The Collingwood Music Festival has been tuning up for summer concerts, beginning with a spring fundraiser concert held at Breakers House at Sunset Point.
A string and classical guitar performance by the Paganini Ensemble Vienna, visiting from Austria, was music for the ears of the crowd who attended the intimate performance event in support of the summer festival.
Daniel Vnukowski, an international concert pianist and the artistic director of the Collingwood Music Festival, said the concert was "an auspicious start." for the festival's new concert grand piano, purchased in memory of former festival board member Margaret Bridgeman.
"With such incredible momentum in place, we are all the more excited about our upcoming summer festival series and invite everyone out to enjoy our diverse array of events from July 8-15 this year," said Vnukowski in a news release.
The concert raised over $26,000 for the festival, which will also be used toward the free youth programming that will be offered again this year.
Tickets are now on sale for the fourth-annual Collingwood Music Festival. They are available online at collingwoodfestival.com or through the box office at 705-416-1317. The festival runs July 8-15 with concerts from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Venues vary, but most are at First Presbyterian Church.
Festival Schedule and Line-up:
Wednesday, July 5: free youth day on the spectacular grounds of Duntroon Highlands Golf.
Saturday, July 8: Inaugural Concert featuring the full splendour of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada led by Maestro Alain Trudel with special guest Jeremy Dutcher performing songs inspired by his Wolastoq First Nation roots. Outdoors at Millennium Park, set against the stunning backdrop of Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment.
Sunday, July 9: Stories of the Underground Railroad with Juno-award winning Toronto Mass Choir. Cutting-edge gospel music combined with Caribbean influences.
Monday, July 10: A ‘classical and jazz jam’ featuring two renowned Canadian virtuosi: Daniel Vnukowski, piano and Peter Stoll, clarinet and alto saxophone.
Tuesday, July 11: A family-fun event starring the Devah Electric String Quartet, showing the evolution of the string quartet from Joseph Haydn, through 70s rock hits to modern pop sounds.
Wednesday, July 12: Two-time JUNO-nominated multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Beny Esguerra, brings his unique sound to Collingwood, blending everything from hip-hop, spoken word, Afro-Indigenous Colombian music and cumbia.
Thursday, July 13: No Time for Chamber Music with collectif9. Known for their innovative programming, the Montreal-based string ensemble performs with an infectious energy and vigour that is sure to grab an audience’s attention.
Friday, July 14: For The End of Time. Three-Time Juno Award Winning Gryphon Trio with James Campbell, clarinet. Olivier Messiaen's seminal, mysterious work "Quartet for the End of Time", which premiè€red at the Nazi prison camp Stalag VIIIA in 1941.
Saturday, July 15: Mad About the Boys. Adi Braun and her jazz trio pay tribute to the genius of iconic songwriters, Noel Coward, Cole Porter and Kurt Weill, saluting unforgettable melodies of these giants of song.
