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New commission by JULIE SPENCER
I’ve commissioned a new work for vibraphone, cloud gongs and cloud bowls by American/German percussionist extraordinaire, JULIE SPENCER! This work is a reflection and admiration for the artistry of Hildegard of Bingen. Julie and her family live in the town of Bingen, Germany. I have often been impressed with Julie’s artistry as a performer, visual artist and composer. This new work called ‘Angels in Arches of Hildegard’s Bingen’ is a testament to Hildegard’s creativity and effectively pays homage to her devotion to the arts.
Here is a photo of Julie Spencer and myself from our meeting in Luxembourg (2013) after I performed a previous work I commissioned from her called ‘Everybody Talk about Freedom’ for marimba and voice.
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Spring & Summer 2024 Highlights
April 13, 2024 – Beverley is performing two concerti with the Peterborough Symphony. thepso.org
June 17 – 30, 2024 – Beverley will be in residence at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada for the Chamber Music and Opera: Interplay program (program runs June 3-30, 2024). banffcentre.ca
June 3 – 8, 2024 – Agassiz Festival of Music in Winnipeg with Festival of the Sound musicians. Beverley will perform ’Sounding Thunder’ by Tim Corlis and chamber music/solos on other programs during the festival. agassizfestival.com
July 20 / 21, 2024 – Beverley will be performing Carmina Burana with Elora Festival and the Festival of the Sound. elorafestival.ca
July 26, 2024 at 1:30pm – Bev and Friends in concert ‘The Heart of the Drum’ at Festival of the Sound, Stockey Centre, Parry Sound, Ontario. Special guests include Jodi Contin, Joel Quarrington, Scott St. John, Peter Stoll and Daniel Vnukowski. Works by Rzewski, Hatzis, Colgrass, Contin. festivalofthesound.ca
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International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy
I am pleased to be a part of the faculty for the 10th edition of the International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy which occurs from July 14-23, 2023 in Gdansk, Poland.
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2023 Performances & Events
January 21, 2023, 5pm World premiere of ‘Ice Woman’ by Alice Ping Yee Ho for flute (Susan Hoeppner) and Vibraphone (Beverley Johnston). 21C Festival
March 20-22, 2023 school concerts of ‘Sounding Thunder’ . Festival of the Sound Ensemble.
April 16, 2023, 3pm Beverley Johnston, Susan Hoeppner and Erika Crinò with ‘Les Amis Concert Series’ Port Hope, Ontario
April 29, 2023 7:30pm Monday Morning Singers at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Uxbridge Ontario featuring Beverley Johnston on marimba in works by Canadian composers Timothy Corlis and Tom Baker
May 15-19, 2023 Recording project in Toronto of Canadian chamber music works with ICOT (Iranian-Canadian Composers of Toronto)
July 13-23, 2023 Faculty member for the International Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy in Gdansk, Poland (see attached poster). Performing works by Canadian composers Christos Hatzis and David Occhipinti among others.
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Recent Commissions!
‘Ice Woman’ by Alice Ping Yee Ho (for flute and vibraphone) premiered as a part of the 21C Festival on January 21, 2023 with Susan Hoeppner on flutes.
‘wild with the music of color’ is a new work by young, creative composer Holly Winter. This piece is a retrospective on the life of visual artist Georgia O’Keeffe. The piece is for vibraphone, voice and paper dress (designed and made by costume/set designer Denyse Karn). The premiere of this piece was March 8, 2022 on International Women’s Day for Beverley’s one woman show called ‘Finding HER Voice’.
‘Clockwork Cummings’ by David Occhipinti, was commissioned by Beverley Johnston. It is a 3-movement work highlighting the eclectic poetry of e.e. Cummings, featuring Bev’s voice in combination with marimba and vibraphone. Video release of these works was in April 2022.
‘Eris’ by Christos Hatzis is the latest in Christos’ works for percussion written expressly for Bev Johnston. This piece is a tour de force for vibraphone and audio playback which pays homage to mythological female figure Eris… the goddess of strife and discord! World premiere performance was on International Women’s Day – March 8, 2022.
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Finding Her Voice – March 8, 2022
A Celebration of International Women’s Day with percussionist Beverley Johnston.
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 // 8pm
918 Bathurst, The Music Gallery, Toronto
