fantastic lineup of some of their favorite musicians that they’ve jammed with over the years such as, The Hip Replacements, High Voltage, Roger Gabriel, David L’Hirondelle, !nkblot, Papa Wheely, Out Of Eden just to name a few. This night is a celebration of great live music that has given all of us great memories (some we’d like to forget).
Schedule
9:00 pm – David L’Hirondelle
9:30pm – !nkblot
10:00pm – Out Of Eden
10:30pm – The Hip Replacements
11:00 – Papa Wheely
11:30p – Roger Gabriel
12am – High Voltage
12:30am – Hammered
And so many others to join us and celebrate great live music and a great cause.
Along the way the event will be supporting a great local community children’s competitive sports club, the Kelowna AquaJets, an organization that provides competitive youth swimming. Supporting community fundraisers and non-profit organizations is something that the band has also been well known for over the years.
There will be a great display of silent auction items from Westcoast Authentic who will be bringing tons of items such as, signed NHL Jersey’s, CD’s, photo’s of rock stars and sports icons and so much more! The money from auctioning of these items will go to helping out the Kelowna AquaJets.
Please come out and celebrate music, friendship and community spirit. Thank you for all you can give as it’s always very much appreciated and spread the word!
Check out the Young’Uns website at, www.theyounguns.com
Or the Ok Corrals website with most of the info, www.theokcorral.ca
The Kelowna AquaJets website, www.kelownaaquajets.com
Westcoast Authentic website, www.westcoastauthentic.com
The summers biggest golf tournament Sunday. September. 27th, 2009 at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club
Sep 24, 2009 Culture
Vivacious Entertainment is a new marketing and event planning company in Kelowna, BC. We specialize in promotions, corporate events, weddings, golf tournaments, charities, fashion shows, bartending/photographer/DJ services, bachelor parties and much more.
We are putting on the summers biggest golf tournament Sunday. September. 27th, 2009 at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club. Eighteen teams of four will be invited, so hurry and reserve your spot quickly! If you sign up a team of four you can have your own company hole to promote your business! Two girls will be at every hole and each hole has a creative theme! Some girls will be airbrushed, and there is even a human sushi platter! We are giving away a free truck for a hole in one, there are prizes for closest to the pin and longest drive. This is an event you will not want to miss!!
Who: Business people in the Okanagan
What: Golf Tournament/Dinner & Silent Auction for the Children’s Hospital
When: Sunday. September. 27th, 2009 11:00am (sharp)-8:30pm
Where: Gallagher’s Canyon Golf & Country Club
Why: Golf Day/Dinner/Silent Auction for the Children’s Hospital
Cost: $250.00 per person.
Includes:
-18 holes of golf, power cart, green fees, warm up balls
-2 girls at each hole serving booze and doing contests/entertainment
-prizes for longest drive, and closest to the pin
-silent auction bidding cards (extraordinary items to bid on)
-BBQ with a view dinner
-slideshow presentation
-video clips from the golf tournament
-more contests, prizes, and fun games with the VIVACIOUS GIRLS!!!
TO RSVP AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT CALL (250)878-4184 or courtney.vivaciousentertainment@gmail.com
Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society has big plans to help small business
Sep 21, 2009 Culture, Film, Music
“Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society has big plans to help small business”
September 21, 2009 Kelowna, British Columbia. The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneur Society has expanded with big plans to assist small business growth in the Valley. With a new organizational structure in place, a fresh Board of Directors, the group more commonly known in Kelowna as “OVES” is launching their new services this week.
Joel Young, founder of the Society states this has been a labor love finally coming to fruition. “Since 2007, we have faced many challenges trying to expand. With the fresh thinking from new board members and the history from our seasoned board members; we spent six months brainstorming where we wanted to take OVES. I believe we have created a solid foundation in which our current and prospective members can be assisted in their entrepreneurial dreams.”
In addition to a new logo and website, the OVES Resource Center on Springfield Road opens mid-November. The center offers members local phone use, a research area, internet use and a business library free of charge. Members also benefit from secretarial services, faxing, photocopying and boardroom rentals for a small fee.
Also well-known in Kelowna for their monthly Town Hall Series, OVES will soon be expanding their external events. “We will have business tours, a speaker’s series and various entrepreneurial workshops on top of our monthly Town Hall; giving our members further options and opportunities to learn and network at a discounted rate. In the near future we will be launching a print supplement, an Apprentice Program, venture capital forums, an Entrepreneurs Expo and a loyalty card program.” states Alexandra Krieger, Chair of the Board.
