Honens ProAm Piano Competition for Amateurs 2011 Review

This unique piano competition held Saturday, October 15, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta raised over $100,000 for the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition.

Four amateur pianists went head-to-head on Saturday, October 15, 2011, 7:30 p.m. at Theatre Junction GRAND at this unique music competition. Nearly every seat was full when Daniel Yang, Andrew Hoffmanns, Colin Edie and David Dixon performed their solo recitals.

Amateur Musicians Perform for a Good Cause at Honens ProAm

The Honens ProAm Piano Competition is the brainchild of Calgary-based philanthropist Jenny Belzberg. This unique event is a fundraiser for the Honens International Piano Competition. The first year the ProAm was held was in 2008.

This music competition is open to recreational pianists who play at a high-calibre. In other words, all competitors must have careers outside of music. Each of these amateur musicians performed a 15-minute recital from memory.

In addition to their recital preparations, they strove to raise a minimum of $25,000 each. Prior to the event, they collected pledges from family, friends, employers, colleagues and music aficionados.

The competitors were judged by three music experts: Bob Clark, Charles Foreman and Mélanie Léonard. Clark is a performing arts writer for the Calgary Herald. Foreman, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, has performed around the world as a solo pianist and chamber musician. Maestra Léonard is currently the resident conductor for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Honens International Piano Competition Searches for the "Complete Artist"

Out of the many prestigious piano competitions throughout the world, the Honens is unparalleled in two areas. First, competitors must perform solo and chamber recital programmes in addition to a movement of a piano concerto. Jurors are tasked with finding the “complete artist”.

Secondly, Honens Laureates participate in an extensive artistic and career development program. This is above and beyond the prize money they receive. Some of the benefits include assistance in booking engagements, recording CD's and developing press kits.

The Honens was the brainchild of the late Esther Honens. She was a Calgary-based philanthropist who endowed $5 million dollars in 1991 to launch an international piano competition in Calgary.

All proceeds from the Honens ProAm goes towards the Seventh Honens International Piano Competition. The next Honens will take place in Calgary from October 17 to 26, 2012.

ProAm Competition 2011 Contenders Deliver Four Exciting Performances

The 2011 ProAm got off to a colourful and romantic start with Daniel “Marathon Man” Yang's performance. Yang, sporting a purple tux, opened with Prelude in b-flat minor, op. 28, no. 4 by Polish composer Fréderic Chopin. He then delivered a sensitive interpretation of Edvard Grieg's Notturno. This was followed by another popular Chopin piece, Nocturne in E-flat Major, op. 9, no. 2. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's “Rondo alla Turca” from his Sonata no. 11 in A Major, K. 331 rounded out the programme.

Yang is a Reservoir Specialist for Canadian Natural Resources and the CEO of Borealis Geopower. He holds a Ph.D. In Natural Sciences and studies with Calgary-based piano instructor Ann Davidson.

The second ProAm contender, Andrew “Dutchie” Hoffmanns, hails from the Netherlands. He moved to Calgary last year and works as a financial analyst for Shell Canada Limited. He studies piano with pianist, teacher and clinician Gabriella Jonas of Calgary.

Hoffmans performed two contrasting works which showcased his warm, rich tone. He began with Sergei Rachmaninov's Prelude in c-sharp minor, op. 3, no. 2. He concluded his programme with selections from Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood) by Robert Schumann.

Colin “Jock” Edie drew loud cheers when he strode confidently on stage in his light grey-blue tux and matching hat. That confidence rang through throughout his entire recital programme, in which he demonstrated a strong tone, good phrasing and balance.

He first performed “Allegro moderato” from Sonata in E-flat Major, No. 62 Hob. XVI52 by Franz Joseph Haydn. This was followed by La Cathédral engloutie by Claude Debussy. For his final work, Edie performed Chopin's Revolutionary Etude.

Edie works for Encana Corporation as a Petroleum Engineer. He has his Grade 10 certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music and studies with Allen Reiser, a Calgary-based piano teacher, writer, performer, adjudicator and clinician.

