By Joanne Rodgers, Bruce Peninsula Press
Music lovers could not stop gushing about the amazing week of music hosted by Lion’s Head Summer Music (LHSM). Over three years, this music concert series has continued to thrill audiences, with music goers complimenting the highly skilled musicians, the wide repertoire of classical and contemporary music, with comments such as “incredible event”, “outstanding for such a tiny village”, and “as good as Broadway’’.
The Annual Lion’s Head Summer Music returned to the Harbourside Stage for its third year hosting five evenings of music from July 29 to August 2, 2024. There were performances from a concert band, a woodwind quintet, string orchestra, string ensemble and two choirs. The performers shared childhood memories and personal experiences as musicians along with stories of the songs’ origins and their composers.
Georgian Bay Woodwind Quintet
Opening night featured the Georgian Bay Woodwind Quintet with Meryl Gillmore (flute), Rob Tite (clarinet), Paige Michel Fox (French horn), Sterling MacNay (bassoon) and Heather Willmes (oboe).
The musicians came together in 2005 to provide music for a church service and have been performing together ever since. They have entertained audiences in Southampton, Owen Sound, Markdale, and performed with the Georgian Bay Symphony, the Southampton Concert Band and Cricket Vocal Ensemble. It was their first time performing at LHSM and they were pleased to be invited to play on Opening Night.
The Quintet opened the performance with the theme song from the animated TV series “The Simpsons.” They dedicated their arrangement of the popular song “The Entertainer ‘’ to one of LHSM’s organizers Chris Robinson. Other well-known songs performed were Disney’s “The Beauty and the Beast” and Pixar’s “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”. Classical music was represented by Johann Strauss’ lively and energetic composition “Perpetual Motion”. Canadian-related content included “Dance Variations” by Zaninelli who was a former composer-in-residence at the University of Calgary and the Banff School of Fine Arts; Owen Sound-based J. Scott Irvine “Morning Song” and “Caprice” by Canadian graduate of University of Western Ontario Jeff Smallman.
Southampton Concert Band
On July 30, returning for its third year at LHSM was the Southampton Concert Band. The band comprises brass, woodwind and percussion players and is led by musical director John Wills. The band was started in 2003 by a music teacher to encourage parents of students in the Southampton/Port Elgin area to become more familiar with the music played by their kids. Wills has been the conductor since 2016. He says some of the current members have been in the band since inception.
The 26+ member band offered a full evening program called “Movie Memories”. The performance of movie songs from the 1940s to 2000s included well known tunes from Mary Poppins, Schindler’s List, Pink Panther, Apollo 13, Braveheart, Titanic, The Magnificent Seven, Cats and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Ostertag Ensemble
On day 3 of LHSM classical music lovers were treated to the musical talents of cellist Sebastian Ostertag, violinists Hee-Soo Yoon and Eric Kim-Fujita, and Dominik Franken, viola.
Ostertag, who grew up in Owen Sound, has been performing with Yoon and Kim-Fujita on and off for about three years. The trio is currently based in Toronto. Franken is Northern Bruce’s well-recognized viola player and co-organizer of this event.
The first piece performed was Mozart String Quartet No.17, which Franken says is his absolute favorite and one he has played on numerous occasions with his family growing up. Ostertag played an Allemande from the J.S Bach solo cello suites which he explained that he had received as a gift from his parents when he was 11 years old. He has played and replayed the suite, he says “it never gets old”.
The audience was especially wowed by Kim-Fujita’s arrangement of music by Astor Piazzola, a jazz musician and composer who blended his compositions with the traditional music of Buenos Aires. Franken describes Kim-Fujita’s arrangement of Oblivion as one of the best he has ever heard.
Two Choirs
On August 1, two local Choirs, The Spirit Singers and the Ladies of Note entertained concert goers.
The Spirit Singers have been in existence for 35 years. Music director Vicki Corcoran invites anyone who lives in the area and can carry a tune to come join the choir. The choir’s performance was a “little bit of country” and included music by John Denver, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, Merle Travis, LeeAnn Womack and Martina McBride.
The Ladies of Note performed 1960’s songs such as “Scarborough Fair”, music by Patsy Cline, and a musical Motown melodies of “Stop! In The Name of Love”, “My Baby Love”, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “Mr Postman.”
Rosin Dust and guests
On the final night patrons were entertained by the Rosin Dust Community Orchestra, a String Ensemble from Owen Sound with guest artist Sarah Pratt-Parsamian. The concert goers thoroughly enjoyed the performances of music composed by Telemann, Vivaldi and Elgar.
The performance was dedicated to cellist Carol Mulder and on stage was her yellow cello case. Mulder played a leadership role with Rosin Dust and was a co-organizer for LHSM concert series and a member of the popular Trio Garagio (with Franken and Robinson).
The audience was happy to welcome back New York based violinist Sarah Pratt-Parsamian who has performed at LHSM for the past three years and never fails to thrill the audience with her talents. She also hosts an annual classical music concert series “Music on the Bruce”. For more info on this series, see https://www.musiconthebruce.com/schedule
Working on a “shoestring budget”, organizers Dominik Franken and Chris Robinson have continued to organize great evening entertainment which is free and accessible for everyone. This year LHSM received some funding from Community Foundation Grey Bruce, which together with generous donations from the audience, made the event possible.
Franken thanked Judith Friend and Gerry Gregory of Lion’s Head who hosted the musicians in their beautiful garden for a light supper between rehearsals and performances. Franken also thanked the Municipality for the use of the stage and park facilities, and for use of the Rotary Hall, as the rain venue.