Membership is vital to organizations like OVES and although their current paid membership is small; they believe the new offerings will attract those sitting on the fence. “Our monthly Town Halls attract upwards of eighty people most months. Many of those are regulars, but not members. So we took a hard look at what we could offer and re-vamped our member program in hopes our regulars will become part of the OVES family” says Krieger. A few of the new on-line benefits include a comprehensive on-line members directory, an entrepreneur’s forum and access to “mentors” where members can seek guidance in their business with responses within 48 hours.
In offering all that is new, there are still staple programs in place with OVES. The Canadian Youth Business Foundation Program assists young entrepreneurs in business plans and funding; and Fastrac is a North American program that has served over 300,000 existing and aspiring entrepreneurs since 1993.
“Overall, we believe OVES is an enhancement to the many business groups in existence in the Okanagan. We plan to work with these groups as alliances, together helping businesses grow in the valley.” says Krieger.
An Open House for those interested in learning more about OVES takes place this Thursday, September 24th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Summerhill Winery, attendance is free. More information can be found at www.ovesociety.org.
COUNTRY SUPERSTAR TERRI CLARK TO PERFORM AT CEDAR CREEK
Sep 18, 2009 Music
KELOWNA, British Columbia – CedarCreek Estate Winery and Country Music Television (CMT) jointly announce a live concert at the Winery featuring multi-platinum country artist Terri Clark on Saturday, September 19, 2009. Corkscrew Media will film the performance on behalf of CMT, which will air the one-hour-long show this fall. Ted Ellis of CMT commenting on the venue, “Live at CedarCreek pairs top country music talent with Canada’s two time Winery of the Year. CedarCreek’s Pavilion is one of the most beautiful stages anywhere and the concert will be a great showcase for the Okanagan.”
Gordon Fitzpatrick, President of CedarCreek noted that, “This will be a perfect end to summer and a wonderful prelude to Harvest 2009. CMT wanted an intimate and romantic backdrop to film Terri Clark. CedarCreek is the perfect setting – it will be a magical and memorable evening of music and wine.”
Two time Juno Award winner, Terri Clark has sold over four million albums and has nearly a dozen Top 10 hits to her credit. She is the first Canadian female to be inducted into the prestigious Grand Ole Opry and has a total of 13 Canadian Country Music Awards under her belt.
CedarCreek opens its gates to ticket patrons at 6:00 PM with the concert commencing at 6:30 PM.
A limited number of tickets can be purchased in conjunction with a ticket to Terri’s November 18, 2009 show at the Community Theatre in Kelowna. Fans can see both shows for the low price of $55. Tickets can be purchased through the Ticket Master Box Office at Town Centre Mall, charge by phone at 250-860-1470 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca.
Who is Victor Lemonte Wooten
Sep 17, 2009 Music
Who is Victor Lemonte Wooten?
He is an innovator, composer, arranger, producer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a skilled naturalist and teacher, a published author, a magician, husband and father of four, and a five-time Grammy award winner. But those gifts only begin to tell the tale of this Tennessee titan.
Victor, known for his solo recordings and tours, and as a member of the Grammy-winning supergroup, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, has won most every major award given to a bass guitarist. He was voted Bassist of the year by Bass Player Magazine three times and is the only person to have won the award more than once.
The youngest sibling of the five amazing Wooten brothers (Regi, Roy, Rudy and Joseph), Victor began playing music very early in life. Growing up in a military family in which his older brothers all played and sang, Victor began his musical journey under the tutelage of his oldest brother Regi. Realizing that the family band would be complete if they had a bass player, ten-year-old Regi began showing two-year-old Victor how to play. By the time he was 3, Victor was performing neighborhood concerts with his brothers in the front yard of their home in Hawaii. At age six, he was touring with his brothers as the opening band for soul legend Curtis Mayfield. After living in Sacramento, CA a few years, the family moved east where the Wooten Brothers continued to hone their skills playing countless clubs and concerts along the east coast.
Victor was influenced by bass mentors, Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins, but sites his brothers and parents as his main influences. “In music and in life, my parents and brothers were the foundation. They prepared me for life by giving and teaching me love and honesty. They also taught me to keep my mind open and learn to adapt to life’s ever-changing circumstances. Their guidance has helped me stay grounded today.” By the early ’80s, now living in Newport News, Virginia, the brothers became mainstays at Busch Gardens theme park in nearby Williamsburg.
