NEWS RELEASE
COLLINGWOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL
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The 2023 Collingwood Music Festival is just one month away and its artistic director, Daniel Vnukowski, could not be more enthusiastic.
“On Saturday evening July 8 we are thrilled to host yet another 'historic first' for the town of Collingwood; a memorable concert right along the iconic South Georgian Bay shoreline starring our special guest, the mesmerizing two-spirit Indigenous singer Jeremy Dutcher joined by the full symphonic splendour of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada led by Maestro Alain Trudel," said Vnukowski.
Dutcher, a Polaris and Juno award-winning international star, is not only performing some of his most popular hits, but also a brand new track from his latest album Skichinuwihkuk. For those who require it, the festival is pleased to offer advance tickets with an option that includes shuttle transportation to the inaugural concert, from downtown Collingwood to Millennium Park and back afterward.
“We are very excited to fulfill the pent-up demand of our audience this year as well as our growing network of donors, presenting sponsors, volunteers and staff. Ticket sales have been flying off the charts and we expect several of our shows to sell out," said Vnukowski.
The remaining seven nightly concerts through to July 15 take place in the fine acoustics of the fully-accessible First Presbyterian Church. The exciting musical diversity of the artists in these performances there includes Juno-nominated multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Beny Esguerra and New Tradition Music who fuses spoken word, Hiphop and Colombia's Afro-Indigenous "música de gaita.” The Juno-award winning Toronto Mass Choir, forty-five soulful voices strong with a five-piece band, will sing cutting-edge gospel songs and Caribbean-influenced music as they bring to life the stories of the underground railroad.
This year, two chamber music groups bring the unexpected to the stage: Dévah Quartet, all members being active principal players in respected Toronto classical ensembles, morph from an acoustic quartet playing Haydn into an Electric String Quartet joined by a drummer, who with clever arrangements leap from jazz through 1970s rock to pop sounds of today including Guns N' Roses, Coldplay, U2, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga. From Montreal, enter the slightly larger globe-trotting Juno-nominated classical and contemporary collectif19, who combine the power of an orchestra with the agility of a chamber ensemble; sizzling with infectious energy and vigour.
Three more top-notch classical and jazz concerts round out the lineup with three-time Juno-winners The Gryphon Trio and clarinetist James Campbell performing Olivier Messiaen's seminal, mysterious work Quartet for the End of Time, which premiered at the Nazi prison camp Stalag VIIIA in 1941. A playful classical and jazz jam will feature two renowned Canadian virtuosi: Daniel Vnukowski, on piano and Peter Stoll on clarinet and alto saxophone. Finally in Mad About the Boys acclaimed vocalist Adi Braun and her jazz trio pay tribute to the genius of iconic songwriters, Noel Coward, Cole Porter and Kurt Weill.
On July 5, the festival is once again hosting its popular full day of fun, free outdoor musical adventure activities for youth set on the breathtaking natural grounds of Duntroon Highlands Golf Club. In fact, all concerts in the weeklong festival are free for youth under the age of 16. Parents simply need to register their kids on the website in advance to participate in the above individual events.
Collingwood Music Festival runs July 8 – 15. The schedule and tickets including gold passes (to save on whole festival) are available at: www.collingwoodfestival.com as well as from their box office, phone: (705) 416-1317. All concerts are from 7 to 9 p.m.
