OTTAWA—Music Alive, a program that brings professional musicians into elementary schools, has started a fresh new round of school visits that will delight thousands of Alberta and Saskatchewan students from January to June 2012.

Created by the National Arts Centre in consultation with local orchestras and boards of education in both provinces, Music Alive brings multiple visits from high-calibre professional musicians to perform for and work interactively with students in Grades 4 through 6 for three consecutive years, resulting in approximately 100 school visits that will reach 10,000 children annually.

The program also provides the schools with high-quality resource materials with a different theme explored through music each year.  Seventy per cent of the participating schools are located in rural and remote areas, many of which have no music specialists on staff.

“The idea is to give students meaningful, interactive musical experiences with some wonderful teaching musicians from Alberta and Saskatchwan,” said Geneviève Cimon, the NAC’s Director of Music Education. “At the same time, Music Alive also supports generalist teachers by providing much-needed resource materials, particularly in schools  that have no music program.”

“Music Alive is an incredible program,” said Larry Fichtner, a Calgary member of the NAC Board of Trustees. “Not only is it supporting music education in classrooms across Alberta and Saskatchewan, it’s also opening a new world of ideas for young people who may have limited opportunities to hear and interact with performing artists.”

Music Alive teaching musicians come from diverse backgrounds; many are classically trained orchestral players, while others specialize in songwriting and/or traditional aboriginal music.

Recent additions to the Music Alive teaching musician team are Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Sherryl Sewepagaham and Jacob Pratt, who in November won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award. Both of these incredible artists will “team-teach” with a classical musician for a cross-cultural musical exchange.

“Music allows children to express themselves and to make connections that affect learning on so many levels,” said Sherryl Sewepagaham. “I’m so delighted to be a part of Music Alive, particularly as we explore our different musical traditions in a really entertaining way.”

Biographies of all of the teaching musicians are attached at the bottom of this release.

MUSIC ALIVE IN CANADA

Since its launch in 2005, Music Alive has visited more than 425 schools and reached more than 60,000 children.

The NAC plans to continue expanding Music Alive to other underserved parts of the country over the next few years. The program is now in Nunavut, where it works to support the region’s incredible musical culture by designing, in collaboration with local partners and advisers, a comprehensive, multi-year music program. And beginning this year, Music Alive is also being piloted in Manitoba. 

The NAC is a leader in music education through performances for young children and classroom presentations, through its award-winning arts education Web site artsalive.ca, and through distance learning using broadband videoconference technology.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The National Arts Centre Foundation would like to thank the very generous corporations and individuals who support the NAC Music Alive Program in Alberta and Saskatchewan, including EnCana Corporation and SaskTel. We would also like to thank the local orchestras affiliated with the Music Alive Program, which are: Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Music Alive Nunavut is made possible through the generous support of Major Supporter RBC Foundation, Travel Partner First Air and the Government of Nunavut. For Music Alive Manitoba, thanks go to the NAC’s partnership with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Frontier School Division.

For more information, or to visit the school, please contact:

Mary Gordon Communications Advisor National Arts Centre Tel. 613-947-7000, ext. 849    Email: mary.gordon@nac-cna.ca

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TEACHING MUSICIANS

Jan Amsel (Alberta)

Jan Amsel holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Music in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the Hartt College of Music. She studied with Andor Toth and Leonard Posner at the University of Texas and Charles Treger at Hartt College. She is currently a member of the first violin section of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kensington Sinfonia, and a violin/cello duo with CPO cellist Tom Megee. In the summer, she has performed in the Aspen Music Festival, the Banff Festival and the Oregon Coast Music Festival. Ms. Amsel created and is the host of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra's highly successful Saturday Morning at the Symphony series. She also serves on the CPO Education/Outreach, Program Planning and Players Committees, and is very active doing educational chamber performances in Calgary schools. In addition to examining throughout Canada as a member of the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners, Ms. Amsel has adjudicated festivals throughout Alberta, British Columbia and in Ottawa, and frequently leads master classes. She has taught private and group classes for the Calgary Suzuki Talent Education Society, as well as in the University of Texas String Project. She was also a founder of the Mount Royal College Preparatory Academy program. Ms. Amsel is currently a branch teacher of Mount Royal College Conservatory, and also maintains a private studio.

