Brunswick festival seeks applications for music institute scholarship


BRUNSWICK — The Bowdoin International Music Festival is accepting applications for its music institute scholarship.

The festival is the recipient of a $200,000 endowment fund gift from The Bingham Charitable Trust for Maine student scholarship. Following the wishes of the late William Bingham, the award allows all accepted young Maine musicians who play violin, viola or cello to attend the six-week summer institute with full tuition scholarships, according to a news release from Daniel Nitsch, executive director of the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

From the time of his youth until the end of his life, Bingham enjoyed playing the violin. Although his father strongly discouraged Bingham’s early love of the instrument, Bingham persisted. Throughout Bingham’s life, his violin served not only to delight him and his friends but as solace in difficult times.

Bingham’s gift now encourages young people to pursue their own love of music, regardless of financial circumstances.

To apply, visit bowdoinfestival.org. The festival has waived all application fees for Maine residents.

The Music Institute priority application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16. For those who miss that deadline, applications will remain open for the Instrumental, Composition, Wind Fellowship, and Collaborative Piano programs until all studios are filled, although application fees increase. Those who miss Monday’s deadline should submit their application by Friday, Feb. 10.

 

 

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2023 PuSh Festival promises 18 days of dynamic mixed arts


Artist Émilie Monnet reconnects with Anishinaabe roots in trilingual monologue.

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PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2023 — Okinum

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When: Feb. 2, 3, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 2-5, online

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Where: Anvil Theatre, 777 Columbia St., New Westminster

Tickets/info: pushfestival.ca

Falling, flying, failing to make it to a lecture or test on time. These decidedly mundane topics are well documented by sleep researchers interested in recurring dreams. But what plays out deeper in our psyches has long been a source of inspiration for artists across the ages.

In her award-winning work Okinum, Canadian multidisciplinary artist and playwright Émilie Monnet enters into a recurring dream to reconnect with her Anishinaabe ancestry and language and delivers an empowering message of identity and self-discovery.

In the Anishinaabemowin language, okinum means dam. Interpreting her recurrent dream about a giant beaver who gives her magical words to say, Monnet breaks down cultural walls to find personal truths in a tale relayed in Anishinaabowim, English and French. The multimedia voyage deciphering what the words mean includes live score by sound designer Jackie Gallant incorporating the sounds of beavers, plus other voices with immersive lighting and visuals.

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Okinum was nominated for a 2021 Governor General’s French language award.

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Now the Productions Onishka show comes to the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival 2023 presented with Anvil Theatre, Touchstone Theatre, AnAku and KVS Production. It is also available in book form.

“The dream came first, then the show and the book was published a year later in French,” said Monnet. “My writing is very directly influenced by sound and the use of sound and video in the show is a very different experience than reading it. The immersive nature of it was more important than even the words at first because I’m so interested in the coexistence of sounding and breathing and how the body is engaged psychically in different ways by different languages and what that means.”

Specifically, the English translation of Okinum was 10 pages shorter than the original, which reflects the differences in observation and world view of different cultures’ communication. Monnet was fascinated by what she discovered in the form of her work as she shifted between languages in performance.

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“Indigenous languages are very image and action-based, so you really see the images as you are discussing them,” she said. “As I enter the dream world and the invisible, I find that I connect much better with that realm in Anishinaabemowim. It enriches the images because it has the words to describe them.”

Monnet’s grandfather’s first language was Anishinaabemowim, but it was not transmitted to her growning up. Her first language was French and she was rooted in that culture. Her artistic practice has been spent often collaborating or speaking with elders to strengthen her Indigenous ties. Her mother is an Anglophone, who grew up on reserves, and her father is French from Brittany. So all of the languages in Okinum define who its creator is as well.

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“I started writing back and forth in French and English because I was funded by two different playwright’s associations in Montreal followed by an Indigenous theatre company in Toronto,” said Monnet. “So it made a lot of sense to keep those two languages and cultures as well as Anishinaabe in the final work. It’s always been a question of where I find myself in those identities.”

As she was completing the piece, she was diagnosed with throat cancer. This meant the beaver dam became a beautiful metaphor for all the women in her family whose voices were blocked or denied and how to unblock those barriers to allow the emotional and spiritual truth to flow. Now in full recovery, Monnet says that Okinum has become a launchpad for future work.

