Music by the Sea and Victoria

True North Brass just spent 10 incredible days at Music By The Sea in Bamfield British Columbia.  This is the brain child of Chris Donison ( pianist, arranger, composer, conductor and past Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival).  I went to the University of Victoria with Chris and we have remained friends. Chris’s vision is to have an artist’s retreat , where musicians from around the world can perform, collaborate and enjoy time to rehearse sufficiently and get to know each other. How great is that?  He also envisioned a concert facility that had a glass back drop so that the audience could view the ocean and sky during performances. So be it…the Rix Centre in Bamfield..part of the Marine Biology station there.  It is an stunning view and really changes the way you listen to music .  When True North played Scott’s arrangement of Bach, many audience members came up to me after to say the trees were literally swaying in time to our playing.   I am posting pics in the Gallery for you to see.   The first set is of the launch of the Soundstreams rowboat – MBTS’s recent aquisition.  The lovely Iona Campanola came to break the champagne over the bow and True North dressed in red and white for the occassion.  Al Kay has taken spectacular photos of the whole event to be seen at www.alkayphotos.com.   Enjoy !  Scott and I are still basking in the after-effects of being in Bamfield. Wonderful music making, amazingly generous and hospitable residents and audience, great food, wine and brilliant organization by Chris and Lynne Huras.  More to come….

27 / July / 2009 

Welcome to my NEW Website!

I’m excited to have a way to connect with all of you out there who have a passion for music or horn playing or performing or just enjoying life more.  I love to play horn and perform, and I also enjoy a whole bunch of other things as well. This blog will feature a variety of comments as life goes on to address my pet peeves and hopefully help in some small way for everyone reading it to find more joy and happiness in their lives. I want to be a part of the solution, giving what tools I have learned , to make being a musician easier and more fun. You’ll see lots of tips and comments as I go day to day on my journey .

With best wishes,

Joan

2 / July / 2009