Whispering River Music presents
RIVERSONGS 2020
A Cultural Fall Fair
Friday Coffee Houses, Saturday Workshops, & Sunday B.Y.O. Picnic Concerts
Sept. 11th - 13th: Local, Organic
Sept. 18th - 20th: A 40 Year Garden
Sept. 25th - 27th: Bert Weir Days
Foley Community Hall
60 Rankin Lake Rd., Foley, ON
Our Commitment to COVID-19 Safety
In these uncertain times, we are committed to making sure you and your children are safe at Riversongs! We are taking all the necessary precautions to run our Riversongs Cultural Fall Fair. Our concerts will have limited seating and all performances will be held outdoors (weather permitting). We will also enforce social distancing protocols and have smaller groups during performances and weekend event sessions. If we come and make music, art and poetry, together we can show the strength of the human spirit!
Invitation To Local Businesses
To celebrate our Local & Organic sustainability, we are extending the invitation to any locally owned businesses in the Parry Sound and surrounding areas to join us for our round table discussions in September! For further information contact us at: whisperingriverorchestra@gmail.ca or call Brenda Muller at 905-960-9281. We hope to see you there!
3 WEEKENDS OF ART, MUSIC, AND POETRY
Local, Organic
Growing the Culture of Sustainability
Friday Sept. 11th - Sunday Sept. 13th
Friday Coffee House:
Hosts: Rick Capreol & Brenda Margaret Muller
Saturday Open Doors Workshops:
Art, Orchestral Instruments, Composition
Saturday Discussion Circle:
Growing a culture of sustainablity, with local
artists and businesses
Sunday Concert: Music includes Bach & Greig,
Riversongs Commission Award premier:
Saman Shahi
A 40 Year Garden
The Cultivation of the Association of Canadian Women Composers
Friday Sept. 18th - Sunday Sept. 20th
Friday Coffee House:
Host: Catherine Wheatley
Saturday Open Doors Workshops:
Art, Orchestral Instruments, Composition
Saturday Discussion Circle:
Cultivation of the A.C.W.C., with
many renowned Canadian Women Composers
Sunday Concert: Music by Canadian Women,
ACWC Riversongs Award premier:
Janet Danielson
Bert Weir Days
Sustaining the Interface between Music, Art, & Nature
Friday Sept. 25th - Sunday Sept. 27th
Friday Coffee House:
Songwriter Terry Christenson & Poet Ken Christenson
Saturday Open Doors Workshops:
Art, Orchestral Instruments, Composition
Saturday Discussion Circle:
Sustaining Nature with Culture
Sunday Concert: Music includes Elgar
• Britten • Selections from Mozart
FRIDAY COFFEE HOUSES
Sept. 11th ● 7:00 PM
Local, Organic
Opening Ceremony with Marilyn Capreol
Join hosts
Rick Capreol & Brenda Margaret Muller
Paul & Ella Cowan ● Harbour ● Terry Storr
WRO Summer Students & local musical friends
Sept. 18th ● 7:00 PM
A 40 Year Garden
Join host Singer Songwriter
Katherine Wheatley
Margaret Kamerman ● Kyung A Lee
Paul & Ella Cowan ● Patricia & Phillip Morehead
& music from inspiring local artists
Sept. 25th ● 7:00 PM
Bert Weir Days
Join host singer songwriter
Terry Christenson
Ken Christenson ● Brenda and Rick
The Usual Suspects ● Fabian Arcinegas
& more from original local artists
SATURDAY DROP IN WORKSHOPS
Sept. 12th
Local, Organic
Workshops for Beginners
Drop In: 10 AM - 11 AM
Orchestral Workshop: 11 AM - 12 PM
Private lessons: 10 AM - 12 PM
Featuring
Sonia Klimasko Brenda Margaret
Muller
Violin/Viola Cello
and
Emma Vachon Terry Storr
Violin/Viola Clarinet
10 AM - 11 AM:
-
Drop In Workshops for Beginners - Meet and greet a new instrument! Learn to play the violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, flute, piano, or percussion. Instructed by Sonia Klimasko (violin & viola), Emma Vachon (violin & viola), Brenda Margaret Muller (cello), and Terry Storr (clarinet & woodwinds). Limited to 10 minutes per person.
10:30 AM - 11 AM:
-
Music Moppets with Zach Louch
11 AM - 12 PM:
-
Orchestral Workshop for Beginners - Join us and rehearse beginner's pieces Ash Grove and Cripple Creek to be performed at Sunday's concert. Led by Sonia Klimasko, Emma Vachon, Brenda Margaret Muller, and Zach Louch.
10 AM - 12 PM:
-
Private lessons - available with Sonia Klimasko, Emma Vachon, Terry Storr, and Brenda Margaret Muller.
