Events

The Op. 39 quintet by Prokofiev is based on his ballet, Trapeze, which was written during his time in Paris. The strange, virtuosic, and sometimes grotesque music perfectly represents circus performers and carnival sights. 
Centred around the Prokofiev, our quirky program explores light and dark music by these four swell composers. 

Soprano Ellen McAteer and pianist Geoffrey Conquer present an afternoon of love, longing, and laughter.  "The Water is Wide" will journey from Mozart's charming lieder to Canteloube's haunting Chants d'Auvergne (Songs of the Auvergne) to selections from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn (The Boy's Magic Horn), ending with Britten's beautiful folksong settings.

At this public event, Jane Ramseyer Miller, Artistic Director of One Voice Mixed Chorus, Minnesota’s GLBTA chorus and Artistic Director for GALA Choruses, will lead us in singing and reflection. She will inspire us to give thanks for the gift of water that is fundamental for all of life, and will challenge us to commit to the fair and just care of water for all people. Opening and welcome by Blue Sky Singers, a group of First Nations singers. 

Four members of the KW Symphony will play Debussy's First String Quartet, in G minor, Op. 10.

Don't let the formal title of this extraordinary work fool you!  Debussy's First String Quartet is anything but formal.  Its fleeting mood, ravishing grandeur, and subtlety of timbre eclipse the rigours of traditional form.  Follow that with the fun of William Bolcom's Ghost Rags and you'll find a classical road map to jazz.  Join friends from the KW Symphony in this performance of music that enlivens and inspires.

In October 1998, university student Matthew Shepard was targeted for his sexuality. He was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field.

In October 1998, university student Matthew Shepard was targeted for his sexuality. He was kidnapped, severely beaten, tied to a fence and left to die in a lonely field.

Twenty years after that terrible event, we perform Craig Hella Johnson’s bold and transcendent work, which incorporates a variety of musical styles and texts, including passages from Matthew’s personal journal.

Gamelan is the traditional ensemble music of Java and Bali in Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments.  It is taught without notation, which means the students have to memorize their parts.  Directed by artist-in-residence I Dewa Made Suparta, the group plays both traditional Balinese music and modern compositions.

While the term “empire” has come to have strong political connotations, an archaic use of the word simply means to hold absolute power over something or someone. Few who listen to or participate in music could deny its empire!

This is a concert about storytelling.  Surprisingly, Rossini's Barber of Seville is not a story about a rabbit masquerading as a barber but a love story complete with disguises and mistaken identity and love triumphs in the end.  The overture was written for a different opera actually, "Aureliano in Palmira". Rossini borrowed it as he had run out of time.

The UWaterloo Jazz Ensemble consists of approximately 20 jazz aficionados playing standard and non-standard jazz instruments.  Directed by Michael Wood, this ensemble will play a wide selection of popular jazz music.  this concert will feature the music of Sonny Rollins, Ralph Towner, Joe Sealy, Leonard Bernstein and Rodgers & Hart.

Admission is $10/$5 students & seniors

Reception to follow