PIANO CONCERT SERIES
CONCERT ARTISTS
PROFILES
by Robin Munro
GEORGE
ELLIOTT CLARKE
Librettist
"TRUDEAU
- LONG MARCH / SHINING PATH"
George Elliott Clarke was born in Windsor,
Nova Scotia in 1960, a seventh-generation Canadian of African-American
and Mi'kmaq Amerindian heritage. Throuhout his education, Clarke earned
a B.A. honours in English from the University of Waterloo in 1984;
an M.A. in English from Dalhousie University in 1989 and a Ph.D. in
English from Queen's University in 1993. Before joining the academic
profession Clarke was employed in a variety of occupations: parliamentary
aide in the House of Commons, Ottawa, 1987-91; newspaper editor in
Halifax and then Waterloo, social worker in Halifax,1985-86; and legislative
researcher for the Ontario Legislature, 1982-83.
Clarke still writes a column for
the Halifax Herald and is a freelance contributor to numerous publications.
In addition to being a poet, playwright and literary critic, George
Elliott Clarke was appointed the E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian
Literature at the University of Toronto in 2003. He taught English
and Canadian Studies at Duke University (1994-1999). During 1998-99
he was appointed the Visiting Seagrams Chair in Canadian Studies at
McGill University, then became professor of English at the University
of Toronto in 1999.
As a writer George Elliott Clarke
has published in a variety of genres: verse collections, Saltwater
Spirituals and Deeper Blues (1983), and Lush Dreams, Blue Exile (1994);
a verse-novel, Whylah Falls (1990 & 2000); two verse plays, Whylah
Falls: The Play (1999 & 2000), and Beatrice Chancy (1999). His
opera Beatrice Chancy, with music by James Rolfe, has had four stage
productions and a broadcast on CBC television. This powerful opera
about slavery in the Nova Scotia of the early 1800s won great reviews
and enthusiastic audiences. He wrote the screenplay for the feature
film, One Heart Broken Into Song (Director, Clement Virgo, 1999).
The verse play, Whylah Falls, was staged in Venice in Italian (2002).
Clarke continues to publish poetry with Provençal Songs (1993
& 1997), Gold Indigoes (2000), Blue (2001) and Illuminated Verse
(2005). His Execution Poems (2001) won the Governor General's Award
for Poetry. Clarke has been instrumental in promoting the work of
writers of African descent,
especially those from Nova Scotia. In 2002 he published Odysseys Home:
Mapping African-Canadian Literature.
The works of George Elliott
Clarke have won awards in addition to critical recognition. Among
these are the Portia White Prize for Artistic Achievement from the
Nova Scotia Arts Council, a Bellagio Center Fellowship in 1998, the
Outstanding Writer in Film and Television Award in 2000 and three
honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Laws degree (Dalhousie University,
1999), a Doctor of Letters degree (University of New Brunswick, 2000)
and Doctor of Letters from the University of Alberta in 2005. He was
given the Martin Luther King Jr. Achievement Award in 2004, and the
Pierre Elliott Trudeau Fellows Prize in 2005. He earned the Distinguished
Teaching Award, the Black Alumni Association, Faculty Achievement
Award and the Undergraduate Teaching Award - all at the University
of Toronto in 2005. Planet Africa TV gave him the Planet Africa Renaissance
Award in 2005.
George Elliott Clarke has been an invited speaker to conferences and
universities around the world.
In October, 2006, Clarke was appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia,
and received an
Honorary Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of
Waterloo.
CENTRE STAGE IN
HERITAGE PARK
CONCERT ARTISTS
PROFILES
THE
CARLOS DEL JUNCO BAND
"Rather
like........Nicolo Pagannini"
That one
tiny little instrument could so dominate the emotions and
captivate the imagination of a multitude of music lovers is
the hallmark of a virtuoso. That one man should be capable
of surrounding himself with the top echelon of Canadian
instrumentalists and accompanists reflects his brilliance as
an Artist and the profound degree of respect with which he
is held.
In
response to the oft-repeated query, "Is Carlos coming back
again this year?", The Hohner Harmonica World Champion in
Jazz and Blues returns to our City for another musical
love-fest with his legion of enthusiastic fans.
Originally
from Cuba - "del Junco" translates into "of the reeds" -,
Carlos del Junco has made his home in Canada, and he has
made an enormous mark on the Canadian and international
music scene. Playing the harmonica since age 14, Carlos
developed a unique technique in creating his own inimitable
style. Applying this consummate command of the instrument to
his abundant creativity, diverse musical interests, whimsy
and sense of fun, del Junco is the most engaging and
awe-inspiring of performing Artists.
His new C.D., "Blues
Mongrel ", is a return to his earlier works such as "Big Boy" and
his début live album - which were both collections of primarily
Blues-based material - while maintaining that characteristic del Junco
soulfulness. It is an "eclectic mixture of music," describes del Junco,
"designed to reach out and expand into new markets." On the playlist
of many radio stations, this latest recording is filled with instrumentals
with strong Latin influences; a few Jazz standards with vocals by
pop vocalist Jane Siberry; some incredible guitar work by Kevin Breit;
all of which allows Carlos to expand his musical horizons and challenge
the very limits of his instrument. Rather like the what the great
genius of the violin, Nicolo Paganini, is so renowned for.
THE CARLOS DEL JUNCO BAND PERFORMS IN THE FESTIVAL FINALE
CONCERT.
MORE TO
COME..............