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Her first play, it has garnered international acclaim and will tour to French Guiana and play to Indigenous peoples along the Marigny River in that French overseas department. A new collaborative work with an Indigenous artist in the Amazon is in development to premiere in 2023.


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5 shows to see at the 2023 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

When: Jan. 19 – Feb. 5, various times

Where: Various venues and online

Tickets/info: pushfestival.ca

With its wide range of performances, the PuSh Festival can seem daunting when it comes to selecting which shows to attend. Fortunately, the PuSh Passes provide opportunities to see shows at reduced rates and allow for mixing and matching selections. Those who aren’t feeling the vibe of being in a full venue can consider the digital pass which provides access to five of the digital shows at the 2023 event.

Note: There are specific dates for digital pass performances which provide an excellent option for those whose schedules don’t permit in-person attendance. Visit the complete schedule at the PuSh Festival website.

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Here are five shows to see.


Joby Burgess is a percussionist who presents his new album A Percussionist’s Songbook at the Orpheum Annex. Photo by Nick White Photo: Nick White /jpg

A Percussionist’s Songbook

When: Jan. 25, 26

Where: Orpheum Annex

Canadian premiere: An album of “songs without words” is how percussionist Burgess explains his latest release. Incorporating inspirations from Arabian folktales to Michael Ondaatje’s prose, he takes the crowd on an aural tour.


AfterNow Mirkafleuger is an exhibition fusing militant politics, contemporary opera and one giant stereo system. Co-presented with the Black Arts Centre at Roundhouse Exhibition Hall. Photo by Mirka Pfl?ger Photo: Nora Chip /jpg

Afternow

When: Jan. 28 – Feb. 5

Where: Roundhouse Exhibition Hall, 181 Roundhouse Mews

Coming from Zimbabwean/American performer Nora Chipaumire, this sound and visual installation bridges African spirituality and contemporary art to make a booming statement about resistance and reclamation.


Les cri des méduses by Alan Lake Factori(e) is a dance show inspired by the famous painting, The Raft of the Medusa. Photo by Alan Lake Factori(e) /jpg

Le Cri des Méduses

When: Jan. 27, 28; Jan. 27 – 30, online

Where: Vancouver Playhouse

Western Canadian premiere: Taking inspiration from the artist Théodore Géricault’s famous painting The Raft of the Medusa transposes elements to the live stage. Canadian Choreographer Alan Lake blends ambient music, shifting scenes and tones with a nonet of dancers interpreting.

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Lontano’s Marica Marioni performs circus feats. jpg

Lontano + Instante

When: Jan. 26 – 28; Jan. 26 – 29 online

Where: Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie

Utilizing the Cyr wheel, a weighted metal ring designed for continuous motion, the acrobats in this show demonstrate the dynamic and physical interface between human and object. This is a great all-ages presentation for anyone with a taste for contemporary circus arts.


Ivo Dimchev is a unique camp crooner who appears in Selfie Concert. jpg

Selfie Concert

When: Feb. 2, 3

Where: Left of Main, 211 Keefer St.

Bulgarian cabaret crooner and camp crap disturber Ivo Dimchev brings audiences a performance with no stage, no hierarchies and, well, no show. Until people are taking selfies with him, when the synth pop ditties begin to flow. Deconstructing contemporary performances asking “who is the focus of the show?”


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BLACKPINK Confirmed To Become 1st K-Pop Artist Ever To Headline Coachella


It’s official: BLACKPINK will be the first K-pop artist in history to headline Coachella!

On January 10 local time, the famous U.S. music festival officially revealed its star-studded lineup for 2023, which will feature BLACKPINK, Bad Bunny, and Frank Ocean as headliners.

While BLACKPINK previously performed at Coachella back in 2019, this year will mark their first time taking the stage as a headliner—which also makes them the first K-pop artist ever to headline the festival.

Check out the full lineup for Coachella 2023 below!

Are you excited to see BLACKPINK return to Coachella as a headliner?


How does this article make you feel?

Traditional line-up of free classical music concerts back in Rio


Project Música no Museu (“Music in the Museum”) is coming back tomorrow (Jan. 11) with its concert series The Immortals of Brazilian Music and International Geniuses, at cultural center CCBB, in downtown Rio.

The lineup should feature soprano Georgia Szpilman and pianist Maria Luiza Lundberg revisiting the work of Brazilian musician and composer Chiquinha Gonzaga, with clarinetist Moises Santos as a special guest.

