PAST NEWS
A big THANK YOU to all who enjoyed our concerts in '15-'16!
Joanne and I so appreciated your support and enthusiasm. Thank you to Sierra Mimeault who turned pages so expertly!
Here are some comments:
"Just wanted to say again how very much I enjoyed your superb and wonderful piano playing today! That was a huge program, and you are just an excellent collaborative pianist...." Ina Dykstra
"I thought you did a masterful job of playing together as a violin and piano duo...truly collaborative. It is always such a pleasure hearing you play..." Carolyn Taylor
"All three of us were impressed with your playing!" Sarah Hagen, with Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann
"Both my sister and I enjoyed the concert immensely. Several of the people we spoke to said it was the highlight of the concert series. Congratulations!" Herma Raymond
"The concert was awesome, and definitely worth the trip. All your hard work certainly paid off. We were privileged to be invited!" Casey Anthony (Curaçao)
"Wonderful concert!" Merrill and Bruce Becker
"Congrats on a wonderful performance...Keep up the good work and keep Ascending!!!" Margaret McKercher
Emily Armour, Ann Mendenhall, Catharina de Beer, Rykie Avenant
in concert September 8, 2019: "Eight Hands at 88 Keys"
Comments:
"Such a talented group! I’ve never seen a concert like that with such variety and up to 4 people playing at one time." ~ Elaine W.
"My daughter and I were enchanted by your concert. Every piece was a treat...such a marvellously balanced program, polished to perfection. We are permanent fans!" ~ Judy M.
Comments following the April 24, 2022 concert, "Hand in Hand":
"Congratulations on the wonderful concert! Wow. I loved the whole thing but my favourite part was the Legends and the expressive manner in which you and Emily played together." ~ Diane T.
"Just wanted to let you know how much we loved the concert. It was an amazing blend of musicianship and ensemble. So precise and clear and together and beautiful. Thank you so much!" ~ Connie M.
"Congratulations for a splendid concert! I am full of admiration, and was thoroughly and delightfully entertained in the best sense of that word! Bravo to all of you!!! I have a new favourite piece of piano music, (the Poulenc) and wonderful memories all of those pieces, especially the 2nd last Legend - wow." ~ Marilyn R.
...for Quality Piano Instruction in the Cowichan Valley
Marilyn Rummel, Alexandra Lee, Ann Mendenhall in concert October 20, 2019:
"The Three Strains of Music"
TECHNITHON 2022 RESULTS are in!
Due to illness and then the pandemic, it has
been 4 years since a TECHNITHON
was possible! We are excited we could finally
resume this tradition! (See photo below)
CONGRATULATIONS to the following
teams and individuals:
1st Place Team:The Focused Flyers:
Angela, Elaine, Ginger
2nd Place Team: The Duncan Dynamos:
Avery, Rebekah, Donna-Lynn
3rd Place Team: The Cowichan Valley Scalers
Alice, Robert, Diane
Highest Individual Score (Grand Champion):
Ginger
Runner-Up Champion:
Avery
RCM PIANO and THEORY EXAMS over the past few years...WELL DONE, EVERYONE!
Francesca - Grade 9, June, 2019 - Honours
Madeleine -Grade 9, June 2017 - First Class Honours With Distinction
Grade 10, August 2018 - First Class Honours
Angelo - Grade 3, June 2018 - Honours; Grade 4, June 2019 - Honours
Bianca - Grade 4, January 2019, Grade 5, June, 2019, Level 6 July, 2020 - Honours on all 3
Grade 7, December 2021 - First Class Honours. Now preparing Level 8 for June, 2022!
Jizelle - Grade 9, August 2016 - First Class Honours
Grade 10, August 2017 - First Class Honours
Bridget - Grade 5, June 2018 and Grade 6, June, 2019 - Honours on both
Sierra - Grade 7, June 2018 - Honours
Sadie - Grade 6, January 2018 - First Class Honours
Ammon - Grade 2, June 2018 and Grade 3, June 2019 - First Class Honours on both
Violet - Grade 2, June 2018 - Honours
Avery - Grade 2, June 2018 - Honours
Evan - Grade 2, June 2018 - First Class Honours
Mary W. - Grade 6, June 2018 and Grade 7, June 2019 - First Class Honours on both
James H. - Grade 10, June 2019 - First Class Honours
Yichen - Grade 5 Theory exam, March 2021 - First Class Honours With Distinction
Rebekah - Preparing Level 6 Piano for June, 2022
Robert - Preparing Level 4 Piano for May, 2022
"OLD" Mendenhall Students...Where are they now?
