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Laurier's 2024-2025 Concert Season Announced

Laurier's 2024-2025 Concert Season Announced

Aug. 27, 2024

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Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Music is excited to announce its 2024-2025 concert season, offering a dynamic lineup of performances by students, faculty, and guest artists on Laurier’s Waterloo campus. This season promises unforgettable musical experiences across a wide range of genres, showcasing the vibrant diversity and excellence that define Laurier’s musical community.

“Our concert season this year is truly exceptional,” says Jerzy Kaplanek, Associate Dean of Performance. “We are proud to present performances that highlight the extraordinary talents of our students, faculty and guest artists. With a rich variety of genres and styles, all presented in our beautiful venues, we invite you to join us for a season full of inspiring and memorable musical moments.”

Season Highlights

Faculty Showcase Concert – September 5, 2024

Kicking off our celebrated Music at Noon series, this free public concert features the diverse talents of Laurier’s esteemed faculty. Throughout the season, we will present eight free Music at Noon concerts, welcoming the Kitchener-Waterloo community to attend and enjoy.

PSQ Presents Concert Series

PSQ Presents, a premier concert series that brings world-class musicians and exceptional performances to  Laurier’s Waterloo campus. This series is a unique opportunity to experience a wide range of musical genres and extraordinary collaborations.

The series features distinguished national and international guest artists who will join Laurier’s quartet in residence, the Penderecki String Quartet (PSQ), for dynamic and diverse performances.

  • Autorickshaw – September 28, 2024: A special collaboration with the PSQ and Laurier Singers, blending traditional and contemporary sounds.

  • Elliott Madore – October 6, 2024: Canadian Grammy Award-winning baritone Elliott Madore performs with pianist Anna Ronai and the PSQ, featuring Samuel Barber’s Dover Beach.

  • Jane Bunnett and Friends – October 26, 2024: Experience three-time Grammy-nominated and five-time Juno Award-winning artist Jane Bunnett, alongside Grammy-nominated Hilario Durán and other distinguished musicians, for an electrifying performance.

Alumni Percussion Ensemble Reunion – December 1, 2024

Join us for a special reunion and performance celebrating the tradition of excellence in percussion at Laurier. This concert will feature the inaugural Laurier Alumni Percussion Ensemble alongside the current Percussion Ensemble and special guests from the Toronto Percussion Ensemble. An afternoon of percussion ensembles you won’t want to miss! This event will be a highlight of our fall concert series. 

First Annual JanFEST – January 2025

JanFEST will bring together talented wind and brass high school students from across Ontario for a unique ensemble experience. We’re thrilled to announce that the Wellington Wind Symphony will perform as the guest ensemble during our inaugural JanFEST, adding a new dimension to this exciting event. 

Valentine’s Day Concert – February 14, 2025

Celebrate Valentine’s Day alongside the Laurier Symphony Orchestra, with the passionate music of Mozart and Berlioz, alongside a new composition by faculty member Dr. Matthew Emery. Dean Turner will conduct this concert, which will also feature world-renowned Canadian clarinetist James Campbell.

Student Concerts – Throughout the Season

Experience the talent and creativity of Laurier’s student ensembles in a diverse range of performances, including:

  • Laurier Chamber Orchestra – October 24, 2024: Led by the Penderecki String Quartet, this string orchestra will perform repertoire from the 19th to the 21st century, taking the audience on a musical journey from Franz Schubert to Philip Glass, and from Vienna to the Americas.

  • Laurier Wind Orchestra – October 25, November 22, 2024 and February 13, April 2, 2025: Enjoy a captivating performance by the Laurier Wind Orchestra, conducted by our new Wind Orchestra Director, Dr. Leah McGray.

  • Laurier Symphony Orchestra – November 29, 2024: Guest conductor William Rowson leads the orchestra in an evening featuring the 2024 Concerto Competition winners, David Braid’s composition Semi, and Dvořák’s beloved New World Symphony.

  • Jazz Ensemble- December 4 and March 22, 2025: Experience the vibrant energy and innovative artistry of the Laurier Jazz Ensemble as they bring a dynamic array of jazz standards and contemporary compositions to the stage.

  • Choirs (Laurier Singers and Laurier Concert Choir) – November 16, 2024: Join us for an evening of inspiring choral music featuring Laurier choirs and three local high schools—Bluevale, Cameron Heights, and Rockway Mennonite - under the direction of Carolyn Neumann VanderBurgh and Brandon Leis. The program will include pieces in various languages and vocal styles, culminating in a powerful mass performance of Baba Yetu, the hit theme from Civilization IV.

  • Improvisation Convergence Ensemble (ICE) – November 15, 2024 and March 27, 2025: Through a variety of musical genres, incorporating various stylistic approaches in both large and small ensembles, will explore creativity and expression through the art of improvisation. Experience ICE under the direction of Shane Guse, our new Director.

  • VOX - Join VOX, directed by Amanda Kind, for two exciting performances. On February 1, dive into Uncharted, where pop classics meet fresh, student-created arrangements. Then, on March 28, enjoy the Pop Hits Show, featuring chart-topping hits from past and present with rich vocal harmonies. If you love pop music and dynamic vocal blends, don’t miss these concerts!

  • Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro – March 13, 14, 15, 16, 2025: Experience Mozart’s timeless opera performed by Opera Laurier, with the Laurier Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kate Carver and directed by Stephen Carr.

More Information and Tickets

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