Arts Scene

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Open call

The School of Music at Acadia University is gearing up for another exciting season of music performance. There are six university performing ensembles that invite participation from the general public. Anyone with an interest in music will find an opportunity to sing or play in one these groups.

The largest ensembles on campus are the University Chorus (Mondays 7-10 p.m.) and the Symphonic Band (Tuesdays 7-10 p.m.). They are open to competent musicians of any age willing to commit their time and energy on a weekly basis.

The Wind Ensemble (Tuesday and Thursday, 4:30-6:30 p.m.), Jazz Ensemble (Thursday 7-10 p.m.) and the String Ensemble (Tuesday 4:30-6 p.m.) are also accepting reasonably skilled players from the larger music community.

The University Chorus is again under the direction of Acadia University alumnus Michael Caines. Dr. Christoph Both, a superb cellist, leads the Acadia University String Ensemble. The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Mark Hopkins, is putting the finishing touches on their first CD and touring out of province this year.

The Symphonic Band is led by well-known local teacher Ardith Haley and is open to any high-school level musician. Drummer Mark Adam leads the Acadia Jazz Ensemble, which also has plans to record and tour this year.

Have you always wanted to play an instrument, but never had a chance to learn? Haley and Kay Greene have the answer for you.

The New Horizons Band is an adult beginner band, which provides instruction for adults who have never played an instrument before, but wish to learn to play. No experience is needed; members range in age from 20-80.

Conductors and teachers at Acadia University invite you to come and join the group that suits your needs as they study and perform only the finest music. Auditions for placement in the bands take place Saturday, Sept. 6 (contact Dr. Mark Hopkins for more information about bands - mark.hopkins@acadiau.ca); to learn more about the choirs at Acadia, contact Christianne Rushton (christianne.rushton@acadiau.ca); contact Christoph Both for information about the string programs (christoph.both@acadiau.ca); e-mail Ardith Haley (haleyaj@gov.ns.ca) to join the New Horizons Band.

For a schedule of concert events and to learn about any aspect of the Acadia University School of Music, visit the School of Music website (music.acadiau.ca).

Bravo youth

Kudos to young musicians Sydney Porter and John Ferguson of Port Williams, Ben Potvin of Centreville and Andrew Johnson of Berwick, all of whom belong to the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra.

They performed with the orchestra last week in Wolfville and will be back in Wolfville Nov. 8 with music by Wagner, Mozart and Brahms.

Hear Stan

Well-known CBC Radio host Stan Carew and his band, The Magpies, will be in Aylesford soon.

They will perform Sat., Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the Aylesford fire hall.

Tickets are $15 and can be reserved, which is recommended, by calling 847-9056 or 847-9847.

Back again

Willpower Theatre, in collaboration with Festival Antigonish, is about to present its third consecutive late summer season in Wolfville.

This year they are presenting the Canadian comedy Sexy Laundry and the Canadian premiere of the thought-provoking British play Grace at the Al Whittle Theatre from Sept. 9–14.

Sexy Laundry is a comedy by Michelle Riml, which was directed by Robert Metcalfe and stars Shelley Thompson and Stewart Arnott.

Armed with a copy of Sex for Dummies, Alice and Henry check into a trendy hotel with a mission - to jumpstart their 25-year marriage. Time, kids, stress (and gravity) have all taken their toll and something has to give. Sexy Laundry is a touching and laugh-out-loud romantic comedy guaranteed to strike a chord.

Grace stars Thompson, along with Anthony Black, Genevieve Steele and Ed Thomason. Stewart Arnott directs it.

In the light of today's tension-laden renewal of religious activism around the world, Grace is a timely and acclaimed play from London's Soho Theatre. Grace Friedman is a scientist and a public champion of atheism. To her profound dismay, her son Tom gives up his career as a lawyer to become a Christian and to seek ordination as a priest. Tom's girlfriend Ruth and his secular Jewish father Tony are caught in the middle of the resulting conflict.

The two plays will be performed in repertoire, with matinees Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are for sale at the Box of Delights Bookstore in Wolfville or by calling 542-3044.

Von Trapps visit

Tickets are on sale now for the Von Trapp children making their first concert appearance in the Maritimes this November.

The Maritime concert tour features the great-grandchildren of Maria and Captain von Trapp, who come from Montana. They will visit Wolfville Nov. 17.

Sofia, Melanie, Amanda and Justin are the grandchildren of the Von Trapp son portrayed as Kurt in the movie, The Sound of Music.

For ticket information call 542-5500.

Open mic night

On Sept. 5 at the Union St. Café in Berwick, there is an Open Mic Kitchen Party with Nick Jeffrey. www.nickjeffrey.ca. No cover charge.

On Sept. 6, there is a special performance with Flat Fifth www.flatfifth.ca). Tickets are $8.



Coming up

Sept. 6-7

Concrete cottages art event, Huntington Pt., 2 p.m.

Sept. 6

Night Kitchen, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville, 8 p.m.

Until Sept. 6

Who’s on First, CentreStage Theatre, Kentville, 678-8040

Sept. 8

First rehearsal Acadia University Chorus, Denton Hall, Wolfville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9–14

Willpower Theatre presents two plays from Antigonish, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville

Sept. 13

Stan Carew and the Magpies, Aylesford fire hall, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 15

Auditions, CentreStage Theatre, Kentville

Until Sept. 25

Gail Davis exhibit, Valley Regional Hospital Gallery, Kentville

Send arts items to: welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca