The fifth annual Summer Concert Series returns to Abbotsford presented by Calvin Dyck and Songs Strings & Steps Events.
The series starts this Friday (July 30) and is the first of four one-hour concerts, each presented in an air-conditioned venue and accompanied by a sweet treat.
The concert on July 30 features three young artists from Vancouver playing viola, euphonium and clarinet.
The concert includes Tommy Vo, a Canadian euphoniumist currently pursuing his doctor of musical arts degree at the University of North Texas. Upon graduation, he will become the first Canadian to receive a doctorate in euphonium performance.
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As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, Vo performs the Changing of the Guard on Parliament Hill every summer with the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa.
In 2019, he advanced to the semi-finals of the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference Solo Competition, and was the first Canadian student to win the U.S. Air Force Band’s Collegiate Symposium.
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In 2018, Vo was the first Canadian euphoniumist to compete as a semi-finalist in the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival.
A champion for Canadian music, Vo works closely with Canadian composers to perform and premiere new music.
In 2018, he premiered Matthew Emery’s, A New Day at the Toronto Tuba and Euphonium Symposium. Vo also had the honour of premiering Traffic for Trumpet, Alto Saxophone and Euphonium by Taylor Hall in 2017.
His premiere performance of Kyle McAllister’s Euphonium Concerto at the Toronto Tuba and Euphonium Symposium has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The next concert in the series is on Friday, Aug. 6, featuring Vivaldi’s timeless masterpiece Four Seasons with Calvin Dyck along with the Cedro String Quartet.
On Friday, Aug. 13, the featured performer is harpist Lani Krantz, principal harp for the Vancouver Island Symphony.
The final concert on Thursday, Aug. 26 features the Marko Paolo Trio with double bass, flute, accordion and violin, performing a variety of classical repertoire, themes from French Cinema, and music from The Godfather and La Vita e Bella.
All of the concerts are held at Mennonite Heritage Museum at 7 p.m., except for the one on Aug. 6, which takes place at Calvin Presbyterian Church and includes performances at 4 and 7 p.m.
Tickets are $30 (plus tax/fee). Visit calvindyck.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
