Canmore’s own Breanna Temple is returning to the stage in her hometown for one of the most popular concerts in the Live on 7th lineup.
Canada’s Rising Stars with Susanne Ruberg-Gordon will feature, for the first time, a homegrown talent on its stage.
Temple, currently studying voice at the University of Western Ontario for her master’s degree, performed in Canmore for the first time last summer, with Ruberg-Gordon as her accompanist and is looking forward to being in Canmore again.
“It’s nice to have a concert of this style in Canmore rather than Banff, for a change,” Temple said from London, Ontario.
She will be performing pieces that she is already working on for her degree, as well as collaborations with Ruberg-Gordon on piano and the other rising stars, two young cellists from Vancouver and Calgary.
“It’s nice to be able to work with good musicians,” she said.
Temple is especially looking forward to singing a piece by Liszt; a piece that won her first place in a competition in November.
For Ruberg-Gordon, Temple was a natural choice, especially after performing with her last year.
“To me, she’s very promising and an absolute delight to work with,” said Ruberg-Gordon.
Although Canada’s Rising Stars has frequently featured younger performers, singers are different because voices don’t mature until the mid-20’s, making it a perfect time for Temple to appear on this stage.
Performing alongside Temple and Ruberg-Gordon are two young cellists from Western Canada – Paul van der Sloot of Calgary and Tate Zawadiuk of Vancouver.
Zawadiuk, 13, started playing cello 10 years ago and has already participated in a number of competitions and concerts.
He won the 2010 Burnaby Clef concerto competition for musicians aged 12 to 23 and performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he travels to Calgary twice a month to study under John Kadz, one of North America’s premier cello teachers, at the Mount Royal University Conservatory.
“He’s absolutely captivating,” said Ruberg-Gordon, adding that Zawadiuk’s performances typically prompt spontaneous standing ovations. “People just fly out of their chairs.
“They can’t get enough.”
Van der Sloot, 16, was born in Medicine Hat, and currently lives in Calgary and also studies cello with Kadz at Mount Royal. Van der Sloot started studying cello when he was seven years old and has won a number of awards and scholarships throughout his young career.
He’s the third of five siblings to appear at the Canada’s Rising Starts concert but his playing has really caught Ruberg-Gordon’s attention this year.
“He has just exploded this year as far as ability and grasp of musicality and interpretation,” she said. “He’s just so incredibly natural and people love listening to him.”
Canada’s Rising Stars concert will feature both solo and group pieces, with each performer getting a chance to shine on their own and collaborate with the other musicians.
Ruberg-Gordon has been on faculty at the MRU Conservatory since 1991 where she is the coordinator of Collaborative Pianists and teaches chamber music. She also tours extensively, so it’s nice to be a part of something close to home, especially for such a well-received concert.
“The performers that come out to this concert are blown away by the warmth and wonderful reception they get from the audience here,” she said.
This concert is important to both the performers and the community, Ruberg-Gordon believes. These young professionals get a lot out of playing in front of an informed and appreciative audience.
“Music is meant to be shared and when you’re young, there’s nothing more important than the ability to feel that exchange of energy between a good audience and yourself,” she said.
Adding that it’s also an opportunity to inspire young people in the community by hearing young musicians, Ruberg-Gordon is thrilled that such accomplished young performers will be sharing the stage with her.
“These kids are incredibly good at what they do.”
Canada’s Rising Stars is part of the Live on 7th concert series. The concert is on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Second Story Used Books in Canmore.
