Festival of the Sound facts for kids
The Festival of the Sound is an exciting yearly classical music festival. It happens every summer, from July to August, in a beautiful town called Parry Sound, which is in Ontario, Canada.
The festival brings together amazing musicians from Canada and all over the world. They perform classical music every day for about three weeks. It's a great chance to hear wonderful live music!
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How the Festival Started
The Festival of the Sound began in 1979. It was started by a talented musician named Anton Kuerti. He was the first artistic director, which means he was in charge of choosing the music and performers.
For many years, the festival took place in the auditorium of Parry Sound High School. But in 2003, a brand new building opened in Parry Sound. It was called the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts. Since then, the festival has been held in this modern and special venue.
Amazing Musicians and Groups
Many famous musicians have performed at the Festival of the Sound over the years. Imagine hearing some of the best in the world!
Some of the incredible singers who have performed include Russell Braun, Mary Lou Fallis, Richard Margison, and Patricia O'Callaghan.
You might also have heard of these fantastic instrumentalists:
- Yo-Yo Ma (cello)
- Judy Loman (harp)
- James Ehnes (violin)
- Ofra Harnoy (cello)
- Pinchas Zukerman (violin)
- Michel Strauss (cello)
- Joel Quarrington (double bass)
- János Starker (cello)
And the pianists who have graced the stage include Menahem Pressler, Angela Hewitt, Martin Roscoe, Alexander Tselyakov, Janina Fialkowska, André Laplante, and Jan Lisiecki.
Sometimes, the festival even features other types of music, like pop and jazz. Performers like Catherine McKinnon, Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, and Dizzy Gillespie have played there.
Many well-known music groups have also performed. These include:
- The New Zealand String Quartet
- The St. Lawrence String Quartet
- The Tokyo String Quartet
- The Brodsky Quartet
- The Gryphon Trio
- The Beaux Arts Trio
Large orchestras like the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada have also played. Choirs have also been a part of the festival, such as the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Elmer Iseler Singers, and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.
Who Leads the Festival Now?
Since 1984, James Campbell has been the artistic director of the Festival of the Sound. He is a talented clarinet player and helps decide which musicians will perform and what music they will play.
Recent Festival Highlights
The festival always ends with a special performance. For example, the 2014 festival finished with Beethoven's amazing Symphony No. 9. It was led by conductor James Sommerville and featured the Elmer Iseler Singers and soloists like Russell Braun.
In 2015, the festival closed with a concert that included Ludwig van Beethoven's "Emperor Concerto" for piano and Antonín Dvořák's "From the New World" Symphony. This performance featured pianist Stewart Goodyear and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, conducted by Boris Brott.
