Montreal New Horizons Band - Blog & news

March 22nd, 2019

3/22/2019

Two concerts that delighted me: 2 conductors who establish the communication between the orchestra and the public.
by Monique Bourbeau

Lorenzo Coppola, clarinetist and conductor!

Last Saturday, March 16th, I went to Bourgie Hall to see and hear Lorenzo Coppola who was conducting and playing with the Arion baroque music ensemble and it was enchanting. Music critic Christopher Huss calls Coppola the "Roberto Benigni" of music with reason.

Coppola not only makes us hear the music but he has it speak to us and us see it. Twenty years ago, I attended a concert of the Arion ensemble at the Old Brick Church in West Brome; the music was beautiful but I came away with a bad memory of this concert: the musicians were cold; without smiles.

Coppolla speaks to us, tells stories to introduce music. Where do the conductors come from? What were the operas like in the past? Etc. He has the gift of bringing an orchestra to life. A small regret however: when he was not introducing the music, he played the clarinet but behind the musicians: we would like to see him more because he is so expressive and communicative.

Coppola also plays on a clarinet d’amour. I would have liked to see and hear this instrument, but it was not there. Maybe, another time...

http://www.arionbaroque.com/fr/christophe-huss-encense-lorenzo-coppola-et-arion-orchestre-baroque
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0dfMocIlMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f-bHj5uiNI

The Film Music Wind Band: James Bond directed by Jocelyn Leblanc

Concert of March 17, 2019: What a show! Jocelyn Leblanc, another communicative and dynamic conductor. Breathtaking music played by high level amateurs. I wanted to be with them on the stage, with my clarinet to feel transported by the music. The percussionist Catherine Cherrier was remarkable especially in the piece, African Rundown.

As soon as I got home, I hurried to buy tickets for the Starwars and Zelda concerts in June. Go hear and see them: you will not regret it.

Here are the links for ticket sales :
https://www.facebook.com/orchestre.ovmf/
https://www.facebook.com/orchestre.ovmf/

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1/26/2019

Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix, Arizona.
Report from Monique Bourbeau

I had been advised to visit the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix, Arizona (https://mim.org/). While there in January, I thought why not, and I did not regret it! Although it is in the city, it is on the outskirts and it is better to have a car to get there, otherwise it takes a good 2 hours of public transport to reach it.

It is a huge museum and if you are interested in the instruments, one day is only just enough to go around it!

It is both a museum and also a concert hall/theatre. During my visit, there was also a temporary exhibition on the history of the electric guitar ... .I did not visit it for lack of time.

The museum features instruments from 5 continents and the rooms are subdivided by country. In each display section representing a country, there is a screen that activates when you arrive in front of it, thanks to a device with earphones that you are given at the entrance: a very effective technology that saves you plugging in unnecessarily. Then, you can then see and hear one of the instruments in demonstration.

In addition to instruments grouped by country, there are also special themes such as, for example, musical instruments made with recycled objects, robotic musical devices and music boxes. Another room will introduce you to famous singers or bands.

Want to play percussion instruments? A room puts them at your disposal for you to try! Various workshops are also offered to visitors.

I had barely 3 hours to visit the museum. As I like exotic countries and the unknown, I did not visit America and Europe, but I did see the other 3 continents, and I was amazed.

Monique Bourbeau

A selection of other interesting instruments at the Museum

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1/10/2019

The 2019 winter session begins !

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12/28/2018

Report on our December concert

Concert of December 2018:
A splendid performance!

Our band has existed for five years already. I look around and the stage is packed with musicians. There are so many of us that our saxophonists are a little overshadowed by the big white tree that decorates the stage. In the auditorium, many friends and relatives have come to hear us play. Will there be enough chairs for the audience? We are not too nervous. I feel the solidarity and the confidence of our group: we have come to know our strengths and weaknesses and we can enjoy the pleasure of playing together. All this thanks to a very close communication between us and our conductors: therein lies our strength.

My favorites of the concert: Moai with its percussion solos, Appalachian morning and its serene atmosphere, The Incredibles, and finally, Klezmer Karnival, the frenzied performance that required us to us overcome many challenges and that we played with energy and pride.

What I retain most from this concert: the feeling of being part of a family that is still growing and that is here to stay. Our band is five years old and now has three divisions now: Initiation, Adagio and Allegro. We have come a long way from the beginning and thanks to the interest and participation of our members, we have the confidence to continue and develop new projects.

Thanks to all the musicians and our conductors, especially to David and Audrey who have been with us from the beginning. I love to make music with you and I wholeheartedly hope that it we will continue for a very long time.

Monique Bourbeau

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1/10/2018

Orientation for the winter semester

To register: https://goo.gl/forms/fi1tthaVxFms6Nr62

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11/27/2017

Upcoming concert: December 12th 2017

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10/23/2017

Quebec New Horizons Camp: a blog from a participant

Source: http://newhorizonsmusic.org/orford-music-camp-provides-more-than-musical-support/

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5/8/2017

May 6th Band Clinic in Ottawa

On Saturday May 6th, we went to Ottawa for a Band Clinic and we played in company of the Ottawa New Horizons Band, the West Island NH Ensemble, and the Potsdam NH Band. Here are a few souvenirs of our trip. Enjoy!

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2/20/2017

General Assembly and Rehearsal

On February 11th, we held our general assembly as well as a group rehearsal. Here are a few pictures...

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12/5/2016

Upcoming concert