The evening drove towards a dramatic climax with David “Big Band” Dixon's performance. This jazz fan performed two challenging works: La Danse de Puck by Impressionist composer Claude Debussy and Frederic Chopin's Scherzo in E Major, op. 54, no. 4.

Dixon, a Reservoir Engineer at Nexen Inc., displayed a strong command of the piano. His technique was solid, while his phrasing and dynamics were well balanced. He elicited a standing ovation from the audience.

David recently earned his ARCT Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music. He studies with pianist, teacher, adjudicator and clinician Linda Kundert-Stoll in Calgary.

Honens ProAm Competition 2011 Declared a Resounding Success

The fundraising goal for this year's Honens ProAm was $100,000, which as exceeded. This year's Top Fundraiser Award went to Daniel Yang, who raised $43,000.

The audience was concurred with the event's jurors. David Dixon was declared the Audience Choice Prize winner and the 2011 Honens ProAm Champion. He won a gift certificate to the seafood restaurant Catch, the entire Honens CD library and a weekend residency at the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts.

The 2011 Honens ProAm Competition for Amateurs was held at Theatre Junction GRAND on Saturday, October 15, 2011. With four dynamic performances delivered to nearly a full-house and the fundraising goal surpassed, this original fundraiser for the 2012 Honens International Piano Competition is a resounding success.

Originally published on Suite101.com on October 18, 2011. Updated May 13, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Calgary Jazz Orchestra's 2013 Pop! Concert Review

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra wrapped up its 2012/13 season on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at Riverpark Church. Pop! featured big band jazz arrangements of pop and rock classics, as well as two world premieres.

Directed by Judy Wishloff, Churchill's Blue Jazz Band opened for the CJO by performing two numbers. The jazz band first performed A Blues for Dave by Doug Beach, which featured trombone and guitar solos.

Mike Tomaro's arrangement of I Mean You (Thelonious Monk) opened with an upbeat piano solo. It showcased the trombone, trumpet, soprano sax, piano and drums.

The Beatles, Jesus Jones and the World Premiere of Calgary Suite at the CJO

The first half of the programme featured big band arrangements and compositions by Greg Baker, while the second half showcased Johnny Summers' arrangements. Jammin' (Bob Marley) began brightly in the trumpets, while the saxophones painted a groovin' night scene. The trombones cruised steadily towards the solos. Jammin' featured solos by Gerry Hebert on alto saxophone, Dave Reid on trombone and André Wickenheiser on trumpet.

The CJO presented the world premiere performance of Greg Baker's Calgary Suite ("Ten Days in July", "Rockies" and "Waiting for the Chinook"). Due to time constraints, "Rockies" was omitted.

Ten Days in July" conjured up sound pictures of Cowtown. The trombones played a recurring accented hoedown-eque motif. The saxophones and trumpets circled around like a chuckwagon race.

The solos maintained the festive mood. Johnny Summers' trumpet danced and bounced like carnival lights and bells. In contrast, Shane Statz's tenor sax looped around like a sheepdog herding sheep. Egor Ukoloff (piano) and Greg steadily built up the intensity, punctuated by shots from the band. Sarah Matheson's bari sax solo spun like the Tornado ride, while Gerry's solo rang out like casino slot machines.

"Waiting for the Chinook" began as a ballad, later becoming bright swing. The varied layers were a delight to listen to, for example, flugelhorns with trombones and muted trumpets with piano. It featured solos by Rich Harding on alto sax, Egor, Kodi, Shane, Paul Ashwell on trombone and Greg on drums. There was a lovely dialogue between Johnny on the flugelhorn and Dean Yeats on trombone.

The CJO performed two more numbers in the first set. There was an easy swing version of Right Here Right Now (Mike Edwards) and a medium swing arrangement of Help (John Lennon & Paul McCartney).

CJO Premieres The Wonderment Suiteby Johnny Summers

CJO Director Johnny Summers recounted a conversation he had with a patron during intermission. She inquired about what the band plays and the arrangements. Johnny responded by describing the elements of music as a musician's palette of colours, which is used to paint a picture musically, while the form of the piece provides a road map to follow. Jazz musicians must stay within the confines of the form while improvising.

