a re-print from “The Record”
The kind of Jazz Stanley Lake likes to perform is about the here and now, that moment in time that expresses itself through emotion. How one feels is how one sounds, so it’s no wonder then that Lake is able to bring the same characteristics of his musical performances to another art form, Improvisational story telling.
Lake came to Canada in 1975 from Cleveland, Ohio. He started playing piano at the age of five and traveled a twisting path of fate which finally led him to the trumpet, flugelhorn and cornet as the instruments of choice for his musical interests. For eighteen years he studied classical music until one day he was smitten by the allure of jazz.
“It moves me so deeply,” he explains. “Music fills my life with passion. It takes over the spirit of who we are. It’s really great.
a re-print from “The Record”
Music is multidimensional, meaning that the human spirit takes control, expresses itself and possesses the material world for moments at a time. Brilliant moments, not so meaningful moments, and often just regular moments that become reflections of our lives frozen in time, replayed through memories and digital devices.
Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is part of this life process. It captures, presents and archives performances (musical or otherwise) presented by individuals/volunteers behind the CIDI microphone, who are willing to share a passion with RCM participants; stakeholders and listeners.
Julie Miller is one such person. Living in Ulverton, Quebec (around the Drummondville area), she drives once a week to Knowlton and records her show, The Wayfinders.
Fresh out of the sleeve
with Ruth Schweitzer
a re-print from “The Record”
The first time I met Brian Blain was when I hitch-hiked with Glen Whitehead, a friend of mine, to Hamilton Ontario. “You have to meet this guy my sister knows”, said Whitehead, who knew I was trying to get ahead in the music business. “He works for an ad agency and has a lot of contacts.”
To me, Blain had it made. He drove around in a sports car, had a cool job and listened to all the latest music. He had me listen to Crosby, Stills and Nash’s debut” vinyl” album fresh-out-of-the-sleeve. Wow!
Over the years we became friends, and as I was busy trying to establish Oliver Klaus, he was advancing his career as a songwriter, performer and producer. Finally our careers merged when I invited him to join Oliver Klaus back in the mid-seventies.
a re-print from “The Record”
The choir, “Choeur Classique de l’Estrie”, has been part of the Eastern Townships cultural landscape since 1991. Its founder, Denis St-Pierre, established the choir as a high-level group of local singers. Their mission is to share the joy of singing by presenting masterpieces written by some of the world’s greatest composers. Since September 2002, Maestro François Panneton has been its director.
In December 1982 Panneton obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sherbrooke. He then went on to pursue degrees in music attaining a BA and an MA in vocal performance at the University of Montreal.
During these years he studied choral conducting with Jean-François Sénart. After graduation, he attended two training courses in Europe, first at “Centre international de Formation musicale” in Nice, July 1991, and the second at the Britten-Pears School in England, with Kurt Equiluz, September 1993. Last June, he received a Masters in conducting from the University of Sherbrooke, with Nicole Paiement.
a re-print from “The Record”
OK, I know it’s the “Ides of March”, which thankfully is past, but the whole month has been somewhat strange so far. Good news is the clocks went ahead and the days are longer, but we lost an hour of sleep.
We’ve had several spring-like days only to be followed by yet another snowstorm and then huge ice chunks and avalanches of snow come crashing down off the roofs.
Things in general were strange. Call a company and request service in English, you get French (or vice versa). A couple of times our newspaper wasn’t delivered. My blender broke. Our cat got into a fight with a stray. Maurice went to see a client but there was nobody there because they forgot. People at the bridge club were bidding out of turn, making insufficient bids or playing the wrong card, not quite being in their right minds. A friend meant to give me a waffle-iron she no longer needed since she had bought a new one, but she mixed up the boxes, pitched the waffle-iron in the trash and gave me an old telephone instead!
a re-print from “The Record”
So many “Special Days”. This past week we had International Women’s Day as well as Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras or pancake day), all causes for great festivities and celebrations.
Coming up next week is St. Patrick’s Day. There is Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, Black history week and the Gay Pride Parade and numerous other “days” in honour of this and that.
At CIDI we have plenty of women. Holly Bailey is a producer, a co-host of the “Stop!” show on TV and she also has her own program, “The Bobcat Sessions”. Marie-Christine Dean does the horoscope show. Shirley (aka Marian) has a program called “Showtime!” featuring old Broadway hits and show tunes. Marie and Lucie Fortin came up with many Chronicles” shows before deciding to take a break.
Then we have many women behind the scenes such as Marilyn Durrell who is always ready, willing and able to help cater the parties and often provides home-made muffins for the staff. Denise Butcher who comes in to clean but also goes out of her way, donating a door-prize for our piano competition.
a re-print from “The Record”
As Alice fell down the hole into Wonderland, she had no idea what adventures awaited her. Neither did any of us know what to expect as we plunged into the CIDI radio project. “I’m late” said the rabbit, and so were we often late with paying the rent or filling out applications. The Cheshire Cat kept grinning, appearing and disappearing at will. So did some of our volunteers. “Eat me, drink me” and as a result grow bigger or smaller: we’ve had those decisions to make many a time.