-
Drop In Mask Making and Arts & Crafts with Cassie Horley
For more information about our faculty, click here.
12 PM:
-
Growing Sustainable Culture: Discussion Circle - exploring the relationship between businesses and art to create a sustainable future
Brenda Margaret Muller, Artistic Director of Whispering River Orchestra with Composer Saman Shahi
Ron Zytaruck, Tiny Homes and Affordable Housing
Laura Blease, Seeds for Ecology
Mayor Ann MacDiarmid, Seguin
Kelli Ebbs, Muskoka North Good Food Coop
Wanda Davis, vendor (all vendors are also invited to join)
1:30 PM:
-
Composition Circle with Saman Shahi - Meet Saman Shahi, the composer of this weekend's premier! Try your hand at composing your own music or simply listen to a riveting discussion surrounding the composition of Shahi's piece, Suspended Doorways.
-
Songwriters Free-Jazz Jam with Brenda and Rick
3 PM:
-
Orchestral Workshop for Intermediate and Advanced Players - Play and prepare repertoire for Sunday's concert, including Suspended Doorways by Saman Shahi. Led by Brenda Margaret Muller and David McFadden.
Sept. 19th
A 40 Year Garden
Drop In: 10 AM - 11 AM
Private lessons: 10 AM - 12 PM
Featuring
Sonia Klimasko Brenda Margaret
Muller
Violin/Viola Cello
and
Emma Vachon Terry Storr
Violin/Viola Clarinet
Emily Sun
Violin/Viola
Workshops for Beginners
9 AM:
-
Creative Kayaking with Katja Mathys at Foley Matheson Beach
10 AM - 11 AM:
-
Drop In Workshops for Beginners - Meet and greet a new instrument! Learn to play the violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, flute, piano, or percussion. Instructed by Sonia Klimasko (violin & viola), Emily Sun (violin & viola), Emma Vachon (violin & viola), Brenda Margaret Muller (cello), and Terry Storr (clarinet & woodwinds). Limited to 10 minutes per person.
10:30 AM - 11 AM:
-
Music Moppets with Zach Louch
10 AM - 12 PM:
-
Private lessons - available with Sonia Klimasko, Emily Sun, Emma Vachon, Terry Storr, and Brenda Margaret Muller.
-
Drop In Mask Making and Arts & Crafts with Cassie Horley
For more information about our faculty, click here.
12 PM:
-
Creative Sustainability: Discussion Circle - exploring the relationship between businesses and art to create a sustainable future
Brenda Margaret Muller, Artistic Director of Whispering River Orchestra with composer Janet Danielson
Katherine Wheatley, Singer Songwriter
Carol Ann Weaver, Composer
Jana Skarecky, Artist & Composer
Marilyn Capreol, First Nations Elder
Wave Weir, Fashion Designer & Textile Artist
Mayor Ann MacDiarmid, Seguin
Kelli Ebbs, Muskoka North Good Food Coop
Wanda Davis, vendor (all vendors are also invited to join)
1 PM - 2:30 PM:
-
Poetry Workshop with Gwyneth Storr
1:30 PM:
-
Composition Circle with Janet Danielson - Meet Janet Danielson, the composer of this weekend's premier! Try your hand at composing your own music or simply listen to a riveting discussion surrounding the composition of Danielson's piece, Frontlines.
-
Songwriting with Katherine Wheatley
-
Workshop on the Textile Mill Project with Wave Weir
3 PM:
-
Orchestral Workshop for Intermediate and Advanced Players - Play and prepare repertoire for Sunday's concert, including Frontlines by Janet Danielson. Led by Brenda Margaret Muller and David McFadden.
Sept. 26th
Bert Weir Days
Workshops for Beginners
Drop In: 10 AM - 11 AM
Private lessons: 10 AM - 12 PM
Featuring
Sonia Klimasko Brenda Margaret
Muller
Violin/Viola Cello
and
Emma Vachon Terry Storr
Violin/Viola Clarinet
Featuring
Katherine Wheatley
Terry & Ken Christienson
Brenda and Rick Capreol
The Ardeleana Trio (Spirit Essence)
The Usual Suspects
WRO Chamber Musicians
Marilyn Capreol
Inter-Arts Jam with
Composer & Artist Alan Torok
1:30 - 5:30 PM
9 AM:
-
Creative Kayaking with Katja Mathys at Foley Matheson Beach
10 AM - 11 AM:
-
Drop In Workshops for Beginners - Meet and greet a new instrument! Learn to play the violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, flute, piano, or percussion. Instructed by Sonia Klimasko (violin & viola), Emma Vachon (violin & viola), Brenda Margaret Muller (cello), and Terry Storr (clarinet & woodwinds). Limited to 10 minutes per person.