Johnny Summers' The Wonderment Suite was premiered in the second set. Each movement captured a mood: "Awakening", "Stability", "Thrill", "Confidence", "Adventure", "Sweetness" and "Wonderment". The final number was cut from the programme due to time constraints.

"Awakening" eased the audience in, opening with a sleepy melody on soprano sax by Gerry Hebert, while the trombones played sustained tones. The rest of the sections joined in one by one. It featured solos by Gerry, as well as Gordon Wilhelm on trumpet.

"Thrill" opened with a tremendous amount of energy. Like a child searching for hidden Christmas presents before Christmas, the solos captured a building sense of excitement and the thrill of discovery using meandering lines and playful rhythms. It featured solos by Sean Craig on tenor sax and Paul on euphonium, along with Egor and Sarah. There were chatty tenor sax exchanges between Shane and Sean.

The trombone section oozed with "Confidence", with a swaggering recurring motif and later, by taking over the stage. Shane's solo featured driving lines that traversed up and down the musical road. Meanwhile, members of the trombone section provided comic relief by standing and sitting like Whac-a-Moles because one of them rose up to play early.

Brian Walley's trombone solo soared and leaped playfully, while Johnny's trumpet spun and shot out a brilliant spray of notes.

The music faded away, at which point, the trombone section stood up one by one, delighting everyone onstage and in the house with a cutting contest. Who could play the slowest? Lowest? Loudest?

Adele's Skyfall closed the second set. This gritty ballad opened with a unison chord that waxed and waned into the night. Then the piano came in, joined by the bass, trombones, clarinets and flugelhorns. Johnny successfully handled that challenging, disjunct vocal melody.

The CJO also performed Michael Jackson's The Way You Make Me Feel, a crowd favourite from a couple of seasons back. For an encore, the band played Johnny Cash's Folsom Blues. Everyone went all out for their final solo of the season. Of special note, André's soft solo whispered and fluttered like a hummingbird. The audience was rapt with attention. Folsom Blues brought the house down and the audience to its feet for the second time that night.

For more information about the Calgary Jazz Orchestra's upcoming summer jazz concert, young jazz musician's competition and to buy 2013/14 concert season tickets, please visit the CJO's website.

The Calgary Jazz Orchestra entertained and delighted with its Pop! Concert in Calgary, Alberta on May 5, 2013. The jazz group was successful at painting a vivid soundscape colourful playing. This jazz concert was a fabulous way to end the 2012/13 concert season.

First Look at the Green Interactive Feeder for Dogs

Green Interactive Feeder - Eat Slow

Maestro and I saw a really neat dog food dish on a recent jaunt to a neighbourhood pet store. It's perfect for a dog who dog eats too fast.

Called the Green Interactive Feeder - Eat Slow, it turns eating into a bit of a hunting and peck game. Fashioned after blades of grass, a dog has to root around to get to the food. It's quite different from the normal anti-gulp bowls I've seen.

The bright colour and design caught my attention right away. Maestro normally doesn't gulp his food down, although I've had to slow him down on a couple of occasions. Now, we do know a dog who does on a regular basis. We don't want him to get gastric torsion, so this eat slow dog dish alternative looks intriguing enough to try.

Anti-gulping dog feeder up close

Here's a video showing some dogs trying out the Green Interactive Feeder:

Locally, Maestro and I found the Green Interactive Feeder - Eat Slow at Pet Valu. We'll have to get back to you on whether our other fave pet stores carry them. You can purchase this funky dog feeder online on Amazon.

Red & White Club Comic & Toy Expo 2011 Review

Fans of comic books, figurines, collectibles and geeky toys gathered at this year's Red & White Club Comic & Toy Expo in Calgary, AB on October 16, 2011.

Comic fans of all ages flocked to the Red & White Club in Calgary for the 17th annual Comic & Toy Expo, held Sunday, October 16, 2011 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. This year's event boasted more vendors, more special guests and more costumes than last year.

