MULTI-GENERATIONAL JOY (IT’S FREE!)

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Dear Friends,

Today I am so very delighted to invite you to a special pre-season concert we can now finally tell you about!

On July 5th at 4PM, a multi-generational force for good will assemble inside Avondale United Church to bring you the music of someone who was “Covid Canceled” - Ludwig van Beethoven. Members present and past with the Montreal, Toronto and Quebec Symphonies bring you a Side-by-Side concert like you’ve never experienced before!

I’ve been involved as a teacher at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada for more than 20 years, and I have seen young talent from across the country use their time at NYO Canada to focus their gifts and go on to productive musical lives serving countless communities across the globe. For the first time ever, select members of their training program will join us in Stratford performing alongside established professionals for an un-conducted (yes, you read that correctly!) performance of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. 

Featured performers include David Hetherington (former assistant principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony), Neal Gripp (former principal violist of the Montreal Symphony), Jacinthe Florand (principal flute with l'Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec), Jeffrey Beecher (principal double bass of the Toronto Symphony), Canadian superstar violinist Erika Raum and myself. It is going to be a joyous afternoon of music - and it is presented free for you! 

We do recommend reserving seats for this one! Here's a link to do so:

If you want to hear how much fun this will be, here's a link to a live performance. (Remember - OUR version won't have a conductor!):

Multiple generations of musicians on stage together focused on a common goal - joy!

Have a great weekend!

Mark and the SSM Team


Supporter Highlight

“We’re both from Stratford and the surrounding area, and this community has shaped us through sports and the arts over the years. Now, seeing our own kids actively involved in the arts, it feels even more important to support it. The arts are a big part of what keeps a community vibrant and always evolving. We want to make sure these opportunities stay accessible for future generations. Stratford is a pretty special place, and it’s our honour to give back in a way that helps keep it that way.”

- Amanda Cortes-Martin & Brock Martin, Magest

Thank you to Magest for sponsoring the upcoming season!

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NEW ADDITIONS: PART THREE