Beacon Concerts series

Categories: Music

St. Thomas' Anglican Church is excited to announce the launch of a new concert series, Beacon Concerts, as part of the church's 175th anniversary celebrations.

The inaugural concert will feature Jan Lisiecki, internationally-acclaimed 15-year-old concert pianist from Calgary, Alberta. Critics call Lisiecki an "aristocrrat of the piano," an "extraordinary talent" and praise him for mature and "remarkably poetic and imaginatively executed playing." With an orchestral debut at age 9 that has been followed by performances with more than 50 orchestras around the world, CBC hails Lisiecki as "one of the most sensational young artists to emerge in Canada in the past decade." BBC Music Magazine regards Lisiecki as "...perhaps the most 'complete' pianist of his age." Just back from opening the Chopin 200th Birthday celebrations in Chopin's birthplace in Poland, Lisiecki's program will feature multiple works by Chopin (including 12 Etudes, Op. 25) as well Bach and Mozetich. This is a concert that will appeal to everyone, especially pianists, young and old.

The concert will be held Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 7:30 pm, at St. Thomas' Anglican Church (8 Military Road). Tickets can be reserved by email beaconconcerts@gmail.com, phone (576-6632), or purchased at the door ($20 adult/$10 for senior/student).

The 2010-2011 Beacon Concerts series is presented in partnership with the Arts and Culture Centres and Debut Atlantic, a 30-year-old classical music touring organization that supports the touring (in Atlantic Canada) of some of Canada's best emerging classical musicians. Beacon Concerts will feature three additional Debut Atlantic artists throughout the season: Catherine Manoukian, violin, and Susanne Ruberg-Gordon, piano (October 20, 2010); Pentaèdre, wind quintet (November 24, 2010); and Jens Lindemann, trumpet (spring 2011, specific date tba). As well, the series will feature local artists in concerts in December 2010 and throughout the winter/spring 2011. A full season brochure will be available at the inaugural concert.

Come and enjoy an evening of extraordinary music in one of St. John's oldest and historic churches, the Old Garrison Church.

For more information about Jan Lisiecki and his Beacon Concerts program, go to http://www.debutatlantic.ca and http://www.janlisiecki.com.

If you have any questions about the series, please contact Ki Adams kiadams@mun.ca or David Chafe dbchafe@gmail.com.