Victor was hired as a bluegrass fiddler after older brother, Roy, convinced Busch Gardens’ administrators that Victor could play. “I remember getting a phone call from Roy. He told me that he’d gotten me a job playing fiddle. I’d never played fiddle in my life. Roy asked me if I thought that I could learn to do it. I said, ‘yeah.’ So, I borrowed a violin from my high school and learned a few fiddle tunes. The people at Busch never knew. I worked there in the country show for many years.”
It was while working in the theme park that Victor and his brothers made connections with musicians in Nashville and New York. In 1988 Victor moved to Nashville, where he worked with singer Jonell Mosser and met New Grass Revival banjo ace Béla Fleck. Later that same year, Fleck enlisted Vic, his brother Roy (a.k.a. Future Man) and harmonica-playing keyboardist Howard Levy to perform with him marking the birth of Flecktones. After three highly successful albums, Levy departed in 1993. The band’s new trio format enabled Victor to develop and display a staggering array of fingerboard skills that turned him into a bass hero of epic proportions and helped earn the band their first Grammy.
With the Flecktones in full flight, Victor set his sights on a solo career, first forming Bass Extremes with fellow low-end lord Steve Bailey (leading to an instructional book/CD and two CDs, to date), and finally releasing his critically-acclaimed and ground-breaking solo debut, A Show of Hands, on Compass Records in 1996 (voted one of the most important bass recordings of all time). Soon after, Victor took his solo show on the road with drummer J.D. Blair. Momentum and accolades built with successive tours and the release of What Did He Say? in 1997, the Grammy-nominated Yin-Yang in 1999, and the double CD, Live In America in 2001.
Victor’s uncanny skills and growing popularity lead to recordings and performances with artists such as Branford Marsalis, Mike Stern, Bruce Hornsby, Chick Corea, Dave Matthews, Prince, Keb Mo, Gov’t Mule, Susan Tedeschi, Vital Tech Tones (with Scott Henderson and Steve Smith), the Jaco Pastorius Word Of Mouth Big Band, and the soundtrack of the Disney film Country Bears.
In 2005 Victor revisited his solo side with the release of Soul Circus (Vanguard Records). A three-ring affair, the disc boasts such guests as the Wooten brothers, Bootsy Collins, Arrested Development rapper/vocalist Speech, Howard Levy, Dennis Chambers, Saundra Williams, J.D. Blair, Derico Watson, fellow Flecktone Jeff Coffin, and a who’s-who of bassists, including Steve Bailey, Oteil Burbridge, Will Lee, Rhonda Smith, Christian McBride, T.M. Stevens, Bill Dickens, and Gary Grainger.
Palmystery (Heads Up Records), Victor’s latest solo work, showcases a wide array of playing and writing skills with songs like Left, Right, and Center (featuring three drummers all playing together), Miss U (featuring The Lee Boys), Us 2 (featuring Victor on slide bass along with blues man Keb Mo), and the thought provoking I Saw God which boldly states “He look like me – She look like you.” (Featured in the movie The Moses Code)
Victor also spearheaded the idea for the super group SMV (Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten). Their new release, Thunder (Heads Up Records), as well as the Thunder tour has quickly become a must-have, must-see product for people all around the world.
Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp, now in it’s tenth year, has helped hundreds of musicians of all ages from all corners of the world. The camp’s recent move to it’s own location Wooten Woods will provide even more opportunities for Wooten and his staff to share their lifelong experiences with others.
Continuing to grow as a person, artist, and teacher, Victor Wooten is always willing to share his gifts with all who desire to learn. Offering CDs, DVDs, lectures, workshops, and camps, as well as his groundbreaking novel The Music Lesson (Berklee Publishing – a division of the Penguin Group) Victor Lemonte Wooten is guaranteed to remain a positive force in the music industry.
Ratings Skyrocket 60 Percent for 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Awards
Sep 16, 2009 Music
Ratings Skyrocket 60 Percent for 2009 Canadian Country Music Association Awards
Show Draws Record Increase Behind Performances From Reba, Martina McBride, Canadian Stars Johnny Reid, Crystal Shawanda, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive
(Nashville, TN) Sept. 16, 2009 - The 2009 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards, held September 13 in Vancouver, BC, and broadcast live on CBC Television, drew a record increase in viewership numbers with an astounding 60 percent jump from last year’s ratings.
