Vancouver Symphony Presents Musically Speaking Concert

Superb Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear performs Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F Major, and VSO Principal Cellist Lee Duckles performs the Canadian Premiere of the beautiful Kernis Air for Cello and Orchestra. In addition, the orchestra performs the world premiere of VSO Associate Principal Trumpet Marcus Goddard's newly commissioned piece, I Send Only Angels.

A celebration of American music, with a Canadian twist, this Copeman Healthcare Clinic Musically Speaking and North Shore Classics concert also features the music of Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, in addition to Kernis and Gershwin.

A native of Toronto who studied in Juilliard and with the great Leon Fleisher, Stewart Goodyear is a lyrical and elegant pianist whose star is on the rise. Mr. Goodyear performs with major orchestras around the world, and in addition to being a sterling performer, he has become an accomplished composer: his first large-scale work for orchestra "Caribbiana" was commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and received its premiere performances in March, 2005 in concerts conducted by Vassily Sinaisky, and a new work for chorus was premiered by the Nathaniel Dette chorale of Canada in Toronto (June 2005).

Marcus Goddard is the Associate Principal Trumpet with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and has performed with Vancouver New Music, Standing Wave, the Vancouver Opera, the CBC Orchestra and the VSO Brass Quintet, and is also a member of the Turning Point Ensemble. In addition to performing a wide range of repertoire, Marcus has also received many commissions for his compositions in Canada and the United States. He composed and produced the score to the film, Breakfast at Sharkey's, and has composed a series of chamber works for young players in the Quiring Chamber Music School. While at Indiana University, Marcus worked collaboratively with choreographers Amy Allen and Nick Wheeler to compose two modern dance works called Red Orchard and Serenity through a Window.

Lee Duckles is the VSO's Principal Cellist. In addition, Mr. Duckles has enjoyed an association with the Vancouver Academy of Music, The University of British Columbia, the Vancouver New Music Society (a founding performer), the Masterpiece Music Series, the Encore Piano Trio, The Vancouver Chamber Players and the contemporary music ensemble Days, Months, & Years to Come. He has recorded for the CBC, both as a performer and arranger, the Musical Heritage Society of America, Heliodor Records, and most recently, Skylark Records, with the salon music ensemble, Viveza. He is currently the president of the Vancouver Cello Club.

The concert will take place on Saturday, February 3, 8pm, at Orpheum Theatre and Monday, February 5, 8pm, at Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver. -- www.vancouversymphony.ca