EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF CLASSICAL MUSIC
Bathurst, 2024
ABOUT
ClassikFest Chaleur
ClassikFest Chaleur has been enchanting audiences in New Brunswick's picturesque Chaleur region with the beauty of classical music since 2012. Our festival brings together world-class musicians and ensembles to create unforgettable performances of the great classical masterworks. Join us for an immersive musical journey that transcends time and space.
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Our
Artists
David
Scott
FOUNDER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CLARINETIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 17: The British Invasion
JULY 20: Schumann's Fairy Tales
Clarinetist Dave Scott is a performer, teaching artist, and arts innovator. With a passion for chamber music and the orchestra, he has performed throughout Canada, Belgium, Italy, and the United States. He has made appearances at the Belgian Clarinet Academy, the Accademia Europea dell’Opera (Italy), and the Scotia Festival of Music. As the founder and Artistic Director of the ClassikFest Chaleur Classical Music Festival, he has presented dozens of concerts with an international roster of musicians in New Brunswick’s picturesque Chaleur region. More recent projects include Stella Connect, a tiny 10-member orchestra that brings the symphony to smaller venues and aims to make music more accessible to people from all walks of life. With a passion for pedagogy and teaching artistry, Dave is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the clarinet studio at Florida State University where he teaches Undergraduate Applied Music lessons, Freshman fundamentals, and conducts the clarinet choir. He previously held the position of Senior Teaching Artist at Sistema New Brunswick’s Moncton Center where he taught both individual and group lessons. A decorated teacher, he has been recognized by international competitions in both Europe and Asia as honorary “best teacher”. Currently a candidate for Master of Music Performance at Florida State University, Dave is an Artist Diploma recipient from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, and has earned a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Performance from the University of Western Ontario. He has an Executive Graduate Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship, Business Management and Teaching Artistry from the Ivy League-curated Global Leaders Program. Presently a pupil of Deborah Bish and Jonathan Holden, he has played in lessons and masterclasses for renowned clarinetists including Ricardo Morales, Walter Seyfarth, David Shiffrin, Robert Spring, and James Campbell.
Labib
Palis
VIOLINIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 17: The British Invasion
With a rich and diverse background in music education and performance, Labib Palis is a seasoned violinist and passionate teaching artist. Currently serving as a Teaching Artist with Sistema NB in Miramichi, Canada, Mr. Palis brings years of international experience to the role, having worked with notable organizations across the Americas. Mr. Palis's dedication to music education has taken him to various countries, including El Salvador, Canada, Chile, Jamaica, the United States, and his home country, Colombia. Highlights of his teaching career include roles with the Houston Youth Symphony's Coda Music Program, the National Youth Orchestra of Jamaica, and the educational program of the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra. His commitment to nurturing young musicians is evident from his extensive volunteer work and contributions to music camps and private lesson programs. In addition to his teaching credentials, Mr. Palis is an accomplished performer. He is currently a member of Tutta Musica in Moncton, Canada, and has previously performed with orchestras such as the Galveston Symphony Orchestra and the Butler County Symphony Association, among others. His chamber music engagements include performances with the Clear Lake Chamber Ensemble and the Frances DeBroff Graduate String Quartet. Currently, Mr. Palis is the co-founder of Concert Time Collective, bringing the initiative to contribute to the music scene in Miramichi. Mr. Palis holds an Executive Graduate Certificate from The Global Leaders Program, a Master of Music from the University of Houston, an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University, and a BM in Violin Performance from Javeriana University in Bogotá, Colombia. This robust academic background complements his practical experience, underscoring his expertise and commitment to the field of music. Mr. Palis's journey through various cultural landscapes and prestigious educational institutions reflects his adaptability and passion for music, making him a versatile and inspiring figure in the world of music education and performance
Alfonso
Soria
VIOLINIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 17: The British Invasion