“Not since Shania has the CCMA Awards turned in numbers like this year’s show. Our viewership increased by more than 60 percent from last year,” said Jim Cressman, Co-Chair of the CCMA Television Committee. “Obviously, the star power of icons like Reba and Martina McBride, coupled with a tremendous list of world-class Canadian performers that included Johnny Reid, brought eyeballs to our program and resulted in one of the most watched award shows in the history of the CCMAs.”
This year’s broadcast, directed by Morris Abraham and produced by Corkscrew Media, averaged 748,000 viewers for the evening, with ratings peaking at slightly more than 1 million towards the end of the program. A repeat broadcast of the show at midnight garnered an additional 60,000 viewers.
“First and foremost, it was an amazing lineup of talent that made this year’s CCMA awards great,” said Corkscrew Media’s President/Executive Producer, Scott Henuset. “It was a pleasure working on this year’s show with the CCMA, CBC, CMT Canada and such a talented group of producers and the show’s director, Morris Abraham. It was a fantastic event.”
The awards benefited significantly from the switch to a Sunday night broadcast and a strong lineup of performers, including American artists Reba and Martina McBride and Canadian acts Johnny Reid, Doc Walker, Terri Clark, Crystal Shawanda and Emerson Drive, among others. Canadian actor and director Jason Priestley hosted the show.
Reid collected an impressive five CCMA awards, including Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and the Fans’ Choice Award. Crystal Shawanda took home Female Artist of the Year, Doc Walker received the Group or Duo of the Year Award and newcomers Dean Brody and Tara Oram won Single of the Year and the Rising Star award, respectively.
Worldwide superstar Taylor Swift received a special CCMA award for Top Selling Album of the Year in Canada. She accepted the award via taped satellite address.
Country Music Week culminated with a stellar CCMA awards program, but also featured dozens of additional activities and educational panels leading up to the event, including showcases, seminars, industry events, musical performances and this year’s keynote address, delivered by Nettwerk Music’s Terry McBride.
“Vancouver was a great host for this year’s Country Music Week and awards show,” said CCMA President Jackie Rae Greening. “Fans and industry professionals alike were treated to a wonderful mix of entertainment and educational panels and performances. The CCMA is once again thrilled that country music fans responded so enthusiastically to this year’s events.”
Encore airings of the 2009 CCMA Awards can currently be seen on CMT in Canada. Visit www.CMT.ca for more information.
About the CCMA:
The CCMA is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to the growth and development of Canadian country music. For 30 years the CCMA has marked each September with Country Music Week, a four-day conference and celebration culminating in the internationally broadcast CCMA Awards (established 1983). Country Music Week is one of the largest music events in Canada with a combination of activities for both community and industry, including showcase opportunities for newcomers, educational seminars and an all day FanFest that delivers Canada’s stars to the community. In 2009, Country Music Week and the CCMA Awards were held in Vancouver, BC, from September 10-13. Visit www.CCMA.org for more information.
Lorne Elliott – comic master of mirth and mayhem
Sep 12, 2009 Culture
Lorne Elliott – comic master of mirth and mayhem
Performance Series season to start at MY Millennium Place on October 3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2009
Whistler, B.C. – The Whistler Arts Council is pleased to once again present Canadian comedian extraordinaire, Lorne Elliott, at Millennium Place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, as the first performance of the 2009-2010 season.
Lorne Elliott has built a strong reputation for gracing the stage with his crazy, non-stop, one-man show. Best-known for his own CBC Radio comedy series, Madly Off In All Directions, Elliott’s stage persona is a contrast of crazed intellect and extravagant jester – a blend of comedic mayhem and superbly silly performance art.
“Elliott’s 90 minutes on stage was delightfully quirky and unrelentingly hilarious” wrote John Holmes from St. John’s Evening Telegram, while Steve Mazey from The Ottawa Citizen found Elliott “fast, foolish and lots of laughs…a most enjoyable evening of genuine wit and humour”.
Elliott has opened concerts for Rodney Dangerfield in New York City and Jay Leno in Montreal. He has made regular appearances at the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival since it started in 1986: each time his segments were selected for TV specials, thanks to their universal quality. He started performing in 1974 as a folk musician in East Coast Canada. At the same time he kept writing fiction as well as songs, monologues and one-liners.
