However, Dorothy (our student), stepped out of the office to head to the post office last Friday afternoon and I had the privilege of getting to help a walk-in customer with his ticket purchase. We began the normal chain of events when conducting a ticket sale, the normal cordialities, “How are you?”, “Up for the weekend?”, “Beautiful weather in the forecast” etc etc. Then we got to business, “What is your last name?”, “Oh, you’re not in the database, have you bought tickets before? No? Oh lets get you in our system”, “Four tickets for Peter Appleyard on August 4th, perfect.”

Upon entering all his personal information into the database I took the time to indulge my curiosity, and asked how he found out about the Festival. Apparently, this gentleman is a regular cottager in the area and picked up our brochure at Sobeys (thank you to those who make sure there are always brochures available there). Though he was aware of the Festival in the past, he had never been to a Festival concert or in the Stockey Centre. For those that know me realize that I have a bit of a nosy streak, so I had to question what had compelled him to purchase tickets. And then a great story came out.

Back in the 60′s he and a friend took out two women on a date. His friend brought his steady girlfriend, and he brought out a woman on their first date. They were living in Toronto and heard that Peter Appleyard was playing on the roof patio of the Park Plaza Hotel right downtown. Apparently this was a spectacular venue. So they rented a retro convertible, picked up their dates and headed off to the concert for the evening. All told it was a magical evening of music, dancing, and Tom Collins.

Now, 50 some years later, these same four people (now married couples) came up to Parry Sound for a weekend at the cottage, still all madly in love and great friends. Upon grabbing their groceries, they discovered that Peter Appleyard was playing here this summer, on his farewell tour and realized that they had to celebrate this anniversary. So in he came, purchased his tickets. He has plans to rent a retro convertible, drink a Tom Collins or two and dance with his wife on the Stockey Centre deck during the sunset.

So how about you? Do you have any major life events that can be marked by the Festival or one of performers or concerts this summer?

- Carla

James Campbell speaks to this upcoming season:

One of my great joys as Artistic Director of the Festival of the Sound is sharing the creative spark that happens every time I contact artists to discuss Festival programmes.  This year was especially fun because, as you will see, I have asked some friends to take the lead in planning some of this season’s offerings. It was such a pleasure discovering how their abundantly creative minds work. Adrian Fung, Mark Fewer, Guy Few, Leslie Fagan, James Anagnoson and Leslie Kinton, Joel Quarrington, James Mason and David Young have all planned programmes close to their hearts and I am looking forward to their concerts as much as any avid concert-goer.

This year we celebrate our 10th Festival in the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts. Twenty-five days of almost non-stop music-making fill this happy anniversary, starting with five days specifically designed to showcase the incredible acoustics and warm ambiance of this world-class concert hall. We’ve got music and as Gershwin’s song goes, “who could ask for anything more!”

It is hard for me to believe that this is the 28th Festival I have had the pleasure of planning, but it is certainly not difficult for me to be as excited as ever as I look forward to the musical, social, and environmental joys the Festival of the Sound brings to all of us each summer. I will be so pleased if you are able to join us!

James Campbell
Artistic Director

Tickets are now available in person at 42 James Street, over the phone (1-866-364-0061) or online at tickets.festivalofthesound.ca.

As many of you know, here at the Festival we don’t tend to have concerts outside of our July-August summer season. (We are bringing Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra here in May, so sometimes there are exceptions). So what happens in the gorgeous hall for the rest of the year? How does it remain economically viable? The Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts puts on their own series of performances for the rest of the year.

Though we tend to present a very specific and streamlined genre of programming, the Stockey Centre staff presents a wide variety of programming for the community. There’s rock music, children’s theatre, comedy, dinner events, country music, film festivals… you name it, they put it on! Check out their calendar to see what is going on their this time of year.

This month, they are bringing a group to Parry Sound that we thought might be of interest to you. Next Thursday, February 9th, the Harlem Gospel Choir will be at the Stockey Centre in Parry Sound and there are still tickets available.

A little bit about the Harlem Gospel Choir:

The world famous Harlem Gospel Choir, one of the pre-eminent gospel choirs in the world, brings a night of music like no other to the intimate Stockey Centre Stage.

This renowned choir travels the globe, sharing its joy of faith through its music, & raising funds for children’s charities. The Choir was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who got the idea for the Choir while attending a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the renowned Cotton Club in Harlem. The Choir is a gathering of the finest singers and musicians from various Black Churches in Harlem.

The Choir has shared its message of love, peace and harmony for many years with thousands of people from various nations, backgrounds, and cultures. The Harlem Gospel Choir strives to make the world a more loving and peaceful place, and through its music and dynamic performance creates a better understanding of the African-American culture and the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. The theme of every performance is bringing people & nations together & giving something back. The Choir’s songs of gospel and inspiration touch the depths of the soul and raise spirits to angelic heights.

Tickets cost $47.50 and are still available. Pick them up at the door, online, or by phone at 1-877-746-4466.

The calls start rolling into the office in January from our patrons anxiously awaiting the word that the brochure is in the mail. So since I know people are wanting more information about the brochure, I thought it might be fun to do a series of short blog posts talking about what actually goes into making the brochure happen.

Tomorrow I will be back with a post about the two key players in the production of the brochure, Margie Boyd our Executive Director, and Sara Tyson, the Festival’s graphic designer and art director.

In League With The Devil: Pianist Adam György and violinist Yehonatan Berick discuss Franz Liszt and Nicolo Paganini

Violinist Mark Fewer and guitarist Graham Campbell in conversation with Keith Horner. Both musicians performed a tribute to the Hot Club of France Quintet at this year’s festival.  Here they talk about recreating the world of   Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.

Members of the Lafayette, New Zealand and Penderecki string quartets give their thoughts on the mountain that every quartet wants to climb – the cycle of Beethoven string quartets.

With – Joanna Hood  and Sharon Stanis from the Lafayette Quartet.  Rolf Gjelsten and Helene Pohl from the New Zealand Quartet.  Jeremy Bell  and Christine Vlajk from the Penderecki Quartet

Oboist James Mason and violinist Julie Baumgartel  — one of a series of interviews with musical couples.