Composer Showcase – Conference 2024
A special session at this year’s SRMTA conference was given to four Saskatchewan composers to showcase their work. Here is a taste of what they presented:
As a composer, performer and educator, Brianna Levesque has been extensively involved in the music community of Regina, Saskatchewan. From a young age, she has had the opportunity to pursue musical training in voice, piano and flute through the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto. Currently, Brianna directs the choirs at Winston Knoll Collegiate High School while she also pursues her Masters degree in Choral Conducting at the University of Regina, under the direction of Dr. Melissa Morgan. Her most recently commissioned work Above The Clouds was premiered in April 2024 by the University of Regina Choirs. Its hopeful and positive message, lyrical melody, and various instrument parts combine to create an inspiring and uplifting performance experience for the singers and listeners alike. Discover more of Brianna’s music at briannalevesque.com.
Heather Godden Waldner presented Rails and Waves, a collection of six pieces, levels 5-8, all portraying trains or watercraft. The pieces Sailboats at Dusk, Thunderboats, and Scenes from a Canoe help students learn to develop a broad range of dynamics, coloring, rubato and forward flow to create dramatic imagery. Some less familiar terms such as rinforzando, sciolto and calcando are introduced. Toy Train, Freight Train, and Passengers, All Aboard! create strong railway scenes while including technical challenges such as light and buoyant left hand chords, and a black key glissando. heatherlaliberte.com
Lynette Sawatsky is excited to introduce her new duet collection: Meet Me At The Piano 2. This book features unequal duet parts with (advanced) intermediate secondos and elementary primos. Her goal in writing these pieces was to create repertoire for beginner students to play with a partner that will make them feel accomplished and musical. The pieces in this collection blend folk tunes with well-loved classical melodies in new arrangements that are sure to please the ear of the elementary players, as well as their duet partners. She had a lot of fun crafting these pieces and hopes that you will experience joy as you meet at the piano and create music together.
Lynette wishes to thank all who use her music in their studios. You can discover more at lynettesawatsky.com or listen at youtube.com
Janet Gieck presented music from her brand new early advanced piano collection Music For Theo. The pieces are Janet’s attempts at composing music her teenaged son would want to play. Feedback given by Theo directed her to compose music that has some octave work, arpeggio challenges, and favors lilting 6/8 rhythms. The music is at times expressive and enchanting, and at other times rhythmic and exciting. There is enough repetition to make them easy to learn, impressive to hear, and fun to play. Check out these new offerings at gieckmusic.com.
