Canning news

Entertainment at its finest. The New York Long Island Youth Orchestra (LIYO) held a stunning benefit concert at Northeast Kings Education Centre in Canning Friday, July 10 to assist with youth programs at the school.

The Kentville, New Minas and Wolfville Rotary Clubs sponsored the 52 musicians ranging in ages from 13-35, who stayed with host families during their visit to the Annapolis Valley.

The LIYO 28-Day North Atlantic Circle Tour that began June 30 took them from New York to New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and then on to Scandinavia. The group not only enjoyed the thrill of performing for enthusiastic audiences who appreciate great music, but it was also educated in local history and cultures and was able to view some of the most stunning panoramic landscape and architecture in the world.

Founded in 1962 by its present director and conductor, Martin Dreiwitz, the LIYO is one the nation’s first youth orchestras. The orchestra has been in residence at the Long Island University for the past 18 years with over 2,000 alumni, many of whom are members of major performing organizations like the New York City Opera, National Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Ballet, Toronto Symphony and Colorado Philharmonic, or teach in schools throughout the country.

The concert tours, in cooperation with Rotary clubs worldwide, have been universally acclaimed and have been praised by world leaders for their contributions to international goodwill through music.

Principal cellist and associate conductor Aram Demirjian also joined the north Atlantic tour.

Caraline Craig, a 21-year-old violinist from Locust Valley, New York, said, “I’m very upset to be leaving. The host families were so kind. I really appreciate that. I love traveling and this is by far my favourite stop.”

She added, “the tour has opened up so many opportunities for me. This is my first time in Canada, but my fourth tour and I’ve met so many interesting people. My 16-year-old sister, who is a violinist, is on her first tour and loves it too.”

Qualified teenage instrumentalists who are interested in taking part in summer tours can contact the orchestra www.liyo.org. Auditions are held by appointment in September.

Daily Vacation Bible School will be held for youth ages 3-12 at the Canning Baptist Church the week of Aug. 3-7 from 1-4 p.m. This year’s theme is the Kingdom of the Son-Prayer Safari.

The whole week will be on the Lord’s Prayer and each day will have a different theme. Krista-Lee Bates from New Brunswick and Susan Matinson from Wolfville, sponsored by the Atlantic Baptist Woman’s Station in New Brunswick, will coordinate the event.

Ross Creek Centre for the Arts hosts Summer Arts camps from July 19-24. Indian Express is a fun week of making art and stories about India and its people and animals, for youth aged 5-7; Pro Painter explores the world of painting using different styles, for ages 8-10; Frame to Fame with a pro animator makes short films, for ages 8-10; and Passion Theatre taught by award-winning actors and director, for ages 11 and up.

Ross Creek hosts Summer Academies for teens from July 26 to Aug. 7. Visual Arts Academy working with professional artists from around the world; Writer’s Academy writing stories to journalism, from poetry to plays with professional writers; Theatre Academy learning from award-winning director, actors and choreographer; Film Academy with a professional freelance filmmaker gives you the tools and skills to create your own film; Graphic Novel Academy helps you to create awesome graphic novels and comic books.

Contact Roxy at education@artscentre.ca or call 582-3842 or 1-888-895-4545 for details.

Ross Creek Summer Art for Adults. Mono-printing and mixed media with Penny Ridley and digital photography with Andrew Danson Danushevsky July 25; painting the figure with Sara Hartland-Rowe and poetry and prose with Carole Langille and mixed media: painting without structure with Judith Leidl all Aug. 8; felted sculpture with Anne Pickard and experimental photographic imaging with Ryan Buckley Aug. 22.

Two Planks and a Passion Theatre’s world premiere of Allen Cole’s musical Rockbound will be held at Ross Creek Tuesday through Sunday at 6 p.m. until Aug. 9 with Saturday 1 p.m. matinees July 25 and Aug. 1 and 8. Out-of-province visitor and group discounts available. Matinees are pay what you can with no reservations.

Tickets are available by calling 582-3073 or e-mail boxoffice@twoplanks.ca.

Kingsport Jam Sessions are held at the United Church Vestry each Thursday evening from 7-10 p.m. Freewill offering. Bring your singing voice or musical instrument or just come out to listen. Everyone welcome.

Attention: former and present members of the Canning-area Girl Guides of Canada. The Canning Fieldwood Heritage Museum is looking for ideas for a display of local Guiding treasures and artifacts during the month of August. Photos, uniforms, camp hats, campfire blankets, badge scarves, souvenirs of camp life (local, national, international), books, music, birch log portable campfire with red bulb, and toadstool. Does anyone know where the last two items are?

Summer student Terry Pugh will accept loaned items and fill out a loan form. Deadline for accepting items is July 25 to allow display set-up time.

Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and 1:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Special event: A nostalgic campfire will be held Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. beneath the Canning Lighthouse. Don’t forget to bring your chair.

Helen and Fred Archibald via ham radio will contact lighthouses around the world. Hot chocolate and s'mores will be served.

Contact fieldwood@ns.sympatico.ca or brockwell@ns.sympatico or you can call 678-4312.