As well as being a humourist, storyteller and musician, Elliott is also a playwright. One of his plays, The Night the Racoons Went Berserk, won Best New Play Award at the Quebec Drama Festival 1983. Part of the Pelly Papers, a new cycle of plays he wrote, was premiered at Upper Canada Playhouse (Morrisburg, Ontario) in 1995. Two recent works are A Pitiful Ambition and How I Broke Into Showbiz. He also writes screenplays and TV comedies, skits, reviews, comedy variety shows, such as What Else Is On and The Lorne Elliott’s Really Rather Quite Half-Decent TV Special for CBC-TV. Elliott spent this past summer in Newfoundland, partaking in a premiere of his musical, Hillyard; as well as successfully publishing his first novella, The Fixer-Upper, an adaptation of his popular play, Tourist Trap. For more information, visit www.lorne-elliott.com
Tickets available at Millennium Place, 604-935-8410 or www.ticketmaster.ca
$22 for Adults | $19 for Students & Seniors | $16 for WAC Members
Lorne Elliott is presented as part of the Whistler Arts Council’s annual Performance Series.
Accommodation for Lorne Elliott provided by the Crystal Lodge.
Performance Series
As part of the Whistler Arts Council’s mandate to offer a variety of arts experiences to Whistler residents, WAC has been a presenter of an annual Performance Series since 1987. The Performance Series brings to the stage an eclectic program of theatre, music, dance and comedy by professional Canadian and international touring artists at an affordable price. The Performance Series acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia, Canadian Heritage and the Resort Municipality of Whistler.
Whistler Arts Council
The Whistler Arts Council is a registered charity established in 1982 with a mandate to build and integrate the arts into the fabric of Whistler. Annual events and programs include: Whistler Winter Arts Festival, Out of Bounds: Tales from the Backcountry, ArtWalk, Whistler Children’s Art Festival, Whistler Art Workshops on the Lake, ARTrageous, Bizarre Bazaar, Whistler Street Entertainment and an annual Performance Series. WAC also provides annual student art awards and bursaries, member group grants, resources, and information to artists, the community and outside organizations. WAC acts as a referral service, information network and co-programmer incorporating local arts and culture in numerous other events and programs in the community.
VIVA MUSICA REVEALS CAST FOR ’ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE’
Sep 11, 2009 Music
VIVA MUSICA REVEALS CAST FOR ’ALWAYS…PATSY CLINE’
Beloved Two Person Musical Brings Back Familiar Faces
Kelowna, BC – September 11th, 2009 – Always…Patsy Cline is a beautiful tribute to the great singer’s friendship with her biggest fan, Louise Seger. The two person musical comes alive late October at the Mary Irwin Theatre with two actresses who aren’t strangers to local audiences.
Michelle MacTaggart will take the stage as Patsy Cline, performing 27 of the beloved singer’s hits spread throughout the show. This is the Vancouver performer’s second production with Viva Musica after starring as Ms. Darbus in their recent summer production of High School Musical.
Filling the role of Cline’s biggest fan turned dear friend and narrator of the story, is Viva Musica veteran Danielle St.Pierre whose previous productions with the company include A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon and The Last Five Years. Although now residing in Vancouver, St.Pierre lived in the Okanagan for many years and has returned several times to star in area productions including the musical review Follies Five aboard the SS Sicamous in Penticton this past summer.
Always…Patsy Cline runs at the Mary Irwin Theatre from October 28th to November 1st, 2009.
Tickets are available through Select Your Tickets at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at (250)762-5050. For more information visit www.vivamusica.ca
BC Interior Music Awards!
Sep 9, 2009 Music
Winning Partnership produces Awards Show!
Musicians from Penticton to Prince George will compete for top honours in the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards presented by Astral Media on Nov 6th at the Kelowna Community Theatre. The BC Interior Music Awards were developed in 2008 as an awards show and conference, to recognize achievement and excellence, with a vision to develop, promote and celebrate the Interior Regional Music Industry.
