Welcome to the Festival’s 10th anniversary! From humble beginnings in 2003 with thirteen “pioneer” musicians and an ardent group of community supporters who believed in the dream, to today’s world-class Festival with internationally respected musicians, everyone who has ever been involved can certainly take a bow.
The 2012 Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival will showcase the most amazing musical talent that has ever come together to grace the magical town of Ajijic. Anton Kuerti, Canada’s legendary pianist and prolific recording artist, will undoubtedly astound you with his superb mastery of the piano. And for the first time ever, the Festival will be privileged to have a famous composer in its midst, Christos Hatzis. A Canadian with Greek roots, Christos is revered among musicians and audience alike for his beautiful, melodic, and dramatic compositions, some of which we are delighted to be performing in his presence. The Aeolus String Quartet from the U.S. are not to be missed by any music lover who is stirred by truly great musicianship worthy of any world stage. And then we have our Returning Stars who have charmed audiences here before, and are back by acclamation! Susan Hoeppner with her magical golden flute, the ever-charming raconteur and guitarist Alvin Tung, the marvelous Jazz Quartet headed up by the somewhat irrepressable Richard Underhill on sax, our returning violinist Dawn Wohn, who this year will be the solo violinist in a magnificent performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and finally the superbly talented orchestral players headed up by conductor Mark Skazinetsky, who happily takes a leave from his position as Concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to be in sunny and warm Ajijic in February!
Some of you may not be aware of the ambitious non-performance activities that are conducted in parallel with the Festival. Approximately thirty young Mexican musicians work throughout the year with me, learning performance skills both individual and orchestral. In fact, several of them are permanently “in residence” during the Festival, receiving Master Classes from Festival musicians, listening in during rehearsals, and learning much about musicianship and the rigors of professional performance.
Once again, thanks to all our sponsors and especially to Scotiabank, to our Board members and volunteers both past and present, and most notably to all of our patrons and audience members who have enthusiastically supported both the Festival and the student training over these ten years. If you love music and wish to see this Festival and its teaching program continue well into the future, we urge you to enjoy the benefits of being a Patron – you’ll find details in the following pages.
Also, please note that this year’s program is well worth reading in advance of the Festival. If your curiosity is sparked, there are lots of human interest articles about our performers. Please visit http://www.ojo.chapala.com to view our program. We are on pages 53 to 68 of the Ojo del Lago.
So come and enjoy fourteen days of total music immersion – the best of Classical and Jazz. And even if you’re hesitant about one or the other of these wonderful music genres, give the music a try. You are going to be surprised.
See you at the concerts!
Christopher Wilshere
Artistic Director
Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival
VIDEO - 2010 SEASON
