The Lougheed Performing Arts Centre in Camrose presents Morning Melodies, a series of classical music concerts, taking place on select Tuesday mornings.
Patrons are warmly invited to meet in the Mayer Community Hall for tea, coffee, and conversation before the performance recital.
Host pianist Sarah Hagen invites guest musicians to share the stage with her, bringing their world-class artistry to Camrose. The musicians, all known for their perceptive, eloquent and entertaining commentary, will take time to offer personal insights into the music.
The series launches with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra principal cellist Philip Hansen.
ABOUT PHIL
Philip Hansen’s commitment to diverse musical genres, education, and community have earned him distinction as a performer, ambassador for music, and innovator in the arts. His intensely personal and colourful playing is showcased in performances from the Baroque to jazz and in every major work written for cello with orchestra.
Concurrent to his position as Principal Cellist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Phil performs around the globe. As a US Department of State Cultural Ambassador to Russia, Phil was featured solo artist in concert halls from Moscow to the Pacific Far East. He has been artist-in-residence at both the Beijing and Shanghai Central Conservatories. Phil was a longtime faculty member of the Académie Internationale Musicale in Provence, France, focusing on historical performance practice. His solo CD of nuevo tango music, Bragatissimo, was researched and performed in Argentina and broadcast coast to coast on the CBC and National Public Radio (USA).
Launching in Spring 2014 is Phil’s newest concert venture, Seriously the Series. These concerts are designed for the chamber music connoisseur with programs to challenge both performer and listener, featuring diverse chamber works with cello in its various guises throughout musical history.
As an educator Phil coalesces the influences of his cello mentors: Steven Doane, Jürgen deLemos, Lynn Harrell, and Patricia Pinkston. His research into performance preparation and body mechanics culminates in the Cello Zen program (cellozen.com) whose retreat workshops are held each summer on Quadra Island, BC and which integrate an approach to cello playing suited equally to the professional artist as to the avid amateur. Around these workshops is the Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music (quadrafestival.com) of which Phil is founder and Artistic Director; entering its fourth summer in 2014, the QIFCM draws top musicians to perform in breathtaking island settings.
Phil collaborated on and composed music for Charlie the Cello, a children’s book and stage production by author Deborah Nicholson which Phil has performed on stage with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.