RE-WILDING
BUY TICKETS | DONATE | 2026 RAFFLE TICKETS
Dear Friends,
Over a decade ago now, when living for a while in California, the topic of "re-wilding" gardens was all the rage amongst my colleagues at Stanford University. It seemed like if you weren't re-wilding just about everything on your property, you were somehow behind the times. Fast forward to a few years back (and living back in Ontario), my wife and I decided to have a gardener take a look at our front and back yards. His thoughts? Re-wilding, of course! The man in question took great pride in doing everything he could to educate us on what was and what wasn't native to the area. He had recently retired from a position with the World Wildlife Fund and was quite happy to spend time helping us re-do — re-wild — our property!
Fast forward: that man is Pete, of Pete and Anna fame! He's a musician (something I had no clue of when we first had him start digging into the grass in front of our house) and, alongside Anna, will be with us this summer as part of our Family Concerts Series (free of charge!) held at the Stratford-Perth Museum. Here's a link with more info for that performance:
This past Wednesday we had an incredible performance of "re-wilded" Vivaldi at the Avondale United Church. The world-famous Ensemble Caprice treated us to a world of sound that put the classic qualities of Vivaldi side-by-side with folk traditions of the early 1700’s for a performance that left a deep mark on this listener's ears.
As was explained from the stage on Wednesday night, Vivaldi would travel through parts of eastern Europe and stop in small villages, hearing local folk music and then "jam" with them, in turn offering them his own musical compositions. Played side by side in that fashion, it is certainly a type of re-wilding for the classics (I loved it if you can't tell). You can experience some of this magic in the video below, which appears dated visually but maintains their fresh sound, reinvigorating these compositions over 300 years after their creation.
And if you missed the announcement over the weekend, we've added another very special event to the summer calendar - chanteuse Holly Cole will be with us in July! Tickets are already selling fast, so jump on this today!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Mark and the SSM Team
Join the Ensemble of Support
Join us as we continue our commitment to enriching the arts in Stratford!
Monthly donations are vital in creating a reliable, ongoing source of revenue that helps sustain Stratford Summer Music year-round. By becoming a monthly donor you provide steady support that allows us to plan ahead, support artists, and continue delivering exceptional musical experiences to our community.
With a gift at a level that works for you, monthly giving is a simple and meaningful way to make an impact. Your support helps bring world-class musicians to Stratford, nurture emerging talent, and ensure that inspiring live music continues to thrive for years to come. Join the Ensemble of Support today and be part of the community that keeps the music playing. For more information, contact fundraising@stratfordsummermusic.ca