Music at Sharon Co-Artistic Directors, Rick Phillips and Larry Beckwith
I went on a field trip yesterday!! I looove field trips.
I went with Rick Phillips, who was one of my favourite things about CBC Radio, before Sound Advice was sadly/horrifically/tragically taken off-air. Without fail, I’d tune in to listen to Rick’s take on the latest recordings, and always try and guess how many stars he’d assign, out of five. (My mother, who seems to recall every music theory mark her students ever received, distinctly recalls Rick giving the Gryphon Trio five stars).
I also met Larry Beckwith, Artistic Director of Toronto Masque Theatre, violinist, and music teacher at Unionville High School. Anybody who teaches music is in my good books! Rick and Larry are the new Co-Artistic Directors of the Music at Sharon Festival.
Rick Phillips, moi, and Larry Beckwith inside Sharon Temple
Yesterday we travelled up to Newmarket to sit in on a church service to meet the community and tell them about the festival, happening at nearby Sharon Temple. Rick and Larry sang in the choir, and Larry and played violin with church pianist and music teacher, Bob Leonard. All I can say is I behaved myself during the whole service!
Choir members look so innocent.
Larry Beckwith and Bob Leonard in action.
After the service, Rick and Larry met with the congregation and talked about the festival coming up:
June 6: The gorgeous Wallis Giunta, mezzo-soprano, in recital with pianist Stephen Philcox.
June 13: Ensemble Polaris featuring the music of cold countries, including Canada!
June 20: Tokai String Quartet; pianist Anton Kuerti joins in for Schumann’s Piano Quintet in Eb (the kind of piece that makes you feel thrilled to be alive).
June 27: Alexander Seredenko, piano superwhiz, in a solo recital. Includes Chopin’s Four Scherzi.
July 4: Les Voix Baroques featuring Baroque composers Crissimi and Cherpentier. Artistic Director and countertenor Matthew White (who loves beer and nachos after Messiah gigs) appears with Toronto hot soprano Shannon Mercer and harpsichordist Alex Weimann.
All performers are encouraged to make the most use of the temples amazing acoustics. The set up is “egalitarian” in that there is no altar, per se; it’s square-shaped inside, with this big, squat cabinet in the middle where a large book rests (the Bible presumably) on a bit chaise cushion thing (where personally I’d like to drape myself).
Rick, Larry and I walked around, seeing where patrons would picnic pre-concert, and meet the artists post. I read up on David Willson, the founder of a brief religious sect that lead to the building of the temple in the early 1800’s. He was kicked out by the Quakers for his focus on music (any music-loving rebel is all right!), and formed his own group, the Children of Peace. When I first heard this, I thought of a weird California cult or some plural marriage society or something. I relaxed when I leard the Children of Peace – “Davidites” – focus on ceremony (an occasion to dress up! ), music, and practical education. Sounds good to me. There was also some focus on the mysticism of the Quakers, which also appeals to this west coast-raised gal.
The small study (or re-creation of) where David Willson read, thought, pondered ...
If you want to escape the city and check out some beautiful music, here’s what you need to know:
Sharon Temple is a beautiful National Historic Site located just north of Newmarket. An intimate 230-seat venue, the Sharon Temple is renowned for its acoustics, architectural ambience, and the serene beauty of the surroundings.
Directions to 18974 Leslie Street, Sharon, Ontario: Take Highway 404 north to its end. Turn left (west) on Green Lane for 1 km. Turn right (north) on Leslie for 2 km.
The Sharon Temple is on the west side. There is ample free parking.
General admission tickets: 416 872 4255, or online at www.roythomson.com.
$45-$35 or $165 for a 5-concert subscription.
See you there!
