By Marilyn Buyer
Local piano and vocal students are busy preparing for a unique master class to be offered in 100 Mile House on Feb. 22.
The workshop is sponsored by 100 Mile Festival of the Arts committee.
Clinician Katherine van Kampen, a faculty member at the Kelowna Community Music School, will lead an afternoon session in German Lieder. van Kampen has enjoyed an extensive international singing career and is an accomplished pianist, which makes her an ideal resource person for the participants.
“Our committee wanted to offer local musicians the opportunity to learn about Lieder, and to perform it with knowledge, musicality and confidence,” says local teacher and 100 Mile Festival of the Arts committee member Ginny-Lou Alexander.
“As German Lieder has been added to our festival syllabus this year, we thought it would be a good idea to provide our students with an opportunity to work with the art form under Katherine’s guidance.”
Lieder performance practice recognizes a close partnership between pianist and singer, with the ideas and interpretations of both musicians being of equal importance. Works by Robert Schumann, Hugo Wolf, Franz Schubert and other 19th century German composers will be studied.
In a master class setting, each music team performs their piece, and receives guidance and suggestions from the clinician.
When asked about the preparation involved, pianist and vocalist Joy Martin replies, “I’ve really enjoyed learning to sing in German.
“At times, I have had to refer to the International Phonetic Alphabet for some pronunciations. I also found some family friends were very willing to help me with the language.”
Several Lied will be performed at the Festival of the Arts student recital that will be held at the Evangelical Free Church in 100 Mile House on Feb. 23, starting at 2:30 p.m.
For information on the workshop or recital, please contact Ginny-Lou Alexander at 250-395-3555.
Marilyn Buyer is the co-chair of the 100 Mile Festival of the Arts committee.