In this Issue . . .

NEW! Speech Arts

Merit Scholarship Winners

Summer: Musical Theatre & more

New Starts for 2017

Faculty News

(continued on p. 2)

Merit Scholarship WINNERS 2016/17

Junior Awards

Damian Kustra • Violin

Abby Mattina • Trumpet

Intermediate Awards

Lina Botyrius • Voice

Justin Rajji • Violin

Senior Awards

Julian Dominguez-Schatz • Piano

Sara Guiducci • Voice

Juror’s Choice Awards

Grace Cambre • Violin

Blake Carson • Cello

Eric Dao • Piano

Alyssa Hilario • Piano

Rohan Jamal • Piano

Sydney Meloche • Piano

David Nachman • Piano

Noor Rashid • Piano

Annika Sharma • Voice

Declan Taylor • Piano

Maya Lily Ventriglia • Violin

Tatiana Weir • Cello

Delwyn Wells-Rowsell • Piano

Effective communication is an empow-

ering life skill. However, the opportu-

nity to develop and reinforce communi-

cation skills continues to diminish as

both children and adults turn to social

media to speak with friends and col-

leagues. Communicating effectively

eye to eye, face to face and voice to

voice is challenging for many young

people lacking the ability to speak with

confidence and share their ideas.

Through the study of Speech Arts,

young people can build skills to move,

influence and persuade.

We are excited to bring back Speech

Arts to KCM for the 2016/17 season!

Program director Julia Pal is one of

KCM’s founding faculty members and

has taught Speech Arts and Creative

Drama at KCM since 1995. Julia’s ex-

tensive resumé includes performance

experience with children’s theatre, im-

provisational comedy, storytelling and

numerous original artistic collabora-

tions. Julia has taught secondary school

KCM Speech Arts in action - Julia Pal & Joshua Lee

Mastering the art of self-expression! Check out our

new web design!

kingswayconservatory.ca

ents, the impact of Speech Arts training

is palpable: “My daughter loves it! She

is building confidence, and is completely

coming out of her shell.” “When my

son started out, he was very shy and re-

luctant to speak. Julia has been coach-

ing him with fun elocution exercises,

storytelling and dialogues. Now he ex-

presses himself confidently in a variety

of situations. It’s amazing how a little

work in one area can help so much!”

theatre arts and she also coaches pri-

vately, adjudicates festivals across Can-

ada and is an RCM examiner for Speech

Arts and Drama.

Julia Pal creates an environment that

inspires laughter, thoughtful reflection,

observation and cooperative learning

where all students can be actively en-

gaged and involved. Reflecting on her

many years of working in this field, Julia

remarks: “I continue to delight in seeing

students gain confidence as they develop

their expressive, interpretive and com-

munication skills.”

From the perspective of our KCM par-

(cont’d from p. 1) … mastering self-expression

SPEECH ARTS Wednesdays

Grades 4-6 4-5 pm

Grades 7-8 5-6 pm

Open Classes: January 11 & 18

Open to young musicians in elementary, middle and high school, the Don

Banks Music Awards is an annual competition that encourages the love of

music in young musicians. “The Don Banks competition was a positive

experience from the first audition to the qualifying concert to performing for

Sunday worship at Islington United Church. I appreciated the feedback from

the adjudicators and enjoyed meeting so many nice people from the church.”

Daniel Coutts, Don Banks Senior Award Recipient 2016

Grade 9 Violin Student of Jani Papadhimitri

NEW STARTS

FOR 2017!

Adult Drum Circle Drum Facilitator James Freeman

guides participants in the art of hand

-drumming, drawing on Latin, Afri-

can and middle-eastern traditions.

KCM’s Drum Circle builds tech-

nique, rhythm and ensemble skills,

and is a tonic for body, mind and soul.

Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30 pm

Open Circle: JAN 11

No experience needed!

Kingsway Children’s Choirs Choir Director Karen Sexton invites

young singers to experience the ex-

citement of KCM’s unique choral

programs built on vocal technique,

singing skills and choreography.