Sergio da Costa e Silva, the project’s creator and director, said that the series highlights the most brilliant names in Brazilian music, including Villa-Lobos, Francisco Mignone, Ernesto Nazareth, Ary Barroso, and Tom Jobim. “We’re giving special attention to 15 Brazilian authors and musicians, plus foreign ones, such as Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, and Brahms—the great names of international and national classical music,” he said.

The program this month will end on January 25 with pianist Cláudio Vettori and lyric tenor Rodrigo Mathias performing. The lineup includes the composer of the opera O Guarani, Carlos Gomes, and arias from the operas La Bohème and Tosca.

In February, the project will bring to the public Carnival Classics. A woman ahead of her time, Chiquinha Gonzaga will have her timeless song Ô Abre Alas song open the series.

Cultural heritage

Last year, on its 25th anniversary, the Música no Museu project was granted the title of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Rio de Janeiro. “In the field of classical music, only the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (OSB) and the Música no Museu have this title. It’s a great honor for us,” Costa e Silva declared.

This year, he added, the project will bring performances to the Portuguese cities of Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto, and also to Vienna, Austria, “taking musicians and Brazilian music abroad. We bringing back what we had been doing since 2006. These presentations will begin next February.”

In the first three months of 2023, the project will launch a book telling the project’s history. “Because the project has had concerts in countries across all continents. It’s been to Australia, India, Vietnam, Morocco. A performance was also staged at New York’s Carnegie Hall,” he concluded.

03 Greedo Drops ‘Free 03’ Mixtape


Great news for fans of 03 Greedo.

The rapper, née Thomas Havins, is scheduled to be released from prison in the coming days, having been granted parole after serving more than four years of a 20-year prison sentence for drug and firearm charges.

In 2018, Greedo plead guilty to the charges from a 2016 traffic stop in Texas, during which police found methamphetamine and two firearms in the vehicle he was traveling in. The rapper was initially facing up to 300 years, and got hit with the twenty instead. However, his codefendant Justin Scott received probation for the same charges after arguing that police discovered the contraband during an illegal stop and search. Greedo’s current attorney, Morris Overstreet, accused the rapper’s previous lawyers of their inability to conduct a proper defense against the alleged charges, which he felt ultimately led to Greedo taking a plea out of fear of being convicted and hit with the full 300-year sentence.

So, as a means to kinda-sorta get his fans prepared for his impending release, Greedo has dropped his Free 03 mixtape. Produced in its entirety by Mike Free, the 14-track project features the likes of the late Drakeo the Ruler, KenTheMan, and OhGeesy.

Stream Free 03 below.

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03 Greedo Drops ‘Free 03’ Mixtape was last modified: January 10th, 2023 by Meka



Leslie Jordan to Be Honored by Maren Morris, Eddie Vedder, More at Tribute – Billboard


Several country music artists will honor the late comedian-musician Leslie Jordan on Feb. 19, when Reportin’ for Duty: A Tribute to Leslie Jordan is held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

An assembly of Jordan’s friends and collaborators will celebrate his life and career, with performances from Eddie Vedder, Maren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Brittney Spencer, Billy Strings, Lukas Nelson, Jake Wesley Rogers, Ashley McBryde, Fancy Hagood, Jelly Roll, Danny Myrick and Travis Howard, in addition to special appearances by Jim Parsons, Anthony Mason, Mayim Bialik, Cheyenne Jackson, Max Greenfield, Margaret Cho, Robyn Schall, and Leanne Morgan.

Additionally, the house band will feature musicians who all performed on Jordan’s 2021 debut album, Company’s Comin’. On the album, Vedder collaborated with Jordan on “The One Who Hideth Me,” while TJ Osborne appeared on “In the Sweet By and By.” McBryde was also featured on the album, performing “Working on a Building” alongside Jordan and Charlie Worsham.

As a cause close to Jordan’s heart, all proceeds from the event will benefit the EB Research Partnership, an organization dedicated to funding research to treat and cure Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, Jan. 13, at 10 a.m. CT, with pre-sale tickets going on sale Jan. 12 at 10 a.m. CT.

Jordan died Oct. 24, 2022, at age 67, following a car accident in Hollywood, Calif. He was known for his work on shows including Call Me Kat, Will & Grace, The Cool Kids, and The Book of Queer.



Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto praises BTS’ Suga for his love for music


BTS’ Suga recently interacted with popular Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, and the renowned composer has nothing but praise for the BTS member. Sakamoto has been publishing essays in the Japanese literary magazine Shincho since last July. While penning the final installment of the essay How Many Full Moons Will I See in the Future, he reflected on his meeting with Suga.

The latest issue was released on January 7, 2023, and featured Sakamoto’s take on BTS’ Suga as a musician. In the same essay, the composer also spoke about his experience of working as a music director for Hirokazu Kore-eda’s new film Monster.

Sakamoto and Suga had a private meeting in September when the Daechwita singer visited Tokyo. Although the two met for a short period of time, both Sakamoto and Suga were able to share their love for music and composing in the brief while. The 70-year-old artist spoke highly about his views on the K-pop idol in his Shincho essay.


Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto praises BTS’ SUGA for his love and dedication to music

[kmedia] World-renowned Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto revealed an anecdote about meeting BTS SUGA

“Although he is a top superstar, after talking to him, I felt that he is a modest and cool young man with no arrogance, but who is very serious about music”

[kmedia] World-renowned Japanese musician Ryuichi Sakamoto revealed an anecdote about meeting BTS SUGA”Although he is a top superstar, after talking to him, I felt that he is a modest and cool young man with no arrogance, but who is very serious about music” https://t.co/woZ6JahHsD

Ryuichi Sakamoto and BTS’ Suga’s meeting in Tokyo was truly meaningful for both the artists. Even though the two belong to different age groups, nationalities, and speak different languages, they were able to transcend the boundaries through their love for music.

Yoongi, a.k.a. Suga, impressed Sakamoto during this time, who lauded the Korean rapper in his anecdote about interacting with him. He commented:

“[SUGA] thinks so much about music that one could think he has no other hobbies.”

His words resonated with ARMYs (BTS fandom), who are well aware of Suga’s passion for making music. Suga has also been popular for composing most of the tracks performed by BTS since their debut. On top of that, he has also composed music for other artists such as IU, PSY, Giriboy, Epik High, Halsey, MAX, and Suran.

BTS’ Suga, who has a reputation for spending hours in his studio, has continuously proven his talent by producing, writing, rapping, and composing hit songs. He has also made music for popular brands like Samsung and Hyundai in the past.

#SUGA at Incheon International Airport heading to Los Angeles for overseas schedule (via media)

#SUGA at Incheon International Airport heading to Los Angeles for overseas schedule (via media) https://t.co/T2bwv7OPWX

Meanwhile, Ryuichi Sakamoto is known for his contributions to the music industry as a composer, singer, pianist, and record producer. For his work in movies like The Last Emperor, he has been honored with awards including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and two Golden Globes.

In 2009, he was also awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Ministry of Culture of France.


In other news, it is rumored that Suga will be traveling to LA to watch the game between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets. Besides loving music, Yoongi is an avid basketball lover and visited Tokyo in September 2022, to witness an NBA match in Tokyo.

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A sip of soulful music- The New Indian Express


Express News Service

A Saturday night of live jazz music with vocals accompanied by your favourite mocktail and delicious food sounds like the perfect way to spend your weekend. BTL, the live music bar in Egmore, the latest addition to the city’s bar scene  is all set to indulge in creating memories of a relaxing party scene for its customers. With soft ambient lighting and walls painted with warm colours, the first impression of BTL on its grand launch on Saturday spelt swanky.

A melodious welcome
The casual crowd and couples on date night gathered around the live performance of soulful music accompanied by instruments. “As a pub where the centre of attraction is music, we hope to provide an exclusive space in the city dedicated to good food and music. Since I am a big fan of music and have an eye for good DJs after learning DJ-ing, it was my dream to set up a place that would match my passion,” shared Manit Arora, owner of BTL. Manit runs the bar along with Sunny Arora and Kunal Jain.

He ventured into the event management business 13 years ago and concluded that entertainment coupled with music is the best way. Team BTL hopes to present live music for all genres not restricting them to any particular one. Apart from the regular artistes, it will also be a platform for independent artistes to showcase their talents. The guest singer for the inauguration was Lavita Lobo. “I have been in Chennai for the past few years and this pub is a great addition to the city. Here, music is the central point and everything else revolves around that. This will be a good place for artists to showcase their talents,” shared the artiste.

