Music of the Mediterranean Launches pro series Season 

BRANDON, MB—The 2019-2020 pro series season kicks off with a ground-breaking programme entitled “Mediterranean Encounters: Judeo-Muslim Soundscapes”. This evening of Sephardi-Mizrachi music is a first for the pro series, and introduces to Brandon audiences New York-based ethnomusicologist, composer, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist and singer Samuel Torjman Thomas.

During this performance, he will sing as well as play various saxophones and the oud – a lute-like instrument with up to 13 strings. Joining Torjman Thomas for this event will be Brandon University’s jazz percussion instructor Eric Platz, along with guest artists – a ney flutist, a violinist, a ‘cellist, and a bassist – from Brandon and from New York.

“This concert presents a musical treasury of individual and shared traditions among Jews and Muslims. It will highlight a range of musical styles from (these cultures), in Arab lands and in Spain, and will feature pieces (with) different regional musical dialects,” says Platz. “This is a snapshot of different musics that emphasizes the intercultural relationships between Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the different musical cultures of the Mediterranean region.”

The evening presents a rare opportunity to hear Torjman Thomas’ compositions, which are inspired by this mosaic of diverse and rich influences as well as by innovations in both World Music and Global Jazz.

The pro series’ performance presenting Samuel Torjman Thomas, with Eric Platz, and guest artists from Brandon and New York City will take place Tuesday, September 17, at 7:30 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall, in the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building, at Brandon University.

The 2019-2020 pro series season also includes:

• October 8, Park Sounds with Jennifer Thiessen, viola and viola d’amore, with Ben Reimer, percussion;
• October 15, Collectif9;
• October 17, the Homecoming Recital with Greg Gatien, saxophone, and Michael Cain, jazz piano;
• November 19, Bryn Blackwood, piano;
• January 14, the Faculty Concert;
• February 25, Les voix humaines, Viol Consort;
• February 29, Diana Cohen, violin, Franklin Cohen, clarinet, and Roman Rabinovich, piano;
• March 3 and March 4, Corey Hamm, piano.

Tickets to all 2019-2020 pro series events are $20 for adults, and $15 for students, seniors, and alumni. (Note: Admission to the two Corey Hamm recitals on March 3 and March 4 is the price of one ticket.) Subscriptions for the pro series season’s ten performances are also available – $85 for adults, and $50 for students, seniors, and alumni. New this year is the pro series’ flex pass – your choice of five tickets for $60. Individual tickets and subscriptions for pro series concerts are available at the door or in advance at the Main Office of the School of Music.

The School of Music gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant through Culture, Heritage and Tourism.

Please note that seating in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall is limited and that programmes are subject to change.

For further information, please contact:

Joyce Burba

School of Music, Main Office

204-727-9631

burba@brandonu.ca