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Collingwood Summer Music Festival announces June live streams and July family days

The June series features special guest R.H. Thomson, the Canadian actor who played Jasper Dale on Road to Avonlea and Matthew Cuthbert in Anne with an E
Solstice-collage- L-R Daniel Vnukowski - Dr Alan Walker - R.H. Thomson
Collingwood Summer Music Festival founder and international concert pianist Daniel Vnukowski will host two guests - Dr Alan Walker and R.H. Thomson during a June pre-festival live stream series.
NEWS RELEASE
COLLINGWOOD SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL
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It has been a journey finding unique ways to present a major musical event during a pandemic and Collingwood Summer Music Festival has evolved with the changes to meet the challenge. The festival is pleased to announce additional activities enhancing an already exhilarating schedule.

The family day line-up is now in place with music that will please both young and older music fans. On Sunday July 11, the day begins at 10 a.m. with free musical activities for preschoolers taking place outdoors on the lawn, helping them to learn the building blocks of music. 

In the afternoon the live drive-in concert outdoors stars living folk legend Jerry Gray from The Travellers, leading the audience through the song This Land Is Your Land among other favourites. 

He is followed by a local favourite, Shipyard Kitchen Party – the folk/pop singing group inspired by Canadiana. 

The evening closes with a drive-in cinema screening of 2018 Canadian Screen Award Winner “movie “Rumble: The Indians Who Shaped the World” outdoors, preceded by a live discussion with the movie’s producer, Stevie Salas. Learn more about these events (and buy tickets for two of them) online.

Daniel Vnukowski, Artistic Director of the Collingwood Summer Music Festival is thrilled to be working with an indoor commercial film production crew, a sound engineer and outdoor film projection team. He’s excited about the creative possibilities this has brought to fruition for this year’s performances:

"This year, we are embracing technology in ways we never thought possible! We are excited to partner with two amazing local painters – Bill Franks and Shandelle McCurdie, – whose pre-recorded painting sessions will be projected onto the big screen behind two of our live concerts this summer,” said Vnukowski. “One of our musical artists will be connecting live from Rome and we're also experimenting with time-lapse photography for unique cinematic visuals. It will be a year to remember!"

As well, throughout the month of June there will be a Summer Solstice series of pre-festival live streams with four online events:

  • Wednesday, June 16 at 7 p..m - Fundraiser for the Actors' Fund of Canada with R.H. Thomson (one-time only and it won’t be archived)
  • Saturday, June 19 at 3 p.m. - Franz Schubert Piano Recital
  • Wednesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. - In The Footsteps of Chopin with Dr. Alan Walker (one-time only and it won’t be archived)
  • Saturday, June 26 at 3 p.m. - Frederic Chopin Piano Recital

Details and artist biographies for each Summer Solstice event can be found on the Collingwood Summer Music Festival website. 

From Saturday, July 10 through Friday, July 16, in its second season the 2021 Collingwood Summer Music Festival will present a unique live music experience, which includes a diverse array of artists, including Juno and Grammy-nominated musicians, in which classical masterworks fuse with contemporary novelties. This year, the festival features six brilliant Indigenous artists, three Canadian premiere performances, two acclaimed poets and several engaging activities for youth.

Music-lovers are invited to enjoy a series of drive-in evening concerts projected live onto a massive 40-ft wide, three-storey high screen positioned in New Life Church’s spacious parking lot. Each concert is preceded by a live Q&A session with the artists.

You can find ticket information and the festival schedule on the Collingwood Summer Music Festival website.


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