At the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, the guests just enjoyed themselves, made a mess of things and moved on to a new seat. We’ve seen that happen. The Queen of Hearts wanted to do away with everyone. Yes, certain people have said bye-bye to CIDI.
How did Alice survive, how can we?
RCM Announces Radio Play Winners
by Doug Hooper
At last year’s Knowlton WordFest, The RCM Radio Drama Writing Awards were established with the aim of encouraging writers of drama who live in the Townships, or who have some close connection with it.
Patron Louise Penny, internationally acclaimed Townships writer, and her husband Michael Whitehead, offered their encouragement and financial support for the first prize winner. The Townshippers’ Cultural & Research Foundation provided a grant to help organize this Competition.
Radio Communautaire Missisquoi (RCM) has just announced the winners of its Radio Drama Writing Awards 2010. The distinguished panel of judges, Alex Paterson, Frances Gallagher and Jefferson Lewis met recently to select the winners.
RCM Radio Drama Writing Awards
A flagship program.
a re-print from “The Record”
Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is having too much fun! Last summer we initiated the first annual RCM Radio Drama Writing Awards competition and today are pleased to announce the winners of the 2010 contest.
The distinguished panel of judges for the competition – Alex Paterson, Frances Gallagher and Jefferson Lewis – have completed their review of the entries. They met recently to select the winners and reached a unanimous decision that the prizes should be awarded as follows:
a re-print from “The Record”
A novel concept, having Radio Communautaire Missisquoi’s very own Radio Village Hall in Knowlton? Not really. Radio concert halls are prominent throughout the world. A simple Google-search shows that there’s a radio concert hall in just about every country. Radio has been synonymous with concert halls since its inception.
The concept of commercial radio not having such performance spaces has led most people in North America to believe that radio doesn’t need them anymore. The idea is to use the CD and MP3 as a vehicle along with our radios and sound systems to create a concert space in our cars, living rooms and offices, for example. It more or less leads us to believe that we don’t need live performance spaces anymore, only the few required to record the artists in the first place.
a re-print from “The Record”
The time has come to stand up for what we believe in and start “movin’ on up to the eastside” of 305 Knowlton Road, in the Town of Brome Lake. To be more specific, where Valentine’s Restaurant used to be, right across from the post office. CIDI has been suffering from a lack of visibility and desperately needs attention.
Part of “being who we are” is to be noticed, and it doesn’t really happen when Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is hidden away in a basement. After all, we have to practice what we preach. As everyone knows by now, RCM`s mission statement is “Being Who We Are”, and it doesn’t bode well for us if we are hiding out in the shadows.
How about having a sign in front of our building, for a change, directing people’s attention to where we are located? It seems like a simple enough concept. So, what do we do with the newly acquired space?
a re-print from “The Record”
With trained staff, a broadcast tower facility, two equipped production studios, a performance studio with stage lighting and a Steinway grand piano, Radio Communautaire Missisquoi has more potential, in the eyes of the federal government, than ever before.
With a mandate from the CRTC to develop talent, RCM has done what is required of it; built a performance venue and put on shows featuring Canadian artists for recording and broadcast. RCM does not develop artists by simply playing CDs nor does any other broadcaster. The CBC, for example, has the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto and we have Radio Village Hall in the Town of Brome Lake.
a re-print from “The Record”
Little Jack Horner sat in a corner, eating his Christmas pie
He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum
And said “What a good boy am I!”
Well, we say hit the road Jack! CIDI’s success is guaranteed only by Radio Communautaire Missisquoi volunteers working TOGETHER. A team has brought us this far and a team will continue to reflect who we are. No one person is better than another and everyone in the group has to discover what he or she has to offer.
a re-print from “The Record”
An organization that decides to challenge conventional wisdom confronts a mixed audience comprised of old supporters, who may feel betrayed, and potential new supporters who may be suspicious of its motives. Radio Communautaire Missisquoi is in such a position.
The disussion is about Radio. What is radio about? Money, art or bingo? No matter what an organization does for a living it has to be viable and community radio is no different. But RCM is.
a re-print from “The Record”
Another year ended, a new year begins. This New Year’s Eve, Radio Communautaire Missisquoi has lots to celebrate with its brand-new tower, transmitter and market. A new horizon is in view and the team is ready to rock.
With five employees and our brand new Radio Village Hall, RCM plans to become a major talent presenter in Brome Missisquoi. Unlike a majority of other venues, RVH is part of a radio station. And unlike most radio stations today, CIDI has access to a radio performance hall, much the same as traditional radio did back in the days of Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
