LGBTQ orchestra premieres Elegy for Orlando and the Toronto premiere of Mennonite Piano Concerto on Saturday, June 10th at Saint Luke’s United Church

Counterpoint Community Orchestra is pleased to announce its third concert of the 2016/17 Season, Love & Light: Celebrating Canada 150 with Pride. This concert will showcase the dynamism that has sustained the world’s first LGBTQ orchestra for over 30 years.

The world premiere of a social justice piece composed by orchestra member and cellist Andrew McClure to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Orlando nightclub shooting, and the Toronto premiere of Victor Davies’ Mennonite Piano Concerto performed by queer classical pianist Darren Creech all led by guest conductor and veteran of the Toronto orchestra circuit, John Liddle promise to make this concert unforgettable.

“On the heels of the tragic loss of Bill McQueen, one of Counterpoint’s founding members, performing these two seminal works as part of Canada 150 and during Pride is a testament to his vision for the orchestra as a platform for performances that are as impactful socially as they are musically,” says board chair Robert Bentley.

“Elegy for Orlando is dedicated to our sisters and brothers who died at the Pulse nightclub in Florida on June 12, 2016,” says Andrew McClure, a composer who plays cello with Counterpoint.  McClure wrote the piece to mark the anniversary of this tragedy and to express Counterpoint’s support for the larger LGBTQ community.

Victor Davies’ Mennonite Piano Concerto, one of Canada’s most well-known and celebrated piano concertos, has surprisingly never been performed in Toronto. Darren Creech, Best Artist winner at last year’s Nuit Rose, is excited for this unique opportunity to infuse his personal identities into playing the piece with Counterpoint. “As a classical pianist who is both queer and of Mennonite heritage, it’s incredibly important for me to breathe new life into this work with an inclusive, cross-cultural lens,” says Creech.

For more information about the concert, please visit www.ccorchestra.org. Tickets are $18 in advance ($20 at the door) and can be purchased on the Counterpoint website, through TicketLeap and at the Glad Day Bookshop (499 Church Street). St. Luke’s United Church is located at 353 Sherbourne Street, across the street from Allan Gardens.

ABOUT COUNTERPOINT COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
Founded in 1984, Counterpoint Community Orchestra is an inclusive LGBTQ orchestra. As the first gay positive orchestra in the world, Counterpoint has been in the vanguard for gay rights and bringing awareness to the community’s struggle for equality and acceptance for more than 33 years. A non-profit, member-run, full symphony orchestra for amateur and professional musicians, Counterpoint welcomes all. Drawing its programming from Baroque to contemporary repertoire, Counterpoint is committed to sharing the magic of orchestral music with audiences across the country. Counterpoint’s homebase is in the heart of Toronto’s Gay Village, The 519 Church Street Community Centre. Rehearsals are held there every Monday night at 8:00pm.

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca