Honens announces 2009 Winners

media release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honens International Piano Competition announces Laureates and prizewinners

CALGARY, AB, November 6, 2009 ’Äì William Aide, Chairman of the Honens Jury, announced tonight the Laureates and prizewinners of the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary. First Laureate is Georgy Tchaidze, 21, (Russia), Second Laureate is Evgeny Starodubtsev, 27, (Russia), and Third Laureate is Gilles Vonsattel, 28, (Switzerland). 

’ÄúThe outstanding concerto performances by the Honens finalists have made the jury’Äôs decision all the more difficult,’Äù says Aide. ’ÄúOur three Laureates demonstrate the artistic conviction Honens seeks in its search for the ’ÄòComplete Artist’Äô.’Äù

In addition to more than $100,000 CAN in cash prizes, Honens awards its three Competition Laureates one of the competition world’Äôs most lucrative career development prizes valued at more than $500,000.  This three-year program, which prepares the laureates for the rigours and realities of a professional music career, includes international engagements, presentation of debuts in essential career-building markets, production of recordings, residencies at The Banff Centre, media training, networking opportunities with presenters and artist managers, and mentoring and coaching.  The program is customized to each laureate’Äôs needs, regardless of Competition ranking.

During the Awards Ceremony, Nexen Inc. announced it would again be the Presenting Sponsor of the Seventh Honens International Piano Competition, October 18 to November 3, 2012.

Honens International Piano Competition is among the world’Äôs most prestigious events of its kind.  It searches the world to discover ’ÄúComplete Artists’Äù ’Äì 21^st century musicians for 21^stcentury audiences.  The Sixth International Piano Competition, was presented by Nexen Inc., and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd, Macleod Dixon LLP, TransAlta and Enbridge Inc. For more information visit honens.com.

2009 Shean Strings Competition Results

EDMONTON NATIVE TAKES $8,000 TOP PRIZE

Edmonton, AB ’Äì On Friday, May 15, 2009 ’Äì after two days of amazing competition ’Äì Ewald Cheung, violin (19 years old), from Edmonton, AB, was awarded the $8,000 top prize in The Shean Strings Competition. He has also won the opportunity to play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at a future date. Ewald was one of 6 finalists chosen from a field of 24 entries from across Canada to compete in the 2009 Shean Strings Competition on May 14 and 15.

The complete results of the Competition were as follows:

• First Place and $8,000 ’Äì Ewald Cheung, violin
• Second Place and $5,000 ’Äì Alissa Cheung, violin
• Third Place and $4,000 ’Äì Aaron Schwebel, violin
• Fourth Place and $3,000 ’Äì Emily Westell, violin
• Fifth Place and $2,000 ’Äì Meghan Nenniger, violin
• Sixth Place and $1,000 ’Äì Wook (Luke) Young Kim, violoncello

Ewald Cheung also won $1,000 for the Best Performance of the Test Piece ’Äì Scherzo-Tarantelle, Op. 16 in g minor by Henryk Wieniawski.

The adjudicators for this year’Äôs competition were David Hoyt, Chair; David Colwell, violin; Jack Mendelsohn, violoncello and Brian Finley, piano.

The 2010 Shean Piano Competition takes place in Edmonton on May 20 and 21, 2010 in Edmonton with an $8,000 top prize and $1,000 prize for best performance of the test piece.

www.sheancompetition.com

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Media Contact: Alternate Contact:

Kent Sutherland Paul J. Bourret

Sutherland Productions Chair, The Shean Trust

P: 780.982.9916 P: 780.436.3412

E: sutherlandproductions@shaw.ca

Opera.ca: Make arts part of our global advantage

Opera.ca calls on Government of Canada to make arts part of our global advantage

Opera.ca and its members, opera companies and professionals across the country, deeply regret the cancellation of federal programs to support for international cultural diplomacy: the $4.7 million/year PromArt program of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) as well as the $9 million/year Trade Routes program of the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH). Through these two programs, Canadian artists and arts organizations, including opera companies, have been able to forward Canada's diplomatic and trade objectives on the international stage. The excellence of Canadian artists and the distinctive quality of Canadian art-making has long been used to make the case for the calibre of Canadian leadership in other fields, notably government and business. In 2006-07, the Department of Foreign Affairs invested in bringing The Queen of Puddings Music Theatre Company to England for the first ever presentation of a Canadian opera at Covent Garden; it contributed to bringing Opera Atelier to South Korea to perform its unique and highly acclaimed baroque opera; and helped bring Academy Baroque de Montˆ©al to Germany to perform. "Canada's artists and arts organizations help us put our country's best face forward", said James W. Wright Opera.ca Chair and General Director of Vancouver Opera. As the Government looks ahead to maximize Canada's global advantage, we urge it to consider the meaningful and important contribution that the arts make to cultural diplomacy." Opera.ca is the national association for opera companies and professionals in Canada. It works with members across the country to advance the interests of Canada's opera community and create greater opportunity for opera audiences and professionals alike. Opera.ca is a founding member of the Canadian Arts Coalition, the largest group of artists, arts executives and business leaders ever assembled from across the country who are united in the view that greater investment in the arts is essential to Canada's future.

John Mac Master to sing Tristan at the Metropolitan Opera

Canadian tenor John Mac Master will replace an indisposed Ben Heppner in the opening night performance of Tristan und Isolde at New York's Metropolitan Opera this Monday evening March 10 at 7:00 PM.

The production is by Dieter Dorn, and will be conducted my Metropolitan Opera Music Director James Levine. The cast includes Deborah Voigt as Isolde, Michelle de Young as Brangaene, and Matti Sallonen as King Marke.

The performance will also be broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio, and is available on-line from Sirius as well.

Mac Master made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Canio in I Pagliacci in 2005; he first sang the role of Tristan last season for Welsh National Opera. This season he was heard as Otello for Opera de Quebec, Canio for Vancouver Opera, in a concert of excerpts of Wagner's Gˆ�tterdˆ§mmerung with Leipzig's Gewandhaus Orchestra, and with the Barcelona Symphony for Schoenberg's Gurrelieder.
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For further information please contact: Henry Ingram, Dean Artists Management henry@deanartists.com

Canadian artists release their platform on copyright reform

C.C.C.: Creators' Copyright Coalition

http://www.creatorscopyright.ca/

COPYRIGHT REFORM KEY PROTECTION FOR CANADA'S ARTISTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 21, 2008

TORONTO: Canadian artists have released their platform on copyright reform in anticipation of the Canadian government's expected new copyright legislation. You will find it attached.

The result of months of research and study, the Creators' Copyright Coalition position paper outlines the reforms that creator groups would ideally like to see in Canadian law.

Members of the CCC believe that the making of art and contemporary Canadian culture is a vital part of life, and an essential ingredient of the information economy. If the new copyright reforms enhance and protect the rights of creators, then it will encourage art, contribute to our culture and enrich the lives of all Canadians.

"Without protection for performers and creators, we risk more than harming our international reputation, we risk damaging our industry at large. It's in the public interest that artists and their work be protected so they can earn a living wage and contribute to our culture and economy," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA National Executive Director.

John Degen, novelist and Executive Director of the Professional Writers Association of Canada: "I believe Canada can have a strong copyright law protecting the work and careers of all professional creators, while fairly and reasonably addressing the concerns of both corporations and consumers. The CCC statement is meant as a step in that direction."

Stan Meissner, songwriter, past president of the Songwriters Association of Canada: "While the digital age has offered music creators wonderful opportunities, it is clear that the rampant unpaid online consumption of music and other content has had a devastating effect. We need up-to-date copyright legislation that will protect the value of our rights, ensuring us a future where creators will be compensated for the use and enjoyment of our work."

Bill Freeman, the chair of the CCC, said: "Creators have been waiting far too long for copyright reform. It is time to protect the rights of all authors and performers in the Internet age."

The Creators Copyright Coalition (CCC) is an alliance of 16 professional associations of individual creators and performers and copyright collective societies active in the theatre, the visual arts, the applied arts, literature, music, recording and audiovisual (radio, television, film and commercials). Together these 16 associations and collectives represent more than 100,000 creators (authors and performers) who are copyright owners.

Contact: Bill Freeman, Chair, CCC, 416 203-2956

John Degen, PWAC: 416- 504-1645

Canada Council, National Endowment for the Arts to remember Oscar Peterson with a concert and a memorial tribute

Panels, photo opportunities and other events with NEA Jazz Masters scheduled

Ottawa, January 7, 2008 - The Canada Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will co-host a tribute to the late Oscar Peterson on Friday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre's Constitution Hall as part of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) conference. Dr. Peterson passed away on December 23 at the age of 82.

The tribute will be part of a concert and awards ceremony honouring the recipients of the 2008 NEA Jazz Master Fellowship, who include: bandleader Quincy Jones, composer and arranger Tom McIntosh, trumpeter Joe Wilder, pianist Andrew Hill, percussionist Candido Camero and jazz advocate Gunther Schuller.

The evening includes a special presentation by Canada Council Chair Karen Kain and NEA Chairman Dana Gioia along with performances of Dr. Peterson's work by pianist, composer and arranger Oliver Jones. Mr. Jones will play as soloist and with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra.

In addition to the Friday evening award ceremony and concert, NEA Jazz Masters activities include:

¬… NEA Jazz Masters Advocates panel, Thursday, January 10

¬… 2008 NEA Jazz Masters panel, Friday, January 11

¬… Artists group photo opportunity, Friday, January 11

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Media contacts:

International Association for Jazz Education Conference
Diana Nazareth 416-815-8883
E-mail: dlmedia.canada@sympatico.ca
Web site: www.iaje.org

National Endowment for the Arts
Victoria Hutter 202-682-5692
E-mail: hutterv@arts.endow.gov
Web site: www.neajazzmasters.org

Canada Council for the Arts
Donna Balkan 613-566-4305 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4134
E-mail: donna.balkan@canadacouncil.ca
Heather McAfee 613-566-4414 or 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4523
E-mail: heather.mcafee@canadacouncil.ca
Web site: www.canadacouncil.ca

Tous les documents du Conseil des Arts du Canada sont disponibles en franˆßais et en anglais.

350 Albert Street / 350, rue Albert
Post Office Box 1047 / Case postale 1047
Ottawa, ON K1P 5V8
www.canadacouncil.ca / www.conseildesarts.ca