(a small sampling, since the successes are far too many to include everyone!)
Emily A.- Has finished her Masters Degree in Classical Piano Performance, University of Victoria and is teaching piano online around the country
Andy S. - Has his Masters Degree in Jazz Piano; supports himself with piano "gigs" and with teaching
Carolyn T. ( BMus UVic) -Is now part of a small task force responsible for train safety in British Columbia
Tai W. - Doing well at UBC, planning a career in medicine
Drew W. - graduated with engineering degree from Queens
Claire F. - working as a stage manager with Pacific Opera Company in Victoria. Claire wrote, “I spent my birthday enjoying working on Bizet's Carmen with Edmonton Opera. So grateful for my piano training that has brought me these exciting work opportunities!”
Emily F - starting medical school at UBC
Liam B - studying at UVic in Pre-med
Emilie B - studying kinesiology at UVic
Adam W. - Masters degree in oboe performance from UVic - now freelancing and teaching piano in Toronto
Maria C. - violist with the Orquesta Nacional de Costa Rica
Roman M. - Costa Rica's ambassador to the United States during the Obama administration
Madeleine T. - Finishing her BS degree at UVic and doing research on fish
Jizelle B. - Taking a break this year from doing the Bachelor of Music program in Piano Performance at UVic, studying with May Ling Kwok. Jizelle plans to eventually become a doctor
REGISTRATION: To be wait-listed for fall 2022, please email or call to set up a free interview. Although in person lessons are preferred, online lessons continue to be available.
The CONCERT April 24, 2022, "HAND IN HAND" was an exciting event! The sell-out crowd enjoyed not only all the beautiful music for 4, 6 and 8 hands, but also haivng an up-close view of those many hands' theatrics on a large TV screen! Rykie Avenant, Catharina de Beer, Emily Armour and I hope to continue collaborating in the future!
As a follow-up, Emily and Ann's Concert for Ukraine on May 1st at the Tom LeeMusic auditorium in Victoria raised over $2000 in donations for humanitarian aid! The proceeds went to Doctors Without Borders and Help Us Help Charity.
The CANADA MUSIC WEEK CONCERTS in November, 2021, were are great success. Cowichan Valley music students shared Music by Canadian composers with an enthusiastic audience. This event is biannual - watch for the next one in November, 2023.
VISIT the CVMTA website: wwwCowichanMusic.com! Please enter your email address to receive quarterly newsletters and get the latest music news. We welcome your feedback!
BURSARIES AVAILABLE for music study! Deadline for applications: August 1st and December 1st. Please visit the Cowichan Valley Performing Arts Foundation (CVPAF) website for more information, to apply, or to make a donation.
CHEMAINUS CLASSICAL CONCERTS Recital Series - one concert each month, October through June, Sunday at 2 pm, St. Michael's Church, Chemainus. Enjoy live concerts by master musicians. The 2022-23 brochure will soon be out! More info here
VICTORIA SYMPHONY CONCERTS are back! Information about the 2022-23 season will soon be available. Find out more at https://cowichansymphonysociety.ca
COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022- The piano section had nearly 150 entrants and adjudicator Anne Wilson Unger did a brilliant job, making each performer feel successful as she gave valuable instruction. Thanks to Chairperson Marilyn Rummel for organizing this! Ten of my students performed and I was proud of all of them. Ginger Boehme-Vertefuille and Rebekah Argo received awards, and Ginger was invited to perform in the Highlights Concert! Congratulations to all.
COWICHAN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023- Watch for the dates for the piano competition and Gala and Highlights concerts.
PIANOFEST - Cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19, PIANOFEST will not be revived in 2022 . Members of the CVMTA decided to concentrate instead on the Piano Section of the Cowichan Music Fesival, which is now formatted on the very successful Pianofest model.
DAVID WALDEN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION - open to graduating seniors and first year University students going on in music. Deadline for Applications: July 31, 2022
TECHNITHON - Cancelled due to COVID -19 in 2020 and 2021 - but planned for May 2, 2022!
Our CHRISTMAS RECITAL , December 2021, was a lovely, in person event! NEXT RECITAL: 6:30 pm, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at the Christian Reformed Church. Everyone welcome!