THE NIAGARA ANGLICAN ARTICLE ABOUT ST. MARK'S 2010

MUSIC NIAGARA AND ST. MARK'S

This year in Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Mark’s Anglican Church and Music Niagara will celebrate their twelfth wonderful season of collaborating on some of the fi nest music heard in Canada. Founded by Artistic Director Atis Bankas in 1998, Music Niagara presents nationally and internationally renowned artists at its four-week summer festival, representing a range of musical genres from classical and jazz to choral and cabaret. And though what makes Music Niagara special are the several unique venues at which concerts are held, none is more popular and beloved than beautiful, historical St. Mark’s. This season, 24 of the festival’s 34 concerts will be held at St. Mark’s and its Addison Hall.

“We are so fortunate to have the longstanding support of [Rev.] Bob Wright and the parishioners of St. Mark’s,” says Bankas. “Our musicians have played in the fi nest halls the world over, and they are always impressed with the acoustic quality as well as the beauty of St. Mark’s. It is a joy to perform in that space, which is somehow both grand and intimate.”  Reverend Wright agrees, and is proud of the productive relationship between the organizations which helps make excellence accessible to the church and the wider community. “Fostering a continuous culture of

innovation is a key part of our diocesan vision, and we believe our partnership with Music Niagara does just that.  The incredible music arising from our working together, the innovative series

and outreach programs which have been established, and more, are gifts not only to Niagara but to the broader community. We’re proud to be part of this innovative alliance, and proud of the tremendous quality of art and artist we support.”  And quality it is: the calibre of performers at Music Niagara show they know all about pursuing excellence. The festival opens this year at

St. Mark’s on 17 July with a concert by Andre Laplante, arguably Canada’s fi nest classical pianist; closes on 14 August with a program of Spanish music and dance featuring the electric

Quartetto Gelato; and in between features amazing performers from jazz legend Dick Hyman, to a new series, Niagara Pops, which combines classical and other musical genres—for instance, baroque sacred music and jazz vespers, or classical violin and harp, and Métis fi ddle music. For

more information about this outstanding festival and its invaluable host, visit them on the web: Music Niagara, www.musicniagara.org, and

St. Mark’s Anglican Church, www. stmarks1792.com. You are invited to hear the culture of innovation these partners produce this summer.

Gloria!

Pursuing Excellence | Music Niagara