HAMILTON, ON – The annual HPO Composer Festival goes digital! We are celebrating the music of Vivaldi and composers of the Baroque Era with an engaging series of virtual events and performances featuring HPO musicians, community members and Composer-in-Residence Abigail Richardson-Schulte.

The festival begins on February 9 with a fascinating talk about the life and work of celebrated Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi from Abigail Richardson-Schulte with musical demonstrations from Principal Second Violin Bethany Bergman. On February 14 watch community music makers of all ages perform movements from celebrated Baroque works as part of our Virtual Community Recital. Community musicians are invited to register and submit their at-home performance video in advance to be included in the recital presented on HPO YouTube and Facebook pages.

The Composer Festival continues February 17 with a virtual talk hosted by the Burlington Public Library via Zoom. In this recorded presentation, Abigail Richardson-Schulte dives into the world of Baroque music, its historical context and significance in orchestral music today. On February 18 community string musicians are invited to attend an online seminar, Baroque Technique for String Players, hosted by HPO violinist Elizabeth Loewen Andrews. The seminar will focus on performance practice, instruments, technique and repertoire with Elizabeth providing insight and advice from her practice as a Baroque player. The festival week concludes on February 20 with an online performance by Associate Concertmaster Lance Ouellette. Lance will play an excerpt from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons accompanied by Justyna Szajna.

20-21 Baroque Composer Festival Events

The Music of Antonio Vivaldi
Tuesday, February 9 at 7:30pm
Online lecture via Zoom
Co-presented with The Hamilton Association for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art (HAALSA)
Free Event, Registration Required

Baroque Community Recital
Sunday, February 14 at 2:30pm
Online Recital via YouTube and Facebook
Free Event, Registration Required to Participate
Deadline to Register: February 5 at 5pm

The World of Baroque
Wednesday, February 17 at 2pm
Online Lecture via Zoom
Co-presented with the Burlington Public Library
Free Event, Registration is Required

Baroque Technique for String Players
Thursday, February 18 at 7:30pm
Online Seminar via Zoom
Free Event, Registration is Required

Online Performance: Lance Ouellette
Saturday, February 20 at 2pm
Online performance video
Free Performance

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About the HPO: The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1884 as The Hamilton Orchestral Society and grew to become one of Canada’s major professional orchestras. Today, the HPO is a leader in Hamilton’s robust arts community where it provides professional orchestral services and music education programs to address the needs of the community. The HPO continues to commission and premiere works and is one of the artistic jewels of the Hamilton area. The combined musical talents of its artists continue to enrich the community and enhance the quality of life for its residents.

Media Contacts:

Christina Volpini
Marketing and Communications Manager
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 x226
cvolpini@hpo.org

Megan Nourse
Communications and Outreach Assistant
Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
905.526.1677 x211
mnourse@hpo.org