2009

125th Anniversary of the First Concert in Saskatoon, An Event of 1884

To commemorate the first concert in the Temperance Colony, award-winning violinist Preston Hawes gave a recital of Romantic music with well-known pianist Deborah Buck. Among principal works performed were compositions of the 1880s by Grieg and Dvorak, in keeping with the era of the Trounce Family in early Saskatoon. A large and enthusiastic audience was delighted to hear Mr. Hawes once again, performing with the pianist with whom he has frequently appeared in Saskatoon. The recital, followed by a reception, took place at Grace-Westminster United Church on the evening of Friday, January 9, 2009.

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125th Anniversary Celebration of Heritage and Music, January 9, 2009

For support of the 125th Anniversary programs, Gustin/Trounce Heritage Committee Inc. gratefully acknowledges the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, and the City of Saskatoon.
Special appreciation to members of the Saskatoon Heritage Society for their part in the programs, to the musicians of the recital, and to Michael Pomedli for the event photos below.

125th Anniversary of The Trounce Family’s Arrival in Saskatoon in 1884

Program for Broadway Area Schools

Heritage specialist Peggy Sarjeant briefly sketched the history of the Trounce Family’s life in early Saskatoon and spoke about their home, Trounce House, which is Saskatoon’s oldest building. Project archaeologist, Kristin Enns-Kavanagh of Stantec Architecture Ltd., gave the students an illustrated presentation and showed historic materials recovered in the recent archaeological dig at Trounce House.

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Trounce Tea Party

A public audience in the Grace-Westminster United Church auditorium heard a repeat presentation on the Trounce Family and Trounce House by Peggy Sarjeant and Kristin Enns-Kavanagh. Saskatoon Heritage Society members Margo Rashley and Sue Barrett read excerpts from the historic letters (1884-87) of Mrs. Trounce. Tea and English dainties were served to the many who attended this celebration of our civic heritage.

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Song, and the Stone Carver’s Art, March 8, 2009

Singing and stone carving, artistic activity profoundly rooted in the history of human life, were celebrated together in an afternoon gathering at Gustin House on Sunday, March 8. Soprano Mary Joy Nelson of North Battleford, with collaborative pianist Gregory Schulte, performed works by Richard Strauss, Franz Liszt, and Vincenzo Bellini; violinist Martha Kashap joined the musicians for a group of songs by Regina composer David McIntyre. Robert Assié, award-winning stone carver and founder of the Tesella School of Stone Carving in Saskatoon, spoke about his art, its traditions, and its revival today. Mr. Assié’s presentation included examples of his carving and pictorial illustrations.

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Catherine Vickers in recital, April 19, 2009

Catherine Vickers, Saskatchewan-born piano prodigy and international concert artist now based in Frankfurt, Germany, gave the 15th program in the Lyell Gustin Recital Series. Her wonderful performance of all-Romantic repertoire--late works by Schubert and the 24 Preludes of Chopin--entranced an audience that included attendees from localities far beyond Saskatoon.

On the morning of April 18, Ms. Vickers led a technique seminar based on her books of piano exercises, “The Listening Hand” (published by Schott Music). Both the seminar and the recital were held at Grace-Westminster United Church.

Gustin House is grateful to Roger and Marie Jolly of Yamaha Piano Centre for graciously providing the Bechstein concert grand for Ms. Vickers’ events, and to the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Saskatchewan Arts Board for funding support.

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Wondrous Designs: Works for Violin and Piano, and Floral Art, May 17, 2009

On Sunday afternoon, May 17, violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves enthralled an audience at Gustin House with music by Beethoven and R. Murray Schafer, as well as arrangements by Clifford Crawley. The duo musicians are both on the music faculty of Memorial University, St. John’s, NL.

Master florist Fred Chlan created three wonderful pieces as he spoke about his art, drawing on his international study and his experience as an instructor and juror of floral design. Mr. Chlan’s shop, Flowers by Fred, has graciously contributed presentation bouquets for many of our concert artists.

This springtime program of music and floral art celebrated the birth anniversary of Lyell Gustin (b. May 31, 1895), and paid special tribute to Dr. Gustin’s love of visual beauty in nature and all the arts.

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Sophie Bouffard, soprano, David McIntyre, pianist - August 20, 2009

A most delightful summer vocal recital by soprano Sophie Bouffard and pianist-composer David L. McIntyre took place at St. James Anglican Church, Saskatoon, on Thursday evening, August 20, 2009. The repertoire ranged from works of the Baroque masters Bach and Vivaldi, to French Art Songs and a selection from Broadway musicals. Canadian compositions comprised a set of lullabies by Gustin graduate Robert Fleming, a native of Saskatchewan, and two poems by Saskatoon author Lois Simmie set to music by Mr. McIntyre. As an introduction to the recital, Mr. McIntyre gave a pre-concert talk on his approach to vocal music as a composer. Once again, audience members were pleased and privileged to meet the artists at the reception following the recital.

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The Music of Women Composers: October 18, 2009

Heather Schmidt, pianist-composer, opened the season at Gustin House on Sunday, October 18, 2009, with a unique recital of piano music. In a program entitled “Fanny, Clara, Heather and Friends,” Ms. Schmidt performed rarely-heard piano works by Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel, as well as her own compositions. She spoke about the gifted women composers of the 19th century, when societal norms strongly discouraged women from pursuing public musical careers.

Ms. Schmidt, a native of Calgary, now divides her time between Los Angeles and Toronto, where she teaches for the Royal Conservatory of Music. Besides her performance tours and composing activities, she is often a guest instructor in music. In Saskatoon, she gave a workshop for music teachers and pianists on October 19, an event co-sponsored by Darren’s Music Place and Yamaha Piano Centre.

Heather Schmidt’s events in Saskatoon were presented in conjunction with Piano Plus, an agency dedicated to bringing fine Canadian artists to smaller communities and organizations across the nation.

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On the Festivity of St. Cecilia

The Music of Handel, and the Arts Board in our Province, November 22, 2009

On the day which has for hundreds of years honoured St. Cecilia as Patron of Music and Musicians, Gustin House celebrated the festivity with music by Handel and with reflections on the Saskatchewan Arts Board. Pianists Alexandra Diederichsen and Gregory Schulte performed Concerti Grossi, arranged for two keyboards, and Brenda Moats and Mr. Schulte performed Handel sonatas for keyboard and flute. During 2009, the Saskatchewan Arts Board—the first provincial arts council of its kind in Canada—has marked 60 years of supporting the arts in our province. The afternoon’s guest speaker, Jeremy Morgan, Executive Director of the Arts Board, gave an overview of growth and development in the arts in Saskatchewan since the establishment of the Board and offered perspectives on the future.

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Gustin House, c/o 47 Pony Trail, Riverside Estates, Saskatoon SK S7T1A4, Canada

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