Four young Langley pianists selected for collaborative concert
A group of young Langley music students have been awarded the chance to perform for, arguably, the most deserving audience out there — their moms (and yours, too).
In fact, everyone is welcome when the four Langley piano students join other young musicians in a pair of performances, the first a February preview and the second happening on Mother’s Day, May 12.
The South Fraser branch of the B.C. Registered Music Teachers — which encompasses Langley, Surrey, Cloverdale, Delta and White Rock — are embarking on the ambitious project with the help of the Lions Gate Sinfonia, an orchestra based in North Vancouver.
Students have already participated in two auditions, first with Vancouver adjudicator, Dr. Greg Caisley last November, when 40 were selected to continue to a second audition.
Then, Clyde Mitchell and Anita Comba, well-known musicians to the Vancouver area, spent an afternoon in January at the Langley Community Music School, choosing the 20 students who will perform with the orchestra accompaniment at the Bell Centre for the Performing Arts in May.
Before that, however, the students will offer a sneak preview, performing their selections on Sunday, Feb. 17 at First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave., White Rock. The performance is at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation.
Langley’s participating piano students are Thomas Colyn, 7, Justine Charron, 9, Andrew Muirhead,13, and Rachel Yeom, 9.
The recital is intended to give the students a valuable performance opportunity in preparation for playing with the orchestra on May 12.
“For the participating young students it will be an experience of a lifetime — to perform in front of 1,000 people, in a beautiful concert hall, dressed in formal concert wear of tuxes and gowns, playing on a nine foot Steinway, with orchestral accompaniment,” said Langley resident and chair of the project, Brenda Sleightholme.
“It’s a significant opportunity that doesn’t often happen at this level of their piano studies.
“We are extremely grateful to our sponsors, without whom we couldn’t have undertaken such a mammoth project.”
The May 12 concert is a perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day and is designed to appeal to all students of piano in their formative years.
Contact the Bell Centre Box Office for tickets to the May 12 concert. They are $30 general/$24 students and seniors.
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