Christ Church Windermere welcomes summer music series
WINDERMERE — Worshippers are in a for a treat this summer at the Christ Church here.
Martin Luther Wayne Strongman, one of Canada’s most distinguished music directors, will bring his talent and vast musical experience to Muskoka throughout July and August.
Strongman has held major church music director positions and is currently at Rosedale United Church, Toronto, where he has established one of the most eclectic professional choirs in Canada, authentically delivering week by week over nearly 30 years, folk, rock, world music, spirituals, contemporary and major classical works.
This summer, Strongman brings his skills and guest artists to help the vibrant Christ Church congregation achieve its goals: to reach the wider summer community with a stimulating program of events and services that will enrich the spiritual life of the community.
Canada Day on the Windermere Dock will herald Strongman’s Muskoka debut. He will orchestrate a “Harbour Symphony,” involve guest musicians at the 10:30 a.m. dock service, and launch the Gazebo Concert Series, following Lunch in the Garden at Christ Church, with his guests Maria Soulis, mezzo-soprano and Jim Thomas, jazz flautist.
Two other Gazebo Concerts are planned for Aug 4 and 14.
“Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God” – Martin Luther
Other credits to Strongman’s illustrious career include: founding artistic director of Tapestry Opera and one of 50 Canadian Ambassadors for New Music by the Canadian Music Centre.
He is also currently musical adviser to the Shoestring Opera, and choral director for music at the Towers in Brampton, a new program offering vocal instruction to new Canadians and an introduction to the Canadian experience through children’s choral music.
Strongman received the Order of Canada in 2012 for his innovative leadership of Tapestry and his volunteer work with the Regent Park School of Music.
Gazebo Concert Guest Artists
MARIA SOULIS (mezzo-sosprano) began her career as a principal artist with the Regensburg Opera in Germany and went on to sing in theatres throughout Europe.
Her voice has been praised as “gorgeous, dusky-toned” and being “full of warmth and drama.”
In Canada, she has appeared as a soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, (Kingston Symphony and Windsor Symphony), Dvorak’s Requiem (Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony), Handel’s Messiah (Aradia Ensemble) and Bach’s St. John Passion (Ottawa’s Thirteen Strings).
Recent highlights include Elgar’s Sea Pictures with Orchestra Toronto, the role of Clara in the world premiere of Oksana G with Tapestry Opera (nominated for seven Doras), and the Mayor’s Wife in Pacific Opera’s Jenufa, directed by Atom Egoyan.
An avid recitalist, Soulis has an extensive song repertoire that spans the English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Greek languages. She can be heard on the Juno-nominated Naxos CD “Vivaldi – Sacred Music” with Kevin Mallon and Aradia Ensemble.
JIM THOMAS has been playing jazz and classical flute for many years. He began as a classically-trained musician and has evolved over the years to focus on jazz because of his love of improvisation and playing melodic jazz pieces.
His performances include those with TranzitionzJazz – a band that he started two years ago and a range of jazz gigs with singers and bands in Palm Springs and Naples.
More recently Thomas has expanded his musical interests to vocal (bass) performances with Rosedale United Church choir, The Jazz Project, a fresh and exciting new jazz choir on the Toronto scene. He is also part of the VOCA Chorus of Toronto and Kingsway Lambton United Church choir.
Christ Church, Windermere on Lake Rosseau, Muskoka, has offered year-round services in the Anglican tradition since 1904.
For more details: www.christchurchwindermere.ca
Contacts: The Rev. Robert Clubbe (705) 732-4000 [email protected]
Susan Benson, Chair, 2018 Artist-In-Residence Chair [email protected]
Wayne Strongman, 2018 Director of Music-In-Residence [email protected]
Other Important Dates – Christ Church, Windermere
- Strawberry Social, Windermere Community Centre Saturday, June 23 1-4 p.m.
- Holy Crap Sale, Church Garden – Saturday, July 14 9 a.m. to noon
- Heritage Sunday – August 12 visit by The Rt. Rev. Anne Germond, 11th Bishop Diocese Algoma