Alissa Cheung (Alberta)

Winner of the 2009 Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition and runner-up in the 2009 Shean String Competition, Alissa Cheung began playing the violin at the age of four. In Edmonton, she studied with Marian Moody, Ranald Shean and Broderyck Olson. After attaining a BSc (Honours) in Chemistry from the University of Alberta in 2007, Ms. Cheung began musical studies at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University with Thomas Williams. In 2009, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music with High Distinction in Violin Performance and began a Master of Music at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Ani Kavafian. Ms. Cheung has held principal violin positions in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2001, 2002), the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra (2008), and the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble (2008). She has also served as concertmistress for the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra (2010), the McGill Symphony Orchestra, the University of Alberta Symphony Orchestra, the University of Alberta Academy Strings, the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, and the Opera Nuova Orchestra. Alissa has participated in masterclasses and received coaching from renowned and active musicians, including Glenn Dicterow, Pamela Frank, Malcolm Lowe, Stephen Rose, Mark Fewer, Matt Haimovitz, Kyoko Hashimoto, Rafael Rosenfeld, Denise Lupien, Douglas McNabney, Jonathan Crow, Tanya Prochazka, Guillaume Tardif, and members of the Tokyo, Juilliard, Concord (former), and Ying Quartets. She is also a grateful recipient of financial support from the Yale School of Music, the Anne Burrows Music Foundation, the Edmonton Community Foundation Winspear Fund, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Schulich School of Music, and the Williamson Foundation for Music for her musical studies. Alissa is extremely grateful for the many opportunities she has experienced in both music and science, and will always remember those who supported and continue to support her. She is also passionate about community musical outreach programs, playing solo and chamber music in hospitals, schools, extended care facilities, and homeless shelters, and is committed to making these events an important part of her future career.

Mary Fearon (Alberta)

Mary Fearon was born in Edmonton and holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta. While living in Toronto she performed with many groups, including the Canadian Opera Company, the Toronto Symphony, the Toronto Pops Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the York Brass. Since returning to Edmonton, she has been a regular performer with the Edmonton Symphony, the Citadel Theatre, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and numerous chamber ensembles. As a soloist she has been heard in recital at Alberta College, All Saints' Anglican Church, Canadian University College, Festival Place, King’s College, and the McDougall at Noon concert series. Ms. Fearon has been a guest artist at The Call of the Wild Horn Festival in Cold Lake since its inception in 1998. She has been heard on Our Music, CBC1, and had performed in the Wednesday at Winspear series. She is currently working on a solo CD recording. Ms. Fearon has been the horn instructor at Alberta College since 1994, and is also in demand as a clinician and adjudicator. In the fall of 2006, she founded Horns A Plenty, a horn choir with over 20 members. She is married with three daughters (two who also play the horn), and an energetic Brittany Spaniel named Beau.

Jacob Pratt (Saskatchewan)

Jacob Pratt, a Dakota/Saulteaux and registered member of the Cote First Nations in Saskatchewan, is currently attending the First Nations University of Canada where he is pursuing a degree in business and intends to pursue a master’s degree. As a young child Jacob’s parents taught him and his sisters how to dance their traditional styles. Jacob now dances what is known as Mens Traditional in the pow wow genre and has expanded his dance from the traditional style to include the Hoop Dance, in which Jacob uses 15 hoops to tell stories by creating different formations depicting animals such as the eagle, bear and butterfly. At 14,  Jacob started playing the traditional Native American Flute and after more than a decade of practice, he is now sharing his talents with the world. Jacob released his long-anticipated first CD Eagle Calls in April 2011. As a model Jacob has worked with many photographers and has been in a number of fashion shows. He has also recently become interested in acting—a natural progression in his already creative career. An experienced motivational speaker, Jacob is passionate about working with First Nations/Native American youth, and his talks address subjects such as cultural preservation, youth empowerment, language revitalization and education. Jacob also teaches pow wow dance classes and leads workshops on dance and modeling.  

September Russell (Saskatchewan)

September Russell began her musical journey as a band student in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, playing flute and saxophone in concert band and jazz band. After graduating, she pursued a degree in Music Education, and in 2004 she received her BMusEd from the University of Regina. In 2009 she finished her MA in Music Theory from the University of Regina, and began teaching Music Theory and Music Appreciation classes at Luther College and the University of Regina. Currently September shares her passion for music as an educator, music theorist, and saxophone player. She works as a theory instructor at the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts as well as a Teaching Musician for the NAC Music Alive Program. She is a dynamic presenter, giving lectures in music theory and music appreciation around Regina.

