From Bach to Pop

From Bach to Pop

Three years ago, the Filipino Seniors of Mississauga sponsored Solon Reyes’ piano recital, Music of the Masters that garnered rave reviews. Once again, this Fall, they will present Solon in a concert, “From Bach to Pop” with guest artist Lilac Cana, soprano. The event will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 29, 2005 at the Noel Ryan auditorium of the Mississauga Central Library, 305 Burnhamthorpe Road corner Living Arts Drive, Mississauga that is sure to be another excellent entertainment. Tickets are for $25 only and proceeds will go towards the various projects of the seniors.

Solon Reyes, pianist and composer, has taught piano and theory at the Royal Conservatory of Music since 1971. As an active adjudicator of music festivals and as a Senior Examiner of the Royal Conservatory of Music (now conferred RCM Examiner Emeritus), he has travelled extensively across major cities in Canada. From Newfoundland to Vancouver and smaller centres enroute, and into some more recently opened examination centres in the United States, he has evaluated examinees from beginners to Teacher’s and Performance diploma levels. He took music studies at the University of Santo Tomas with Marietta Baja and in Canada with Reginald Godden. He also graduated from the University of the Philippines with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. He is also a children’s orff teaching specialist which he taught at the Ursuline School. His Toronto concerts include a series of recitals at the St. Lawrence Centre. His musical drama Across the Pacific premiered in concert form in 2000 at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga. This work reflects his perceptions as a musician with Filipino-Canadian sentiments. He hopes to one day see the full production of his opus.

Lilac Cana, soprano is an exceptional vocal artist equally at ease with opera, art songs, jazz and contemporary vocal styles. She graduated with honors from the University of Toronto’s Opera Performance Program. She has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company Chorus, created lead roles with Tapestry Music Theatre, Opera Mississauga and enjoys soloist concert work with orchestras and choirs in Canada, New York City and the Philippines. She sang as soloist for Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day in 2002 with the Sacred Music Society. She has recorded three CD albums with her own company, Lilac Sounds and produced multi-media concert events that have benefited several charities worldwide. On periodic concert tours to the Philippines, she also gives voice workshops at the University of Santo Tomas and the Philippine Women’s University. Her recent performances include interdisciplinary events with the Canadian Chamber group, the Ardeleana Trio, Vaughan William’s A Sea Symphony with bass-baritone Gary Relyea and Huronia Symphony and seven sold-out concerts during her concert tour in the Philippines in January 2005. She is recording her latest CD expected to be released in November 2005. She is also co-producing a music video.

For tickets to the event, please call Mayette Balbastro at 905-277-1816 or at 416-414-1383.

(PRESS RELEASE)