Magdalena Tomsinska
Tomsinska teaches all levels of guitar playing, and performs as soloist and accompanist on lute, guitar and theorbo, often in collaborations with such wonderful local performers as Jennifer Enns-Modolo, Rona Goldensher, Daniel Cabena, Terry McKenna and many others. She is a member of Nota Bene Baroque Players and Toronto Continuo Collective. Magdalena has also participated in eleven CD recordings (in Canada and Poland) Recordings can be found on YouTube and on the short TV film “Sounds of Canada.” Tomsinska is the guitar, lute, and Ukelele instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University, and researches lute music on the side.
Grebel details
All Noon Hour concerts have free admission, thanks to our sponsor. Parking is not free, but we are accessible by transit.
Programme
The program was designed in such a way that listeners could compare the sound of various plucked string instruments. Songs from the 13th century will be accompanied by a four-course guitar. The lute will take us to the 16th and 17th centuries. A five-course Baroque guitar and a 14-strings theorbo will sound in music from the 17th and 18th centuries, both in instrumental pieces (Santiago da Murcia) and in pieces for soprano and basso continuo (Lully, Monteverdi). The program also includes Scottish and Irish Baroque music and favorite dances such as the chaconna!
All the instruments will be played by Magdalena Tomsinska, with period songs sung by soprano Rebecca McKay.
17th Century Lute
Rebecca McKay
McKay holds a Bachelor of Music (BMus) in Voice and Music Education, and a Master of Arts (MA) in Community Music from WLU. She is an accomplished singer, educator, and community musician, performing and presenting internationally. Rebecca has performed as a soloist with The Elora Singers, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Spiritus Ensemble, and Nota Bene. She has been featured in numerous recital series, and concert events including St John's Music Series in Elora, and at Conrad Grebel's Noon Hour Recital Series. While her performance work is primarily in the classical genre, Rebecca considers herself a cross-over artist, singing in a variety of styles from pop to musical theatre, to jazz. She has been lauded for her art song interpretation and warm, lush soprano voice. Future engagements include a performance as the Soprano Soloist for Spiritus's Messiah this winter.