Mexican violinist graduated from the Higher School of Music of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature of Mexico, in violin studies under the direction of maestro Savarthasiddh Uribe. He has taken modern violin courses with Jorge Risi and Nadia Salerno. His interest in the Baroque period began in 1999 when he took baroque violin master classes with Micaela Comberti. In 2007 he participated in the Akademie Mexiko Ensemble with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, taking advice from teacher Anne Katharina Schreiber. Later in 2008 he received a scholarship from the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra to participate in the Akademie Freiburg Ensemble in the city of Freiburg, Germany taking classes with teachers Anne Katharina Schreiber and Daniela Helm. He also takes Baroque Violin classes with Micaela Comberti (the English concert), Oliver Briand, Adrian Chandler (la Serenísima baroque ensemble), Emilio Moreno (Real Cámara, 18th century Orchestra), Manfredo Kraemer and at the State University of the Arts in Bremen, Germany with teachers Stepanie Paulet , Veronika Skuplik and Thomas Albert. In 2010 he participated as a soloist and member of the "LATIR" ensemble within the "SURCO" festival in the city of Jeréz, Zacatecas and in the city of Querétaro within the festivities of the bicentennial of the independence of Mexico. In 2010 and 2011 he was awarded a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to participate in the orchestral and chamber music course "Collegium Musicum" at Weisenstein Castle in Pommersfelden, Germany. Jaime Alfonso has performed at the XXII Morelia Music Festival “Miguel Bernal Jiménez”, Zacatecas Cultural Festival, “Pasión” Festival in the city of Puebla, the first musicology colloquium in the city of Morelia, as well as in various forums in the interior of the Republic and Mexico City. Alfonso currently is the centre director of the Chaleur Centre of Sistema NB.
Estelle
Salmon
VIOLIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 17: The British Invasion
Après avoir suivi un cursus secondaire « musique-études », Estelle Salmon a continué ses études musicales au conservatoire de Paris où elle a obtenu le Diplôme d’Etudes Musicales. Elle a ensuite poursuivi sa formation à l’École Supérieure Musique et Danse des Hauts-de-France. Elle en est ressortie quelques années plus tard avec le Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de Musicien, le Diplôme d’État de professeure de musique et le Baccalauréat en formation du musicien interprète. En parallèle, Estelle a enseigné l’alto et le solfège dans des écoles de musique dans la région de Lille et a participé en tant qu’altiste à des projets musicaux de tous genres : musique de chambre, musique symphonique, opéra, comédies musicales, musique actuelle, musique populaire. Depuis qu’elle est installée dans le nord du Nouveau-Brunswick, Estelle a eu l’opportunité de se produire dans la programmation des Jeunesses Musicales Canada des centres de Bathurst, Caraquet et Dieppe ainsi que dans celle de Musique Saint-Joachim à Bertrand. Elle a également joué avec plusieurs artistes acadiens comme les chanteuses Sandra Lecouteur et Monique Poirier, les poètes-chanteurs Calixte Duguay et Michel Thériault et le guitariste Shaun Ferguson. Depuis 2018, elle est altiste surnuméraire à l’Orchestre Symphonique de l’Estuaire de Rimouski (Québec). Elle a aussi eu l’occasion de jouer dans l’orchestre Symphonie Nouveau-Brunswick. Estelle est également animatrice d’ateliers jeune public pour Jeunesses Musicales Canada pour tout le nord de la province. — After completing her secondary education in a "music-studies" program, Estelle Salmon continued her musical studies at the Conservatoire de Paris, where she obtained the Diploma of Musical Studies. She then pursued further education at the École Supérieure Musique et Danse des Hauts-de-France. Several years later, she emerged with the Diplôme National Supérieur Professionnel de Musicien (Performance Diploma), the Diplôme d’État de professeure de musique (Teaching Diploma), and a Bachelor's degree in musicology. Concurrently, Estelle taught viola and music theory in music schools in the Lille region and participated as a violist in diverse musical projects including chamber music, symphonic music, opera, musicals, contemporary music, and popular music. Since settling in northern New Brunswick, Estelle has had the opportunity to perform in the programming of Jeunesses Musicales Canada in Bathurst, Caraquet and Dieppe, as well as with Musique Saint-Joachim in Bertrand. She has also collaborated with several Acadian artists such as singers Sandra Lecouteur and Monique Poirier, poet-singers Calixte Duguay and Michel Thériault, and guitarist Shaun Ferguson. Since 2018, she has been an extra violist with the Orchestre Symphonique de l’Estuaire de Rimouski (Québec). She has also had the chance to perform with the Symphonie Nouveau-Brunswick orchestra. Estelle is also a workshop facilitator for young audiences with Jeunesses Musicales Canada throughout northern New Brunswick.