Sherryl Sewepagaham (Alberta)

Sherryl Sewepagaham is of First Nations Cree/Dene ancestry from northern Alberta and is an Aboriginal Music Consultant with Edmonton Catholic Schools. Sherryl received her B.Ed from the University of Alberta and received national Orff-Schulwerk certification from Carl Orff Canada. She is an experienced elementary music teacher, choir director, and a member of the Alberta Premier's Council on Arts and Culture. Sherryl has been recognized for her traditional songwriting and co-writing with numerous music awards and nominations, including a 2005 Juno nomination, with the Edmonton-based Aboriginal women’s trio Asani. Sherryl is currently the music creator for a children’s cartoon series and a short live animation film. Her passion lies in music education, and she is currently creating a resource collection of children’s Cree and Blackfoot drum songs. Most recently, Sherryl wrote the music and lyrics for the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program song, to be shared with elementary schools across Canada.

Arlene Shiplett (Saskatchewan)

Arlene Shiplett was born and raised in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. She became involved in music at an early age with piano lessons, choir and both school and private band programs. She graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 1986. Arlene became a member of the Saskatoon Symphony in 1992. For several years Arlene taught Band in rural Saskatchewan and played in the Symphony. Since 2000, she has narrowed her focus to teaching horn at the University of Saskatchewan as well as private teaching and coaching.

Arlene has performed with Prairie Virtuosi, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Brandon Chamber Orchestra, Saskatoon Philharmonic, Saskatoon Opera, North Saskatchewan Wind Symphony and Saskatoon Concert Band. Her recent accomplishments include winning the Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award, conducting the mass horn choir at the Call of the Wild horn conference, and performing with the International Brass Quintet at the International Peace Gardens. Arlene may be seen every summer performing on the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum's Steam Calliope - one of a few in playing condition in North America. She is married to Lee Springett. They have no children and 7 horns.

Rosemarie Siever (Alberta)

Born and raised in Edmonton, Rosemarie Siever holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Alberta where she studied with William Street. She also received First Prizes in Saxophone Performance and Chamber Music from the Bordeaux Conservatory (France), studying under Jean-Marie Londeix. Rosemarie has performed with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the NOWAge Orchestra, and has recorded for CBC Radio (Alberta in concert, Two New Hours, Wednesdays at Winspear). Her freelancing career has allowed her to perfrom across Europe and North America. Rosemarie Siever can frequently be seen in Edmonton, teaching clinics and performing with the Retrofitz (60's soul/70's disco at www.retrofitz.ca ), and the studio b quartet. She teaches privately and in schools, and has taught at Augustana University College and MusiCamrose Summer Camp. Rosemarie is a Teaching Artist for Learning Through the Arts, a branch of the Royal Conservatory which emphasizes teaching core curriculum concepts through an artistic approach, and she has been a Teaching Musician for the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive program since 2006, giving school presentations in both French and English.

Samantha Whelan Kotkas (Calgary)

M. Music, B. Music Trumpet and Music Alive Program Teaching Musician

Born in Canada, raised in Africa and educated in Calgary and Houston, Samantha has been praised for creating truly unique and totally engaging experiences for young audiences. She has traveled internationally as a creative consultant and professional musician. For the past 15 years, Samantha’s creative efforts have focused on combining her love of music with her desire to enhance arts education in Alberta. Samantha has produced and performed children's presentations for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Pro Musica Society, the National Arts Centre of Canada, the National Symposium on Arts Education, the Calgary Stampede Showband, and the Banff Centre for the Arts. In September 2010 Samantha was appointed the position of education advisor for the Calgary Pro Musica society, one of the leading chamber music presenters in Canada. As a Teaching Musician for the National Arts Centre of Canada, Samantha currently consults and performs in many Alberta Schools. She also teaches private trumpet lessons at her Sun Spot Studio. Samantha performed the world premiere of her fifth rocky mountain fairy tale, Winter Solstice, with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2006—a performance she later duplicated with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on January 19, 2008. Winter Solstice was conceived and created by Samantha for full symphony orchestra and showcases the talents of Canadian composer Keon Birney and Canadian visual artist Lynne Huras. Winter Solstice is the culmination of many years of working with orchestral musicians and Samantha’s dedication to bringing the sound of great music to children in a fun, accessible and educational way. In 2009 she released her second CD, a jazz fairy tale CD entitled more rocky mountain fairy tales, to a sold out crowd in Calgary. Her high energy and fun filled performances have made her a crowd favorite for small and large audiences alike. For more information, please visit Samantha Whelan Kotkas’ website at www.storyfair.com