Georgia Straight Jazz Society Newsletter

April 2009 Special Addition

SOCIETY NEWS

Society raises $1200 for Lilli House

Time for some good news: Lilli House, the Comox Valley’s shelter for women (and their children) who are leaving abusive relationships, has received $1200 from the Women of Jazz fundraising concert. The event is produced annually by the Georgia Straight Jazz Society.

In 2008, a total of 282 women and children took shelter at Lilli House. This year, the fundraising focus for the organization has been to replace aging playground equipment at the shelter.

Cheque presented to Comox Valley Transition Society

Anne Davis (left) of the Comox Valley Transition
Society receiving cheque from Dave Harvey
and Dale Graham of the GS Jazz Society

The March 5th Women of Jazz concert featured a dozen local jazz singers backed by a stellar quintet. The large audience filled the Elks’ Hall with warmth and applause, and filled the donation buckets generously. In turn, they were treated to an uplifting musical evening of jazz songs and inspiring vignettes about historic and contemporary female jazz singers.

Successful fundraising hangs on generous performers as well as concert-goers. Kudos to instrumentalists Doug Anderson, Ralph Barrat, Tony Morrison, Kelly Thomas, Al West, Len Wilkie and Helena Jung. Thanks also to vocalists Myrna Boorman, Kate Dimbleby, Joanna Finch, Dale Graham (who also organized the event and emcee'd the evening), Charlotte Harvey, Rebekah Janzen, Nina Leblanc, Jill Martini, Wendy Nixon Stothert, Kelly Thomas, Michelle Weckesser and Jacki Zbirun. Debby Horsley contributed additional funds through sales of lapel pins at the concert.

Thanks to the Courtenay Elks for the wonderful performance space and hospitality for GSJS events such as this fundraiser, and all who attended and contributed.

Annual General Meeting - Thursday May 21 - Everybody Welcome

Mark your calendars for Thursday May 21st when our Annual General Meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., at the Courtenay Elks Hall. Free appetizers will be served, prior to the 7:30 p.m. performance by Indigo. This offers you a great opportunity to meet others with a shared appreciation of jazz, have your say about the Society operation and get involved in next year’s activities.

JAZZ NEWS

CYMC Gearing up for summer jazz camp cymc

The Comox Valley Youth Misic Centre is accepting registrations for three music camps this year: Pacific Jazz, Musical Theatre and Classical Program. Students will experience the beauty of Vancouver Island , while learning and performing alongside some of our nation's most prominent and highly regarded musicians.

At the Pacific Jazz Camp students will live and learn jazz improv, ensemble and big band for two weeks, with a focus on performance, composition, and arranging. Dave Proznick directs an All-Star faculty of leading Jazz improvisers and students will be part of memorable jam sessions and exciting concerts. The program runs from June 29-July 10, 2009. This camp is open to all music students 14 years of age and over with two years experience on their instrument, (piano,trumpet,trombone,guitar,drums and bass).

CYMC also offers the Musical Theatre Camp - June 27th to July 19th, limited to 25 participants and offering three intense weeks of training concentrating on dance, vocal and character creation, and a Classical Program Camp - July 12-July 26, where student musicians will immerse themselves in master classes, sectionals, chamber music concerts and exciting orchestra and concert band performances.

CYMC, now in its 42nd year, is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the musical talents of youth through education and performance.

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