"What is Accompanying / Collaborative Piano?"

Sat Apr 29, 2023 - Time TBC

Some people know it as' accompanying' but a newer term is 'collaborative piano'.

Under the guidance of David Murray and Stephen Woodjetts, discover the arts of accompaniment (playing for a soloist) and collaborative piano (playing with a group of musicians). You can bring your own soloist but we'll also provide a celebrity vocal soloist (Mark Cassius) for you to work with.

DAVID MURRAY was born and raised in New Hamburg, Ontario where his family was in the retail grocery and clothing business. His mother taught piano and was the church organist, while his father enjoyed playing trumpet in the town band. David started taking piano lessons at age 7 and continued until he entered university to study music 10 years later. After two years of study, he realized that he didn't want a career in music. While working in the restaurant business, he met his future wife, Annamarie, the daughter of dairy farmers near Mitchell, Ontario, who introduced him to the dairy business. Soon after getting married they travelled to Switzerland where they worked and toured in Europe for two years. Upon their return, David enrolled at the University of Guelph where he received his Associate Diploma in Agriculture. In 1986, they joined Annamarie's parents on the farm and then took over the business in 1996. Recently retired from farming, David volunteered with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra as the Office Manager before being appointed in July 2018 as the SSO's Administrative Director. He serves on the Board of a local Long Term Care facility and really enjoys working as a collaborative pianist and an accompanist with the Perth County Players.

STEPHEN WOODJETTS is the recipient of four Betty Mitchell Awards (Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, Berlin to Broadway, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and a Dora Mavor Moore award for Urinetown, all for Outstanding Music Direction. Selected music direction credits: Man of La Mancha (Globe); Mary Poppins, Singin' In The Rain (Capitol Arts Centre & Rainbow Stage); Sweeney Todd, Edwin Drood (Vertigo); The Producers, All Shook Up (Stage West Calgary); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Theatre Calgary); Dreamgirls (Manitoba Theatre Centre/Theatre Aquarius/Stage West Calgary); Urinetown (CanStage). Composer credits: Stratford Festival for 14 seasons, original music for the "Wingfield" series of plays, Much Ado About Nothing (Globe Theatre); creating the musicals 9 Months, 9 Months Two and Adam and Eve. Directing credits: Carousel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood (University of Windsor); Jacques Brel… (National Arts Centre); The Happy Prince (Hermione Presents).

MARK CASSIUS is a versatile performer who has appeared at both Stratford and Shaw Festivals as well as on Broadway, and is perhaps best known for the eight years he toured internationally with the a capella group "The Nylons". Come and play for him and learn what the soloist needs!

Participant (to play)$20.00
To audit (to listen only)$10.00

"What is Freestyle Rap?"

Fri Apr 28, 2023 - 4 - 5:30pm

Did you know that there are two kinds of Freestyle Rap?? With and without instrumental beats?
Let CZN Music's CJ Capital show you how. Try it!

Winners of Canadian Family's Got Talent and the Jim Beam National Talent Search, CZN is a singing group consisting of CJ Capital, Seth Zosky, and Matthew Novary Joseph.

CJ is from Ottawa, Seth is from Toronto and Matthew is from Hamilton. They come from different musical backgrounds which creates an intriguing mix in their sound. They constantly write new music and connect in the industry. CZN has a sound that meshes RnB, Rap and Pop all into one; with catchy hooks and verses that showcase more personal sounds. CZN is starting to grow a real following and has people eager for their new music. Their energetic yet poised stage presence causes audiences to always want more.

Participant$20.00
To audit (to listen only)$10.00

"What is Triple Threat?"

Sat Apr 29, 2023 - Time TBC

if you can sing, act, and dance you may be a triple threat if you're good at all three. Let our coach Mark Cassius polish your skills. Try it!

MARK CASSIUS has been featured on Broadway, in the Original Cast of "Ragtime" and revivals of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Shenandoah". Critically acclaimed performances in Canada, have included, Drayton Entertainment's "Damn Yankees", "The Little Mermaid" and "Sweet Charity". He was also featured in the World Premiere of "Souzatska", the Toronto Premiere of the Off- Broadway Musical, "The Musical of Musicals, (the Musical)", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (with Donny Osmond), "Miss Saigon", "Showboat", "Cats" and seasons at both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals. For eight years, he toured internationally with the world-renowned Pop/A cappella group, "The Nylons". He has been a Music Festival adjudicator for the Kiwanis Festival, up to Provincial level in the Music Theatre category, and is a highly sought-after vocal performance coach. Since 2001, he has been a recurring performance instructor, at The Randolph College for the Performing Arts in Toronto. He has also been a vocal coach in many theatre and music training programs, vocal studios and recording studios in Canada and the United States. Mark is a Music Theatre Performance graduate of Sheridan College and is completing an MA in Music Composition at York University.

Participant$20.00
To audit (to listen only)$10.00