SweetWater Music Festival has announced its full line-up of concerts for 2024, taking place from September 11 to 15, in Owen Sound, Leith, and Meaford.
The theme of this year’s festival is Songs & Serenades, where melodies weave tales of love, longing, and life’s journey. Prepare to be swept away by enchanting harmonies and soul-stirring performances as renowned artists and emerging talents converge to celebrate the power of music. From intimate chamber recitals to captivating choral performances, each event promises an unforgettable experience that resonates long after the final note fades.
Artists performing at SweetWater 2024 include: Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (voice), Michael Gurevich (violin), Matthias McIntire (composer/violin), Rachel Fenlon (voice, piano), Keith Hamm (violin), Julie Hereish (cello), Edwin Huizinga (violin), the Canadian Chamber Choir (voice), Stephanie Morin (alto flute), Aaron Davis (composer, keyboard), Karen Ouzounian (cello), Amy Hillis (violin), Catherine Gray (violin/viola), Dr. Julia Davids (voice), Dr. Joel Tranquilla (voice), Sherryl Sewepagaham (voice).
The Opening Gala of the Festival officially launches on Wednesday, September 11, at 6:30 p.m., with a Gala evening at the Grey Roots Museum.
“I have invited ten of our internationally acclaimed guest artists to join us for this event, some of the most wonderful and thoughtful musicians I know from all over Canada and the United States,” said SweetWater Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga,
That list includes Festival headliner and internationally celebrated soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, one of the foremost Haydn specialists in the world, violinist Michael Gurevich, and SweetWater’s ‘composer in residence’ Matthias McIntire.
The repertoire features Haydn, the godfather of the string quartet repertoire, as well as Rossini and Mozart. There will be hors d’oeuvres and drinks, and an opportunity to socialize with all the visiting artists and celebrate their arrival in our community.
Through the week, there are five ticketed concerts:
Sing Nature Alive: Thursday evening, 7 p.m. at the Harmony Centre in Owen Sound, Rachel Fenlon, a self-accompanying singer-pianist, will perform Sing Nature Alive by Matthias McIntire, the 2024 SweetWater Composer-in-Residence. The piece, enhanced with video and live electronics, passionately portrays a love for nature amidst the climate crisis.
Chamber Music Soiree: Friday evening, SweetWater’s signature Historic Leith Church concert, starts off with Haydn String Quartets, Opus 33 #6. Keith Hamm and Julie Hereish, returning SweetWater favourites, will be joined by a first-time guest violinist Michael Gurevich, one of the foremost Haydn specialists in the world. Edwin Huizinga, our Artistic Director, will also join this fabulous quartet. Measha Brueggergosman-Lee will be singing a glorious piece with the festival strings by Hindemith called Des Todes Tod. The second half of the program will include a new piece by Lembit Beecher, and end with the Schumann String Quartet #3.
Sun on Water: The Canadian Chamber Choir will be showering the Festival with songs and voices at our Saturday 7 p.m. concert at the Georgian Shores United Church. These artists, a 24-person ensemble from all over Canada, will share some of the most beautiful and unique Canadian repertoire for choir.
The Sweetwater festival strings will also be joining the choir for a piece by Sherryl Sewepagaham and Andrea Newman, with special guest Stephanie Morin on alto flute. This is followed by a piece by Edvard Grieg, the Holberg Suite.
Measha Brueggergosman-Lee brings late Saturday night jazz to Owen Sound’s Heartwood Music Hall, (doors open at 9 p.m.) with a performance of Zombie Blizzard, composed by Aaron Davis, inspired by the words of Margaret Atwood and performed by the world-renowned soprano.
The Festival culminates on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Meaford Hall with Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings.
“This one of my favourite pieces on the planet, so bringing it to the Sweetwater audience on our final afternoon concert is incredibly exciting for me. This piece is magic!” said Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga.
Also performing will be the Canadian Chamber Choir, as well as the Canadian premiere of Shorthand by Anna Clyne, a piece for cello and string orchestra that will be performed by Karen Ouzounian. Then there is a world premiere by Matthias McIntire, performing Keep Me By the Fire. Capping off the concert and festival will be Measha Brueggergosman-Lee with a piece by Mozart for strings, choir, and solo voice.
There are also two free noon-hour outdoor concerts:
- A Canadian Chamber Music collaboration with Cree-Dene composer/singer Sherryl Sewepagaham, who will be leading a special free noon hour concert on Saturday September 14.
- Next Wave Showcase on Sunday at noon, introducing some of tomorrow’s emerging stars of classical music, directed by violinist and Next Wave alumna Bridget Walsh and featuring Evelyn Tao, Theodora Koski, and Yusuf Tajbakhsh.
Free community concerts and workshops and events:
- Artist Talk with Matthias McIntire and Rachel Fenlon at 12 p.m. at the Grey Gallery.
- Music for Munchkins at the Harmony Centre Auditorium on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., led by violinist Amy Hillis, designed for children ages 1-5.
- Classical Jam Session (this year we will be playing through the first two movements of the Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, the Andante and the Allegro), at the Harmony Centre Commons Room, at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- The festival’s first ever Choral Jam Session, where anyone 12 and older can join in. It’s a workshop led by Canadian Chamber Choir Artistic Director Dr. Julia Davids, together with other choir members, with warm-ups, stylistically flexible vocal techniques, and a repertoire using Paul Aitken’s highly accessible but hauntingly beautiful Peace Flows Into Me. At the Harmony Centre Auditorium at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
- Luthiers Exhibit, our annual exhibit of local luthiers, some of Canada’s best, celebrating Grey County’s exceptional makers of string instruments and their latest works, played by Festival musicians. At the Harmony Centre at 2 p.m. Saturday.
- A Water Ceremony, another very special first during the festival, in the Peace Garden.
- Sound Journey, a healing meditation. Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m., the Harmony Centre.
Festival Passes and single tickets are available at the Roxy Theatre Box Office, 519-371-2833, and the SweetWater Jamboree tickets are available at Meaford Hall, 519-538-0463.
“SweetWater is grateful for ongoing support of its many private donors, corporate partners, private foundations (especially the Leflar Foundation), and key public funders (Canadian Heritage, Government of Ontario, Ontario Arts Council, Municipality of Meaford, Meaford Culture Foundation, and the Grey Bruce Community Foundation),” said organizers.
For more information visit www.sweetwatermusicfestival.ca
