Karen Sunabaka, Associate Professor of Music at Grebel, noted that “the Noon Hour Concerts are an important weekly event at Grebel. Not only do they give students the opportunity to hear and learn directly from professional musicians, the concerts also enrich the cultural life of the Grebel and University of Waterloo communities.”
The term’s performances include Calgary Connection, featuring Ralph Buschmeyer, Clark Johnson, and Michael Wood. In addition to being a member of the Stratford Festival Orchestra, Wood is also the Jazz Ensemble director and adjust professor in the Music Department at the University of Waterloo. The trio will perform a mix of original material, jazz standards with new arrangements, and classic jazz-vibes repertoire.
UWaterloo Music Alumna Mary-Catherine Pazzano, accompanied by Paul Stouffer on the piano, will perform Bernstein 101. This concert offers some jazzy interpretations from Bernstein’s West Side Story and includes selections from other musicals such as On the Town and Wonderful Town. Pazzano has been described as a performer that “has her audience enthralled throughout the entire show” (Thornbury Paper). Some of her performance highlights include: Birdland (New York City), Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, and The Rex (Toronto).
The season’s concert series will finish on March 18 with a special March Break concert. Peter and the Wolf is a family-friendly production that includes a special children’s introduction to the pieces of the orchestra followed by music for all to enjoy. Peter and the Wolf was an immediate success when composed in 1936 and continues to be enjoyed by children all over the world.
Grebel is thankful to Staebler Insurance for sponsoring this year’s Noon Hour Concerts.
Winter 2020 Lineup:
January 15 – From the Prairies: Darryl Friesen
January 22 – Calgary Connection: Ralph Buschmeyer, Clark Johnson, and Michael Wood
January 29 – Duets with Anna, Dan, and James: James McLean, Dan Lichti, and Anna Ronai
February 5 – Spirits: Shhh Ensemble, Edana Higham, and Zach Pulak
February 12 – Phases: Happenstancers, Brad Cherwin, Brenna Hardy-Kavanaugh, Lisa Tahara
February 26 – Bernstein 101: Mary-Catherine Pazzano and Paul Stouffer
March 11 – Selections from 24 Paganini Caprices: Benjamin Sung
March 18 – Peter and the Wolf: Wendy Wagler & Friends (Family friendly event)
Conrad Grebel University College
Chapel
140 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
uwaterloo.ca/music/events