— from Linda Slone for Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival —E
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival has hosted many Musicians-in-Residence over the last several years, but the power couple behind the festival hasn’t had time in their busy schedules for an Orcas Island residency until now. Artistic Director Aloysia Friedmann and Artistic Advisor Jon Kimura (Jackie) Parker founded Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in 1998 with one long weekend of concerts. Since then, the annual August festival has grown to over two weeks of evening concerts with lavish receptions, a children’s concert, lectures, and a variety of free concerts. Aloysia and Jackie look forward to an action-packed residency full of music education and community concerts beginning on Monday, January 28t. They will work with student musicians in the public schools, perform a recital for the community, give free masterclasses and ensemble coaching sessions, and spend a musical day on Shaw Island.
Both Aloysia and Jackie are Pacific Northwest natives. Aloysia Friedmann was raised in Seattle by parents Martin Friedmann and Laila Storch, both esteemed musicians. Aloysia’s violin and viola studies at The Juilliard School led her to a varied musical career of performances with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Astor Piazzolla, Jessye Norman, Frederica von Stade, André Previn, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Elton John, Metallica, and on Broadway, onstage with Dustin Hoffman. She frequently performs solo engagements with orchestras and performs in festivals worldwide, is a board member of Chamber Music America, and was named one of 2018’s Top 30 Professionals by Musical America, a list of top innovators, independent thinkers, and entrepreneurs in the music industry.
Jon Kimura Parker grew up in Vancouver, B.C. He is an Officer of The Order of Canada and holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of British Columbia and the Toronto Conservatory of Music. Jackie’s concerto performances are in high demand with major orchestras around the globe. In addition, he tours with the Montrose Trio and is a founding member of the crossover group Off The Score with legendary Police drummer Stewart Copeland. He is Professor of Piano at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and is the Artistic Director of the Honens International Piano Competition.
The January 28t masterclasses are open to violinists, violists, and pianists, and observers are welcome. The masterclasses are free of charge and run from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. There is limited space at this event, so Pre-registration is required for Participants and Observers. Please contact the OICMF office at tracy@oicmf.org or (360) 376-6636 to register.
On Tuesday, January 29, local instrumental ensembles are invited to free private coaching sessions with Aloysia and Jackie. The sessions run from 2:30 – 4:30 p.m. and are available to ensembles of all instrument combinations. Pre-registration is required by January 21st. Contact the OICMF office at tracy@oicmf.org or (360) 376-6636 to register.
At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29t, the lofty acoustics and gothic architecture of the Orcas Christian School chapel set the stage for a Community Recital. Aloysia and Jackie play the exquisite Brahms Sonata Number 3 in D minor for violin and piano and Jackie plays two of Chopin’s intricate and moving Ballades for piano and the Piano Sonata in A Major by Mozart. The recital also features a few shorter pieces, including at least one sultry tango. Tickets for the recital are by donation and are available at Darvill’s Bookstore. Suggested donation is $20. Seating is limited in the chapel and tickets will go quickly.
Aloysia and Jackie will board the inter-island ferry to Shaw Island on Wednesday, January 30t, to work with the students of Shaw School, and the whole Shaw community is invited to a concert at the Shaw Community Building that evening. Admission is by donation and tickets are not necessary for the Shaw concert.
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival is thrilled to be able to bring performers of this caliber to work with local musicians of all ages and perform for Orcas Island and surrounding communities. OICMF thanks the Funhouse, Orcas Christian School, and Shaw Islanders Inc. for hosting these events, Darvill’s Bookstore for ticket management, and special thanks go to the generous underwriters and kind island donors who make it all possible.+
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Great appreciation to the local community sponsors whose donations have made this possible. It is a wonderful learning opportunity for our local musicians, and I am very much looking forward to this chance to hear Aloysia and Jackie’s Community Recital in this lovely, small chapel setting.