The centennial anniversary of Mount Allison’s music program gives us much to celebrate, including a remarkable Performing Arts Series. Each year, the series connects the small town of Sackville with the greater Canadian music scene and some of Canada’s most distinct and prominent artists.
Beginning its 2016-17 season this Friday, Sept. 30, the series promises to delight with one of Canada’s most versatile and charming chamber groups, iTromboni. Composed of renowned instrumentalists from across the country, the trombone quintet is also known as “Team Canada of Trombones.”
Known for performing a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, pop and folk, iTromboni creates programs that satisfy everyone’s tastes. This Friday, Passmore’s arrangement of From Russia with Love promises to engage film-lovers while Brahms’s “Hungarian Dance no. 5” will entice romantics. If you’re already in the Christmas spirit, Poirier’s arrangement of “O Magnum Mysterium” will have your lights up before October begins.
Friday night’s program also includes Verhelst’s “A Song for Japan,” which was written as a charity project following Japan’s 2011 tsunami. For this piece, Mt. A’s brass students, community members and local professionals will join the Canadian quintet.
In addition to iTromboni, Canadian concert violinist James Ehnes and non-profit organization Les Jeunesses Musicales will also be gracing the Brunton stage this school year. The Huu Bac Quintet – led by Bac, who emigrated from Vietnam to Montreal at the age of two – and producer, composer and banjoist Jayme Stone are also on this season’s lineup.
New student pricing will make this season’s concerts more accessible. For a limited time, students can purchase tickets for nearly half-price, at $15 per ticket. Tickets are available at mta.ca/performingarts.
