StFX and the NAC connect jazz students to New York City --Video-Conference will link Students with Manhattan School of Music
ANTIGONISH—St. Francis Xavier University and Canada’s National Arts Centre are teaming up for a special interactive videoconference master class. The opportunity will connect StFX jazz students with acclaimed guitarist Rodney Jones of the Manhattan School of Music in New York City on Friday, November 18, 2011 from 2 pm – 4 pm in the StFX Gerald Schwartz Auditorium.
The master class is a major highlight of the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s dynamic performance and education tour that will build community through music with nine concerts reaching 10,000 individuals in all four Atlantic Provinces, and provide an opportunity to work and perform with some of the region’s most promising young musicians in 80 music education events.
Mr. Jones, a renowned jazz guitarist who has worked with Dizzy Gillespie, jazz pianist Jaki Byard and well-known drummer Chico Hamilton, will mentor three StFX students from his location in New York City. The class will take place in front of a live audience at StFX and New York City.
“Producing video conferenced tele-mentoring sessions while on tour allows us to showcase the strength of this technology—making connections that wouldn’t otherwise be possible,” says Maurizio Ortolani the NAC’s Producer of New Media.
“We made a deliberate decision to visit StFX on this tour because of their fantastic, and in some respects quite unique, jazz program,” says Christopher Deacon, Managing Director of the National Art Centre Orchestra. “In fact, StFX launched Canada's first dedicated Jazz studies degree program over 30 years ago.”
StFX jazz faculty member, Professor Kevin Brunkhorst, says the Music Department has long been bringing top calibre international guest artists to campus to perform and work with students in an educational capacity. “The NAC is providing an opportunity to enhance our ongoing guest artist program by leveraging technology,” says Prof. Brunkhorst. “It is an opportunity to supplement that in a very serious way without moving performers around the world.”
The National Arts Centre’s New Media Department is at the forefront of using broadband technology to link Canadian music students to some of the world’s greatest jazz artists from Manhattan School of Music. Now in its seventh year more than 200 students have received training through the NAC’s New Media Department.
St. Francis Xavier University students Justin Harding from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Ben Holt from Waverly, Nova Scotia and Matt MacDougall from Sydney, Nova Scotia have been invited to participate.
Media are invited to attend the class and interview the students following the presentation. The masterclass will be webcast live at stfx.ca and nac-cna.ca.
About the students:
Justin Harding from St. John's, Newfoundland, is a 24-year-old jazz guitarist who is deeply passionate for bebop and hardbop/post-bop playing. As a graduating student from StFX, Justin has observed clinics hosted by many great jazz musicians. Within the past year, he has performed in clinics with Ryan Davidson, Lorne Lofsky and Marcus Wolfe and plans to teach ESL overseas before pursuing a Masters Degree in jazz performance.
Ben Holt grew up in Waverley, Nova Scotia. He began playing guitar in Grade 9, took a few private lessons from a local guitarist and played in rock bands for the rest of high school. After high school he went to the Nova Scotia Community College and was part of the first ever Music Arts program. He studied music for two years and gained experience playing a wide variety of popular music and performing in different venues in Halifax. He developed an interest in jazz and came to StFX to pursue his interest. Upon graduation his goal is to pursue a Masters Degree in jazz performance.
Matt MacDougall from Sydney, Nova Scotia, has played music since early childhood, and picked up a guitar at age 13, taking an interest in classical and jazz after a few years, and accepting any performance opportunity that was available along the way. His goals are to continue to perform as much as possible and to teach.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The National Arts Centre Foundation gratefully acknowledges support for the Atlantic Canada Tour from Regional Partners CN (Nova Scotia), Suncor Energy (Newfoundland) and Tim Hortons (CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick) and Supporting Partners Diane and Wesley Campbell, Zita Cobb and Ian and Jan Craig. Thank you also to NAC Friends Crosbie Group of Companies, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, McInnes Cooper, the Gill Radcliffe Foundation and RBC Royal Bank.
The Atlantic Canada Tour is also made possible thanks to the CEO National Fund which supports the NAC’s programs across the country. The NAC Foundation extends a warm thank you to the Atlantic Canada donors to the CEO National Fund; the Craig Foundation, Fred and Elizabeth Fountain, Dale Godsoe, C.M., Frederick and Joanne MacGillivray, Frank and Debbie Sobey as well as NAC Foundation Director Gary Zed who has made a gift in memory Leesha & Amelia Zed.
The Atlantic Canada Tour Travel Partner is Air Canada and the Hotel Partner is Delta Hotels and Resorts. National Media Partners are CBC – Radio Canada and the National Post and the Media Partner is Atlantic Business Magazine.
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TO EXPERIENCE THE MASTER CLASS LIVE, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
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Rosemary Thompson |
Cindy Mackenzie |
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