September Events
Photo: Nelson Tagoona
Quick Links
Official Music Events Calendar
General Audience Information
Maps & Directions
Subscribe to Events Emails
Printed Concert Guide
Student Ensembles and Performance Groups
Accessibility
Become a Donor
Location
Western University
WELCOME BACK!
With September comes the return of an exciting concert season at the Don Wright Faculty of Music. We hosted over 400 free public events in 2022/23 and are on track for a similarly packed schedule of incredible performances, workshops, masterclasses, lectures and more for you to enjoy.
Things kick off on a high note this year with our signature Fridays at 12:30 concert series and guest artists the Viano Quartet, one of the most sought-after performing young ensembles today. They'll be joined by Western faculty member Sharon Wei and Scott St. John on violas and David Liam Roberts, cello, for an engaging program of Schoenberg and Mendelssohn.
The following Friday is the start of Homecoming celebrations around campus. Here at the Faculty of Music, the weekend begins with a Fridays at 12:30 concert where we get to enjoy some of the fruits of trumpet faculty member Aaron Hodgson's recent SSHRC Explore Grant research efforts in Brazil. He'll be joined by Nikola Locatelli, trumpet, and Yoland Tapia, piano for Intercâmbio - Brazilian and Canadian Music for Trumpets, a musical exploration of Canadian and Brazilian soundscapes that showcase notable historical voices such as Calixa Lavallée and Santana Gomes alongside contemporary composers including Cait Nishimura and Fernando Morais.
On Homecoming Saturday there is an Alumni Awards Dinner at Somerville House where we'll celebrate new 2023 Music Alumni Wall of Fame inductees. Then on Sunday a special Homecoming concert features 2023 student winners of the Martisa Brookes Concerto Competition accompanied by faculty pianists Kyung Kim and Michael Kim. Performing are Songlee Kim, piano, Madeline Hall, guitar, Daryn Nowlin, voice, and William Kim, percussion.
To help commemorate National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, come join us for a concert with Inuk musician Nelson Tagoona as he artfully combines katajjaq (Inuit throat singing) with beatboxing to form a genre called throat boxing.
If you can't join us in person for any of this month's Fridays at 12:30 concerts, these events will be livestreamed so you can partake at home or on the go.
News and Changes
Our printed concert guide is published in August, with changes, edits and updates to be expected. This month's updates will be listed here:
- [no additions yet]
Last edited August 23, 2023. Always check the official events calendar before visiting for the most up-to-date information.
Behind the Events
September is a fun and intense time for students. Amid the excitement of OWeek they meet classmates and instructors, and audition for ensembles of all kinds, large and small. (Psst -- are you a Western student? Non-music Western students are encouraged to audition, too.) Rehearsals commence swiftly, with public performances getting underway only a handful of weeks later in mid-October.
Everything that goes into producing the year's Operas is already in full swing by mid-September: rehearsals start, sets are being built, lighting and costume preparation is underway. The first of this year's opera productions is Gioachino Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella). We are immensely pleased to be able to once again offer reserved seating for opera performances this year. Book early to select your favourite seat via the Opera at Western page.
September is also when New Horizons Band gets rolling for the fall season. NHB is a popular community outreach program with multiple groups from beginner to advanced, for adults wishing to learn (or re-learn) to play wind or percussion instruments. It's never too late to learn and have fun!
| Next month ► |
Ensemble Auditions
Are you a Western student and play an instrument or sing? All Western students – regardless of major – are eligible to audition for ensembles and opera.
Opera at Western
It's an exciting year for Opera at Western with two upcoming fully-staged productions from Rossini and Britten, and an afternoon opera/musical theatre gala.
New Horizons Band
Do you want to learn (or re-learn) to play wind or percussion instruments? New Horizons Band is a popular community outreach program for adults.
General Event Inquiries
519-661-3767 (during business hours)
musicevents@uwo.ca
Music changes lives. So do our donors. Charitable gifts from music lovers like you provide critical support for student performances and programming. To help us to continue to enrich our community through music, please consider donating.