Carolyn Farnand
VIOLIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 20: Schumann's Fairy Tales
Violist Carolyn Farnand is known for her love of collaboration and versatility performing in diverse musical styles. She recently joined the Nu Deco Ensemble for their major-label debut EP Duende on Sony Music Masterworks. Carolyn’s passion for new music has also brought her to the prestigious Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. In addition to contemporary music, Carolyn has a deep appreciation for early music. She has been featured as a soloist with Les Violons du Roy and joined Juilliard415 for a memorable three week performance tour in New Zealand. Carolyn is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the University of Toronto, and was a Temerty fellow while completing her Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School. She is also a grateful alumna of the New World Symphony. She is thankful for the inspiration from her teachers: Carol Rodland, Toby Appel, Steven Dann, Cynthia Roberts and Eric Nowlin. Carolyn has enjoyed participating in music festivals all over the world including Music & Beyond, Aspen Music Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Scotia Festival, Domaine Forget Festival, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Carolyn holds the assistant principal viola chair with Symphony Nova Scotia and will serve as acting principal violist this upcoming season. She looks forward to chamber music performances with Candlelight Concerts, the Inner Spaces Concert Series, and the Music Room Chamber Players Series.
Natalia
Bohorquez
CELLIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 17: The British Invasion
Natalia Bohorquez is a cellist with a diverse range of experiences, including chamber music, orchestral performance, session work, education, and arts management. She was a member of the Colombian Youth Philharmonic and a guest musician at the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. As an orchestra musician she has performed in different venues around the world, such as Sala São Paulo in Brazil, The New World Center in Miami, and Muscat Opera House in Oman. Natalia was awarded the Strings Performers Scholarship to study her Bachelor of Music degree at Los Andes University in Colombia. Later, she earned the Lindsay and Garth Greimann Centennial Scholarship to study her Master of Music degree in cello performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College in the USA, where she studied under the guidance of Terry King. After her graduate studies, Natalia has been exploring diverse music styles and new ways to perform the cello. Her new interests have taken her to learning and developing her vocal technique, music arranging, songwriting and music improvisation. Her cello repertoire spans from classical music to latin american folk music. Currently based in Miramichi, New Brunswick, she is starting an entrepreneurial journey with a project called Concert Time Collective whose vision is to cultivate new audiences and bring classical music to everyday spaces in Miramichi.
Cindy
Thong
PIANIST
ClassikFest Chaleur performances:
JULY 20: Schumann's Fairy Tales
Canadian pianist Cindy Thong leads a polyvalent career as a pedagogue, researcher and performer. She has performed throughout Canada, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has also been a finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the Concours Hélène Roberge and Canadian Music Competition. She has also made appearances at the Orford Music Festival, Banff Arts Centre, Gijón International Piano Festival and Euro Music Festival, amongst others. Alongside her performance and pedagogical activities, Cindy maintains a keen interest in performance psychology and mental skills training. In particular, her dissertation pertained to the neuropsychology of learning and the optimization of practice methods, deconstructing and analyzing models related to enhanced efficiency. She has regularly been invited to lecture and offer workshops on these topics and related subjects at institutions such as the University of British Columbia and York University, and continues to expand this interdisciplinary work in collaboration with other domains, such as research for arts and health interventions. Cindy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Montréal (Canada), where she was also awarded the Prix d’interpretation en piano upon graduation. She also holds a Master of Arts in Music Performance from the Haute École de Musique de Genève (Switzerland), as well as a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the University of Montréal. Her primary teachers include Jimmy Brière, the late Dominique Weber, and John Hansen. Cindy is currently on faculty at Acadia University and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts. She is also the Artistic Director of the Acadia Piano Intensive program.
Schedule
Admission for our concerts is by voluntary contribution at the door on the day of the concert(s) for a suggested donation of $25 (or $50 per family). Join us for an unforgettable celebration of classical music in the heart of Bathurst!
Our
Venues
ST. LUKE'S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
395 Murray Ave.
Bathurst, NB E2A 1T4
FIRST UNITED CHURCH
309 St. Patrick Street
Bathurst, NB E2A 1E2
