Westben is a not for profit, charitable organization, committed to creating, enriching and integrating communities of professionals and amateurs in world-class musical projects and settings. The vision is to create and enrich communities through music. Westben would like to be sustainable, expand it's season and exist for years and years to come. The definition of community has been the topic of many discussions at the Board Level. Westben was developed in the beginning by some very dedicated community members and it continues to rely on many volunteers and music enthusiasts. Westben has 2 Gala Fund raising events in the year and has held the Winter Sparkle event in various locations. There is strong support for Westben in the Peterborough and area community and we thought having this fund raising event there this year, would give the opportunity to expand the...
We will be announcing Season 2010's concerts this week to Members! Members, watch for your sneak preview in the mail. If you aren't a Member please consider becoming one! Memberships start at only $35 and can be purchased on line or by calling the Box Office.
Wind in the Willows will close on Sunday November 29th and Westben's 10th Anniversary will be completed. What would you like to hear at The Barn in 2010.
The choirs are sounding faboulous and Tom McCamus is always fabulous, so now the debate is whether to serve Ginger Snap cookies or Ginger Bread cookies with the hot apple cider at The Barn during Wind in the Willows. Please weigh in..........
Just saw Tom McCamus in Stratford performing in Phedre. He was amazingly moving and powerful. Our 15 year old said this was the favourite play of the ones we saw this weekend. AND he will be performing at Westben in the Wind in the Willows production starting November 21. Have you read the story yet?
My feet are already dancing the Salsa beat! Can't wait to hear Hilario's Band and taste the Sangria. The community has again been very generous for Westben's Silent Auction.
I am so excited about the Finale Fundraiser - Havana Remembered with Hilario Duran and a dozen of his band friends. I'm wondering if we should be calling this a "fun" raiser instead? Can you imagine how fantastically fun and upbeat this will be? First of all the music will be incredible. Hilario is so upbeat and a a wiz on the piano and then add his friends to the band and well, it will be hot, hot, hot!
There will be Salsa Dance lessons (don't want to dance ? - then drink Sangria), Silent Auction, Raffles and FOOD. Mark Pollard and his staff at Sprucewood Event Planning and catering are preparing a light plate of Cuban food and if you have ever experienced Mark's cuisine, you know it will be delicious. (We're lucky he will be here and not off around the world selling his famous cookies!)
So, what do you think - fun or fund raising on August 9th? Will I see you...
David Kemp and Brian Jackson are checking out The Barn right now preparing for their presentation of Transport of Delight Concert this Friday, July 24! Anyone want to share a Flanders and Swann favourite moment?! The concert is selling really well so don't wait any longer to buy your ticket.
Here's hoping the sunshine holds for tonight's Schubertiad 5 to 10 pm. Both string quartets sound beautiful in The Barn. I'm sure I heard the birds singing along with Virginia in rehearsal yesterday. Her voice is so sweet, full and rich. What a treat to have her singing in her own home town. Composer Omar Daniel is on his way, ready to compose a song on the spot to a poem written by someone in the audience. Virginia and the string quartet get to sight read it and perform it on the spot!
For Whom the Bell Tolls concert with Chick Reid and Andre Laplante was very special - moving, fascinating and riveting. Andre told Brian that he loves playing in The Barn and found collaborating with Chick very envigorating. Chick's readings were exceptional. A night to remember.
I remember Brian running around the field after the bulldozer getting the Meadow shaped "Just Right". Watching the crane errect the timbers in a day and a half was so exciting. The timbers were carved over 3 months by Didier Swartz of Lakefield.
So many wonderful concerts over the 10 years... I remember walking outside Barn while a pianist was playing at a Music of the Night concert and I could hear the crickets and smell the evening in the air and it sounded as if the whole Barn was resonating, The Barn was the instrument.
Westben is turning 10 this July. This 10th Anniversary Season starts with a Free Concert June 21rst at The Barn. Tickets are going fast. The concert of course will be amazing and I'm hoping all past Board Members, Sponsors, Choir Members (and current ones of course too) and audience regulars and first timers will join in the celebrations. Local businesses and artisans are invited to set up on the meadow for a festive market place. We live in an amazing community and Westben wants to celebrate this and thank everyone who has made this dream possible. See you there!
I would just like to say how pleased I am that all four of our concerts for The Magic Ornament are Sold Out! If you attended the concert, please feel free to comment.
Louis Lortie offered to bring his world premiere Death in Venice visual concert with film maker Mathieu Roy. We received several emails about the concert most positive and a couple who found it challenging.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments on the new Westben blog. Every comment is appreciated and welcome! Brian and I just spent two weeks at a family cottage and had time to mull over the season. We have many fun memories of the varied performances. What a thrill it is for Westben to welcome so many talented and varied artists to the Barn and introduce them to our beautiful Trent Hills community! The artists seem to love performing in The Barn and the experience of making music in the midst of nature. Mike Siracusa during his performance of Portuguese Fado event stopped to comment on the beautiful fields and birds. Artists often comment on the intimacy they feel with the audience. They can see the smiles (or puzzlement!)on faces and feel the response immediately. Often in larger halls all one sees are white lights!
As usual there was never a dull moment behind the scenes, a...
We've said it before, and we'll say it again. Westben is the realization of a dream, and we're excited that this blog gives us the opportunity to share our dream with you in a very personal and interactive way.
Here's a video that we put together a few years ago that gives you some insight into what this dream of ours is all about. As always, your comments are welcome. We look forward to hearing what you think about it.