With the launch of its inaugural Sounds of Hope season, Music on Union is reclaiming the indoor concert experience and introducing a new concert venue.
Beginning August 6, 12:10 p.m. Music On Union will offer an eight-week series of free, 40-minute, Friday lunchtime concerts in St. James Anglican Church (corner of Union and Barrie). Popular local artist, Spencer Evans, will kick off the season in this new concert venue performing with the Spencer Evans duo.
Music on Union opens up long-awaited performance opportunities for musicians and answers the craving of many music-lovers for the more intimate experience of an indoor concert. Performances will include the jazzy tones of musicians Dave Barton and Paul Morrison, meditative percussion and storytelling from Kyoko Ogoda & Selina Chiarelli, fresh mixes on the accordion from Jan Le Clair, and the classical sounds of the Limestone Trio and pianist Clare Marion.
“COVID hit performance artists pretty hard. Our venues were all closed and our audiences were stuck at home,” said Sue Moore, Secretary-Treasurer of the Kingston Musicians Union, Local 518. “It is hard to make a living when there is nowhere to play and, though live streaming and outdoor concerts are great, there is nothing like the dynamic of a live audience in an indoor venue. The acoustics are different. The whole experience is different – for the artist and the audience member”.
Music On Union brings all three elements together again—reintroducing that special dynamic that comes from a great acoustic environment and the interplay of artist with audience.
Moore conceived Music on Union with Michael Capon, Music Director at St. James Anglican Church. The series takes its name from the location of St. James. While the church doesn’t have an established reputation as a major concert venue it does have many required attributes, including great acoustics and a high-end grand piano. It also boasts proximity to Queen’s and KGH—an important factor for Moore and Capon.
“Music has great wellness benefits”, said Capon. “Universities and Hospitals are high stress environments and Music on Union will be right on their doorstep providing an opportunity for staff and students to destress close to work and in a venue that has proven experience in managing the COVID protocols that will keep them safe.”
The Sounds of Hope tagline for this first season was selected in recognition that life is moving beyond the restrictions of the pandemic into a more hopeful “new normal”.
“We see this a season of new hope,” said Capon. “We chose that tagline as we want the sounds of live-music, experienced indoors by a live-audience, to be part of that new normal.”
Seats are offered free of charge thanks to the generous sponsorship from the little-known, but highly significant, Music Performance Trust Fund (MPTF). Other sponsors include the Kingston Musicians Union, Local 518 and St. James Anglican Church.
This MPTF was a lifeline for many local artists during lockdown, enabling them to live-stream performances. Livestream will also be a feature of the Sounds of Hope series. Moore and Capon recognize this as an important add-on while live-audience seating is limited by public health restrictions and some music-lovers are cautious about returning to the in-person experience.
Further information for the Sounds of Hope season, including seat reservations, a full roster of the eight concerts, and a streaming link, can be found at stjameskingston.ca/concerts.
Additional Sound of Hope concert dates and details.
A live audience of up to 60 people can be accommodated, with appropriate physical distancing. To reserve a free seat visit stjameskingston.ca/concerts, or call 613-548-7254.
The concert will also be live streamed via stjameskingston.ca/concerts. Visit facebook.com/MusicOnUnion.
AUGUST 20
Music on Union presents the Paul Morrison Trio (Piano, Bass, Drums) on Friday 20 August, 12:10-12:50pm, as part of the “Sounds of Hope” concert series. The series of free 40-minute live indoor concerts runs every Friday through 24 September at St James’ Church, 10 Union St in Kingston, sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and St James Church.
Paul’s blend of progressive piano compositions and stellar technique has resonated with Kingston jazz audiences. His trio has Paul Clifford (bass) and Mike Cassells (percussion) backing him. Each of them is a leader of many bands, and all are recognized as masters.
AUGUST 27
Music on Union presents The Limestone Trio (2 violins, cello) on Friday 27 August, 12:10-12:50pm, as part of the “Sounds of Hope” concert series. The series of free 40-minute live indoor concerts runs every Friday through 24 September at St James’ Church, 10 Union St in Kingston, sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and St James Church.
The Kingston-based Limestone Trio is made up of violinists Lisa Draper and Danielle Lennon, and cellist Jeff Hamacher. Their repertoire includes crowd-pleasing arrangements by the likes of Bach, Pachelbel, Dvorak, and others. They each have decades of experience, including performing with the Kingston Symphony and as principal players of the Melos Baroque Orchestra.
SEPTEMBER 3
Music on Union presents pianist Clare Marion on Friday 3 September, 12:10-12:50pm, as part of the “Sounds of Hope” concert series. The series of free 40-minute live indoor concerts runs every Friday through 24 September at St James’ Church, 10 Union St in Kingston, sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund and St James Church.
Clare Marion (formerly Miller) is established internationally, as a steadfast sensitive collaborative artist. Her collaborations include a four-hand duo with Valery Lloyd-Watts, chamber music within Kingston Symphony and Queen’s University, and collaborations with numerous choirs, music theatre groups, and opera companies. For this concert Clare will play music inspired by her piano students, including works by Mozart, Chopin, Debussy & Kabalevsky.
About Music on Union
Music on Union was founded in 2021 to present live music, with a live audience in an indoor setting to the neighbourhood around St. James Anglican Church on Union Street. An initiative of the Kingston Musicians Union, Local 518, supported by St. James and initial sponsor the Music Performance Trust Fund, the Music on Union concert series was a response to the long pandemic-induced drought in both indoor performance opportunities for musicians and the intimate indoor concert experience for music lovers. The series also aims to promote the wellness benefits of music for the nearby hospital and university communities.
Release | photo (credit: Chris Hoare): submitted