The Children’s Choir (age 7-11)

begins each weekly rehearsal with

Drum Circle, and the older Chamber

Singers (auditioned) pursue chal-

lenging multi-part repertoire.

Wednesday evenings

Choir & Drum Ensemble 6:30-8:00 pm

Chamber Singers 7:30-8:45 pm

Open Rehearsals: JAN 11 & 18

Youth Wind Ensemble KCM wind instructor Kelly San-

chuck has developed an exciting

new program built around current

music that resonates with youth mu-

sicians. Weekly rehearsals prepare

the ensemble for a variety of com-

munity performances. Eligibility:

minimum level RCM Grade 4.

Mondays, 7:30-8:30 pm

Masterclass kick-off: JAN 14

KCM in the Community

‘Tis the season for actively sharing our music throughout the community, including roof-

raising performances by some of KCM’s voice and saxophone students at the City of To-

ronto’s seasonal family event at the Assembly Hall. Many thanks to all of our performers!

Did you know? . . .

“Music has become the spark of my

intellectual curiosity. I directly de-

veloped my capacity to think crea-

tively due to the infinite possibilities

in music. In third grade, as I began

to explore a tiny fraction of the mil-

lions of combinations of key signa-

tures, chords, melodies and rhythms

in the world of music, my mind be-

gan to formulate roundabout methods

to solve any mathematical problem,

address any literature prompt, and

discover any exit in an undesirable

situation.

Music has become the medium for

my roles in the community. When-

ever I perform, I become immersed

in the conversations between per-

formers and the audience, and I feel

that I am truly part of my commu-

nity’s culture.

Music has become the educator that

has taught me the importance of

leadership and teamwork. I know

how strong a group can be if every

member puts one hundred percent

effort into their task. Through music,

I have learned that the most impor-

tant act of a leader is to create har-

mony between each member of the

group, to reveal the group’s maxi-

mum potential.

My musical haven has shaped my

character and without it, my life

would not be half as wonderful as it

is today.”

Reduced from Application Essay by Kwasi

Enin who was accepted to all 8 Ivy League

schools in 2014!

Now you know!

Since inception in 1995, the scope of our

Musical Theatre program at The

Kingsway Conservatory has evolved to

exciting new heights. Now, in addition

to mounting two fully staged shows an-

nually - one during the academic year

and one in the summer - we are adding a

new layer to our summer programming

with an additional one-week camp for

younger participants.

As program director Norma Churchill

notes, this means that young beginners

can get their feet wet with a fun, skill-

building one-week camp in the summer-

time. And older, experienced perform-

ers can be challenged with a two-week

program with a more sophisticated show

tailored to their age and abilities.

Shows on tap for summer 2017 ...

For the new younger kids’ camp, it’s

“Annie Kids” and for the older experi-

enced performers, possibly “13”,

“Thoroughly Modern Millie” or “Guys

& Dolls”.

KCM SUMMER 2017 … SAVE THE DATES! July 3-7 Suzuki Strings Camp age 4-10

Triple-Threat Arts Discovery Camp age 4-6 & 7-8

July 10-14 Musical Theatre Kids age 7-11

July 17-28 Musical Theatre Youth age 12-17

July 31-August 4 Triple-Threat Arts Discovery Camp age 4-6 & 7-8

August 14-18 Kingsway Chamber Music Festival

Intermediate (min RCM Gr.3/5) Senior (min RCM Gr.5/7)

