Guelph Musicfest 2024 presents the Jerzy Kaplanek Jazz Quartet

Event Description

Internationally-renowned violinist Jerzy Kaplanek has established himself as a chamber musician, member of the celebrated Penderecki String Quartet, soloist, dedicated teacher, adjudicator, artistic director of QuartetFest and lately as a jazz violinist.

With his sublime, soulful sound, the Kaplanek Quartet will explore a combination of jazz standards and originals. They will introduce us to the varied and powerful tunes by iconic jazz violinists Jean-Luc Ponty, Didier Lockwood, Zbigniew Seifert and Adam Baldych. Spend an evening at the Jazz Room going on this musical journey with Kaplanek as he brings the high-powered jazz-fusion vibe that suits his violin playing so perfectly.

Jerzy is joined by Anthony D’Alessandro (piano), Mark Godfrey (bass) and Ian Wright (drums).
For the “warm-up” act, Mr. Kaplanek is joined by pianist Ken Gee in Ravel’s Sonata no. 1 for violin and piano, opus posthumous.

Enjoy this concert in the beautiful Recital Hall of the Guelph Youth Music Centre with its amazing acoustics. In-person concert with reserved seating and also online streaming. More information... https://www.guelphmusicfest.ca/jerzykaplanekquartet.html

Venue Information - Guelph Youth Music Centre

The Guelph Youth Music Centre is a unique non-profit community music and arts facility that educates, enriches and fosters the development of our youth through music and the arts. It is the home of the Suzuki String School of Guelph, Guelph School of Music, string youth orchestras, dance and theatre companies and more. The GYMC features a beautiful Recital Hall which is designed for chamber music and other concerts, offering perfect acoustics in an intimate venue created largely with stone walls and wood floor and stage.

The history of the Guelph Youth Music Centre began in 1981 as the result of a search for a permanent physical facility for the Suzuki String School of Guelph, and when the focus of that initiative was broadened to encompass the many performing arts activities for children and young people that occur within the city. The Guelph Youth Centre was established in 1992, and over $300,000 from two decades of fundraising by the SSSG was given to the Guelph Youth Music Centre.

The enthusiasm and dedication surrounding this unique community project convinced the City of Guelph to purchase a dramatic post and beam building in 1995 and, after 6 years of renovations, the facility opened in September, 2001. The organization’s efforts have been recognized as an outstanding community project through major grants and donations from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Carolyn Sifton Foundation, the Rotary Club of Guelph Foundation, the Homewood Corporation, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Dupont Canada, and the Suzuki String School of Guelph, as well as generous support of local corporations and individuals.

The Guelph Youth Music Centre also received special tribute by the judges of the 1999 National Communities in Bloom competition at which the city of Guelph took First Place. Specifically, the extraordinary amount of volunteer effort in the construction of the facility was noted. In fact, it is estimated that over 20,000 hours was contributed by more than 100 volunteers towards the completion of this project. Currently 200 volunteers contribute over 7,000 hours annually in assisting with the operations and programming of the facility.

The Centre is used by more than 2,000 children and their families on a weekly basis and directly benefits 18,000 additional area residents annually through community concerts, events and activities. Visit https://gymc.ca