Thursday, March 30, 2006

A Visit to CMC Amsterdam

CMC Executive Director Elisabeth Bihl found some time out of her vacation schedule last week to drop into the CMC's satellite office in Amsterdam at the Muziekgebouw - the city's newest music venue. During her quick visit, Elisabeth managed to meet with Jan Wolff (Muziekgebouw's General Director) and Henk Heuvelmans (Director, Gaudeaumus Contemporary Music Center).

We are very fortunate to have a presence in this very important world capital for contemporary music. For more information on our activities in Amsterdam visit www.musiccentre.ca/ams.cfm.

This staff member is more than a bit jealous and can't wait for
ANY opportunity to make a visit to the CMC's international office!

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Contemporary Canadian music hits the online airwaves!

Thanks to the efforts of Richard Truhlar - CMC's Distribution Services Manager & Centrediscs Producer - contemporary Canadian music can now be heard online at radioio (www.radioio.com/radioioclassical.php) and MTM Radio (www.mtmradio.ca).

How great was it the other day to hear works by Robert Turner, Stephen Chatman and Jean Papineau-Couture played back to back on radioio this past Monday?! When was the last time you heard that on traditional radio?

Radioio offers users the option of listening to streaming music from a number of genres including a "station" devoted entirely to classical music. When we sent samples of our Centredisc recordings they reacted so favourably that these discs were immediately added to their playlists. They've even asked for more Centredisc recordings!

MTM Radio is based out of Quebec and is dedicated to playing contemporary music with a focus on the avante garde and musique actuelle. Some of our recordings have recently made it onto their playlists as well!

Check these online radio stations out...happy listening!

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Happy 93rd Birthday John Weinzweig!

As this is the first blog of The SCORE (a premiere of sorts...) it is only appropriate that it document the 93rd birthday of CMC founder John Weinzweig, which was celebrated at his residence on Saturday, March 11th.

Beyond the word founder, other words come to mind when thinking of John - creator, teacher, mentor, and visionary are only a few.

John celebrated his birthday in the company of family (including his wife Helen and his son Daniel), his friends and his colleagues. The afternoon began with performances of some of Weinzweig's chamber works provided by several talented students from Earl Haig Secondary School and concluded with a cake that I can assure you John thoroughly enjoyed.

Happy 93rd John! We owe you much.

(photo of John Weinzweig and John Beckwith by John S. Gray)