There were 24 Awards presented in 2008 to some of the Interior’s top artists such as the Sleddogs, 7th Generation, Paul Filek, Greg Sczebel and Wassabi Collective and that number grows to 28 awards this year. Nominations are being accepted online until Sept 21 at www.BCIMA.org . A panel of industry jurors will choose the Top 3 nominees in each category by Oct 12, 2009 when the final voting panel takes over to choose the winners for the live Awards show on Nov 6th at the Kelowna Community Theatre. “This year’s show will be judged by some of the top industry people such as SONY and WARNER reps, Radio programmers and venue presenters, who look for new exciting talent. It is such a treat to see the wealth of talented artist coming out of the woodwork – with each nomination, we discover more talent that we didn’t know existed and we love having a platform to recognize and celebrate their achievements” says Shelly Vida co-producer of the BCIMA show.
Vida is ecstatic about the group of sponsors that are coming out in support of this year’s BC Interior Music Awards! “The groups that have come together make this a ‘natural industry collective’ of those wanting to further artists in of the BC Interior. We had an amazing inaugural event and are thrilled to work with people that have a purpose to give the support and the expertise needed!”
“In these economic times it is nice to have ANY support, but GREAT to have the right support, it is so much easier to produce a project like this when you work with the people who are in your industry and know what it takes to make it smoothly go forward!” Vida and co-producer Mark Greenhalgh want to express appreciation for their generosity and thank every one for their contributions:
Astral Media has jumped in with all of their “Media Feet” and is spreading the word fast on their 22 BC Interior stations. They have come on board with full support as the Title and Presenting sponsors. They will host the “BCIMA People’s Choice” contest on all Astral Stations, so up until Sept 21 at 9AM you can vote for your favourite artists and albums. Entrants may win a pair of VIP tickets to the BCIMA Awards Show on Nov 6th and the winning People’s Choice Artist will be offered a spotlight in Astral’s corresponding formats!
Quinn Best, owner of the Habitat won the BCIMA 2008 Best Venue Supporting Live Music Award. The Habitat will be the venue supporting the official VIP/Media After-Party as well as the Nov 7th Industry panel and workshop location. All Nov 6th ticket holders may attend for free. We thank Quinn and look forward to the comforts of the Habitat.
SOCAN will proudly present the “Songwriter of the Year”, the BC Country Music Association present the “Country /Bluegrass Recording of the Year” and Salmon Arm Roots & Blues present the “Blues Recording of the Year”.
We are so fortunate to have members from SOCAN and BC Country Music Association offering their wealth of industry information at Habitat on Nov 7th. This regional collaboration of people in the music industry should benefit all who look for tips in furthering their careers. There are many other exciting plans in the works, such as an interactive “Road Warriors” workshop with some of the winners.
These awards benefit artists long after the night of glamour as they use their titles earned to help them with validity in their performing careers. “We were thrilled to see two winners from 2008, Ari Neufeld and Sherman Doucette, both featured at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues this summer” says Vida.
We want to thank the City of Kelowna for their support in both this year’s BCIMA’s and the successful bid to bring the Western Canadian Music Awards to Kelowna in 2010. This type of support will continue to highlight and celebrate the talents that abound in this region!
“It‘s a valuable opportunity to showcase our vibrant live music community and give them a chance to grow and learn from the best,” said Sandra Kochan, cultural services manager for the City of Kelowna.
Mark and Shelly have a team of people who were instrumental in making last year’s production such a success, who have again stepped in to lend their talents.
Christoph Mayer was responsible for the stage and multi-media last year. He did such a great job and had so much fun being part of the team, it is great to have him back. Now working with Northwest Global Entertainment he will be providing even more gear including: screens a new sound system and some special effects to bring together the new multi-media intensive Technologic/Industrial theme. Overall Design and Stage is shared by Mark Greenhalgh and Robert Nerbus.
Josh Evans from Volta Design programmed the online Nomination process. Josh has performed with various artists at previous awards shows, including winning 2008 Album of the Year with former band mates, Redfish!
Finally, thanks to Rob Parsons & Christina Baumgartner (Graphic & Digital Media Design Department) & Sean Langlands, Sean Kennedy, Karina Olsen (students) at (CATO) the Centre for the Arts & Technology. This collective worked on a side project of our Identity and Logo design.
Soon news of our EIGHT talented and diverse performances to be featured live at this years show will be announced along with our illustrious MC. So watch the excitement build with weekly updates on facebook or online at www.bcima.org. Spread the word, nominate a favourite, buy a ticket to the gala night, sponsor us or volunteer to help!
For more information contact:
Shelly Vida
www.BCIMA.org
shelly@BCIMA.org
250.863.1354