Comic Artists and TV Celebrities Among Special Guests

Cary Nord (Star Trek: The Next Generation and Conan the Barbarian) and Riley Rossmo (Cowboy Ninja Vikings) made a return appearance as special guests. One fresh face on the scene was Scott Kowalchuck, a Calgary-based artist who co-created the series The Intrepids (Image Comics).

Also making an appearance at this year's comic con was the Quickdraw Animation Society. Quickdraw is a production and education facility in Calgary, Alberta. Quickdraw showcased some of their colourful 8-bit animations.

TV hosts Sheldon Smithers and Scott Cozens also met with fans. The duo love vintage items. Their show, “Canadian Pickers” (History Channel) follows them on their cross-country hunt in search of folk art, vintage collectibles and other gems.

Costume Contest Attracts a Huge Crowd

Various eras in comic history were represented at this year's costume contest. Supergirl, Batgirl and Shazam were among the classic comic superheroes. X-Men, Iron Man and Halo were among some of the more contemporary entries. People also saw triple with at least three Dr. Who's wandering the hall. With 28 entries, cosplay is a huge draw at the Comic & Toy Expo.

Third place went to a team featuring “Harlequin” and a young “Batgirl”. “Mystique” took second place. Her unique costume featured a likeness to several X-Men characters. First place went to “Iron Man Mark 1”. It took Jeremy Nordstom three months to make his winning costume. He used plastic, metal and wood for his suit, which weighed a hefty 75 pounds.

Tables and Tables of Old Comics, Vintage Toys, Face-painting and More

The vendors tables sold out well before the event. There were some familiar tables, including Olivier Antiques & Collectibles, Treasure Cove and Out of Chaos. “Isn't the atmosphere here today great?” asked Sid Olivier with a smile. One Star Wars fan was ecstatic when he checked out Treasure Cove's table: “I'm your dream for the vintage Star Wars and you're mine,” he told owner John Quong.

Attendees were introduced to some “fresh faces”. Jiggly Pig Comics from Victoria, BC, brought an extensive selection of comics. Amazing Stories Comics from Saskatoon, SK showcased printed t shirts, hoodies, “Goomba” toques and “+15 Frost Resistance” hats.

Some artists were on double duty. Cartoonist, film director, costume designer Rik Van Dyke sketched the faces of young fans onto their own comic book covers – when he wasn't selling geeky t shirts. He also was generating buzz for his upcoming movie “Bloodbeast”.

For those who didn't come to this comicon in costume, there was a fresh option. Amandamazing Art & Face Painting's table was busy with girls young and young at heart lining up to be painted.

This year's comic convention was more energetic than last year's event. The Red and White Club Comic & Toy Expo 2011 drew 727 attendees and close to 100 tables, featuring vendors, artists and clubs. Organizers are calling the 17th event, held October 16, 2011 at the Red & White Club beside McMahon Stadium, a huge success.

Originally published on Suite101.com on October 19, 2011. Updated May 3, 2013. All rights reserved by Rhona-Mae Arca.

Geeking Out at the Calgary Expo 2013

The 2013 Calgary Expo has come and gone. It was my first year as a volunteer. All I can tell you is that volunteering was a wonderful experience and I'm definitely up for volunteering again. I was unable to attend any of the discussion panels, so I am grateful hat FlipOn.TV and the Comic Expo made Virtual Passes available. I look forward to watching the panels at a leisurely pace.

Here are some moments of the 2013 Comic and Entertainment Expo that I was able to capture when I completed my shifts. Enjoy!

Nathan Fillion and Tim Daly have got it right. Flying around in a cape is too much fun:

You can check out the rest of my 2013 Calgary Expo album here. I will try to upload my video of the LEGO Endor set later this week.

This is a fantastic moment captured by a Calgary Expo attendee. She asked actor/director/writer/gamer/professional nerd Wil Wheaton to tell her baby daughter why it's awesome to be a nerd:

A huge thank you to our guests, exhibitors, organizers and my fellow volunteers for making the 2013 Calgary Expo a huge success! I can't wait till next year! Well, perhaps my legs and feet need to rest a bit first.