10:30 AM - 11 AM:
-
Music Moppets with Zach Louch
10 AM - 12 PM:
-
Private lessons - available with Sonia Klimasko, Emma Vachon, Terry Storr, and Brenda Margaret Muller.
-
Drop In Mask Making and Arts & Crafts with Cassie Horley
For more information about our faculty, click here.
12 PM:
-
Sustaining Nature with Culture: Discussion Circle - exploring the relationship between businesses and art to create a sustainable future
Brenda Margaret Muller, Artistic Director of Whispering River Orchestra with Composer and Artist Alan Torok
Climate Action Parry Sound (CAPS)
Terry & Ken Christienson
The Weir Family Trust: Wave Weir & Joy Allan
Mayor Ann MacDiarmid, Seguin
Kelli Ebbs, Muskoka North Good Food Coop
Wanda Davis, vendor (all vendors are also invited to join)
For more information about the late artist Bert Weir, click here.
1:30 PM:
-
Zoom Poetry Workshop with Gwyneth Storr. Please contact whisperingriverorchestra@gmail.com to join.
3 PM:
-
Orchestral Workshop for Intermediate and Advanced Players - Play and prepare repertoire for Sunday's concert, including Elgar, Mozart, and Britten. Led by Brenda Margaret Muller and David McFadden.
Clinics and Workshops to be led by the Riversongs Faculty. For more information about our faculty, please click below.
SUNDAY B.Y.O. PICNIC CONCERTS
Sept. 13th ● 3:00 PM
Local, Organic: A Sustainable Concert with the WRO
Opening and Closing Ceremony with Marilyn Capreol
J.S. Bach: Concerto in D minor for 2 Violins | Edvard Greig: Holberg Suite Traditional, Arr. Hopkins: Ash Grove | Traditional, Arr. Siennicki: Cripple Creek
World Premier of Suspended Doorways by Saman Shahi (Riversongs Commission Award 2020)
Featuring violinists
David McFadden & Christopher McFadden
Sept. 20th ● 3:00 PM
A Concert from the Garden with the WRO
Opening and Closing Ceremony with Marilyn Capreol
Traditional: Land of the Silver Birch
Kye Marshall*: Variations on a Canadian Folk Theme
Jana Skarecky*: Fantasy on J’entends le moulin
Patricia Morehead: Stolen Moments | Joanne Wu: Three songs by William Blake
Catherine Wheatley: Hallelujah (arr. Robert Morris) and Water Moves Me (arr. Brenda Muller)| Carol Ann Weaver: Parry Soundings
Traditional: Greensleeves | Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Sleeping Beauty Waltz
Bing Crosby Arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle: Beautiful Dreamer
World Premier of Frontlines by Janet Danielson (Riversongs A.C.W.C Award 2020)
*Recipient of previous Riversongs Commission Awards
Sept. 27th ● 3:00 PM
Riversongs 2020 Closing Concert with the WRO
Opening and Closing Ceremony with Marilyn Capreol
Elgar: Serenade for Strings | Britten: Simple Symphony (1st movement) |
Selections from Mozart
The Bert Weir Memorial Commission premiere (Alan Torok's Morning at the Bushwall is postponed until June, 20, 2021. Save the date!
*Note: To ensure audience safety, any music that involves performers travelling from the south or from Sudbury to the Parry Sound area has been reprogrammed.
**Please wear a mask and come and enjoy our local community orchestra.
MEET OUR COMPOSERS
Saman Shahi
Riversongs Commission Award Winner 2020
Janet Danielson
Riversongs A.C.W.C. Award Winner 2020
Alan Torok
Bert Weir Commission Award Winner 2020
For more information about our composers, click below.
PRICING
LOCAL, ORGANIC // A 40 YEAR GARDEN
Coffee House $5 | Saturday Workshops $25 ($10 on Vimeo)
Sunday Concert $20 ($10 on Vimeo) | Weekend Spectacular Bundle* $40 ($20 on Vimeo)
Early Bird Tickets $30
Early Bird Sales end on Sept. 4th at 11:59 PM
BERT WEIR DAYS
Coffee House $5 | Saturday Workshops $27 ($10 on Vimeo)
Sunday Concert $22 ($10 on Vimeo) | Weekend Spectacular Bundle* $45 ($22 on Vimeo)
Early Bird Tickets $30
Early Bird Sales end on Sept. 4th at 11:59 PM
FULL ACCESS PASS
Access to all events on all weekends for $110 ($55 on Vimeo)
Early Bird Pricing Unavailable.
* Weekend Bundle includes access to Coffee House, Saturday and Sunday events
"Pay what you can" options available.