On March 5th at 7:30 p.m., NEXUS is appearing in the Barrie Concerts series an hour north of Toronto with the very fine University of Toronto Wind Ensemble conducted by Gillian MacKay. One of NEXUS’ longest of long-time friends and supporters, Bruce Owen, heads up Barrie Concerts, as well as the Colours of Music Festival in Barrie. Bruce was one of the very first presenters to book NEXUS! When Bruce heard (in 2009) NEXUS and the U of T Winds premiere Eric Ewazen’s newly-commissioned Eternal Dance of Life, it was such an exciting piece that he felt strongly that it should be heard again, and immediately booked them for his concert series. It is a wonderful piece that garners immediate standing ovations. You’ll love it!
Gillian MacKay conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting and trumpet at the University of Toronto where she is also Associate Dean of Graduate Education. She is an award-winning teacher, and it shows in the Wind Ensemble that you will hear on Saturday night. As a trumpeter, she has a particular interest in the French solo trumpet and cornet music of the 19th century. Gillian has conducted, adjudicated and presented workshops internationally, as far afield as Singapore and Thailand. She is doing some interesting and unusual work on the relationship between conducting and mime – but there certainly won’t be any miming on Saturday night! She also leads the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium each July. NEXUS is looking forward to performing with Gillian and the Ensemble once again presenting one of the best pieces in the NEXUS repertoire. We hope you can join us: Saturday March 5th, 7:30 p.m., Hi-Way Pentecostal Church, 50 Anne Street North, Barrie, Ontario.