A scene from Alice in Wonderland Jr - Summer ‘16

VOICE Norma Churchill Maureen Ferguson

Pamela MacDonald

GUITAR - ACOUSTIC & ELECTRIC Andrew Frost Chris Malone

STRINGS / SUZUKI STRINGS

WINDS & BRASS

THEORY & HISTORY Sharon Burlacoff Sara-Anne Churchill

MUSIC FOR YOU & YOUR BABY EARLY CHILDHOOD MUSIC

Sharon Burlacoff Veronica Materi Tatiana Olkha

MUSICAL THEATRE & GLEE Norma Churchill Brooke Banning

KINGSWAY CHILDREN’S CHOIR KINGSWAY CHAMBER SINGERS

Karen Sexton James Freeman

KINGSWAY CHAMBER ORCHESTRAS Valerie Gordon Michelle Odorico

Rezan Onen-Lapointe

CHILDREN’S FLUTE ENSEMBLE Alheli Pimienta

KINGSWAY YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE Kelly Sanchuck

CELLO CHOIR Liza McLellan

SPEECH ARTS Julia Pal

HAND DRUMMING, DRUM SET, YOUTH & ADULT DRUM CIRCLES

James Freeman

Rezan Onen-Lapointe Jani Papadhimitri Kailey Richards Janetta Wilczewska

Rachel Gauntlett Valerie Gordon Liza McLellan

Michelle Odorico

FACULTY NEWS Touring, recording & extraordinary pursuits

Sara-Anne Churchill and Valerie Gordon

will perform at Gallery 345 on January 6

for their Elixir Baroque Ensemble’s annual

“Elixir Mixer” - music, cocktails, fun!

Erika Crino’s 2017 performances include a

solo recital January 30 at U of T, a chamber

recital March 4 at Heliconian Hall and sev-

eral performances with the Canadian Sinfo-

nietta including a concerto concert March

19 in Coboug, chamber recital at May 6 at

Heliconian Hall and concerto concert May

27 at Tyndale Chapel.

Maureen Ferguson was the soprano soloist

in Handel’s “Messiah” with Haliburton’s

Highland Festival Singers in November.

Rachel Gauntlett is a visiting guest artist

with the Hong Kong Suzuki Institute in

December.

Valerie Gordon was selected as a trainee with

the Holland Baroque Society including three

concert tours with the orchestra in 2016/17.

Rezan Onen-Lapointe and her Rezonance

Baroque Ensemble perform with Ensemble

Alloro December 2-4 in Toronto, Hamilton

and Jordan, and with lutenists Lucas Harris

and Benjamin Stein February 10 at Metro-

politan United Church, plus concerts at

Gallery 345: “Fantasia 1700” March 19

Alheli Pimienta Allan Pulker

James Freeman Daniel Petras

Kelly Sanchuck

FACULTY 2016-17

PIANO - CLASSICAL & JAZZ

KCM Gift Certificates are available for

private lessons and group programs, in various denominations.

Call the KCM office for details.

Jeremy Ledbetter Michael Lee Veronica Materi Daniel Petras David Potvin Brad Ratzlaff

Sean Bellaviti Annika Borrmann Sharon Burlacoff

Sara-Anne Churchill Erika Crino

Maureen Ferguson Pegah Yazdani

and “More Harpsichord!” June 25.

Chris Malone performed with his Duo Bo-

heme partner Zach Moss, flute, in October

at KCM. A spring concert is on the roster.

Liza McLellan and Quartetto Gelato are

joining forces with Russian duo Bayan-Mix

for a romantic “Amore!” show February 8

at Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing

Arts. Liza’s string quartet Devah will be

releasing a new EP shortly.

Michelle Odorico is touring with Ta-

felmusik performing a memorized Bach

program. The fall tour included concerts in

China, Seoul and South Korea, and in

March, they will perform throughout the U.S.

Alheli Pimienta is invited as clinician/guest

artist at the National University in Mexico

City in January, named Curator for the Ca-

nadian Music Centre’s 17/18 concert sea-

son, named V.P. of the Canadian Flute As-

sociation, appointed assistant to Susan

Hoeppner’s flute studio, chosen among the

world’s top 25 flutists for an online Flute

Academy, and awarded a Canada Council

touring grant for her duo Flautas del Fuego.

Brad Ratzlaff was honoured in November

for his 25 years as Music Director at Trinity

-St. Paul’s United Church.