On the menu
As a North Indian living in the city for a long time, Manit also caters to party-goers from the north. A menu brimming with chicken, mutton and a few vegetarian options creatively curated under the guidance of chef Pradeep Perumal brings into the frame a long list of North Indian items. The chef, specialising in continental dishes, has been creating fusion foods for the past 14 years in the UK and USA. For his first job in India as BTL’s head chef, he brings in varieties from all over the world with a traditional twist and uniqueness.

Manit Arora, Sunny Arora | J Allen Egenuse

“The menu highlights include the special tandoori items, Malaysian and Indonesian flavours, eggless brownies and cakes and flavoured ice-creams,” he shared.  Welcoming us with a virgin mojito rich with mint flavour, Pradeep presented a special artichoke garlic bread and artichoke sauce. Created with freshly-made dough, it offered a buttery thin crust with a creamy addition.

The curried broccoli patties stuffed with tender mashed potatoes and mozzarella cheese accompanied by Thai-style dip, leave a milky aftertaste. “This dish is specially created for children as it is neither too spicy nor too sweet,” he shared emphasising that BTL is also a place for families to hang out. Afghani chicken tikka prepared with a blend of chillies, cashews and lemon, with its tender and juicy texture and slightly spicy flavour is an instant hit. The chef’s special mint chutney, a mix of mint, cream, yoghurt and chaat masala complimented the chicken tikka. “The menu also has plenty of seafood options. Another highlight is that we provide Jain food, cooked with no onion or garlic,” he said.

Food, drinks, music — BTL ticks all the boxes. They aspire to turn it into a place of social interaction for artistes and build a community. With flavours and fusion, BTL promises an affordable luxurious experience. 

A melodious welcome
The casual crowd and couples on date night gathered around the live performance of soulful music accompanied by instruments. “As a pub where the centre of attraction is music, we hope to provide an exclusive space in the city dedicated to good food and music. Since I am a big fan of music and have an eye for good DJs after learning DJ-ing, it was my dream to set up a place that would match my passion,” shared Manit Arora, owner of BTL. Manit runs the bar along with Sunny Arora and Kunal Jain.

He ventured into the event management business 13 years ago and concluded that entertainment coupled with music is the best way. Team BTL hopes to present live music for all genres not restricting them to any particular one. Apart from the regular artistes, it will also be a platform for independent artistes to showcase their talents. The guest singer for the inauguration was Lavita Lobo. “I have been in Chennai for the past few years and this pub is a great addition to the city. Here, music is the central point and everything else revolves around that. This will be a good place for artists to showcase their talents,” shared the artiste.

On the menu
As a North Indian living in the city for a long time, Manit also caters to party-goers from the north. A menu brimming with chicken, mutton and a few vegetarian options creatively curated under the guidance of chef Pradeep Perumal brings into the frame a long list of North Indian items. The chef, specialising in continental dishes, has been creating fusion foods for the past 14 years in the UK and USA. For his first job in India as BTL’s head chef, he brings in varieties from all over the world with a traditional twist and uniqueness.

Manit Arora, Sunny Arora | J Allen Egenuse“The menu highlights include the special tandoori items, Malaysian and Indonesian flavours, eggless brownies and cakes and flavoured ice-creams,” he shared.  Welcoming us with a virgin mojito rich with mint flavour, Pradeep presented a special artichoke garlic bread and artichoke sauce. Created with freshly-made dough, it offered a buttery thin crust with a creamy addition.

The curried broccoli patties stuffed with tender mashed potatoes and mozzarella cheese accompanied by Thai-style dip, leave a milky aftertaste. “This dish is specially created for children as it is neither too spicy nor too sweet,” he shared emphasising that BTL is also a place for families to hang out. Afghani chicken tikka prepared with a blend of chillies, cashews and lemon, with its tender and juicy texture and slightly spicy flavour is an instant hit. The chef’s special mint chutney, a mix of mint, cream, yoghurt and chaat masala complimented the chicken tikka. “The menu also has plenty of seafood options. Another highlight is that we provide Jain food, cooked with no onion or garlic,” he said.

Food, drinks, music — BTL ticks all the boxes. They aspire to turn it into a place of social interaction for artistes and build a community. With flavours and fusion, BTL promises an affordable luxurious experience. 

Price and where to buy


Snoop Dogg and Funko Pop have collaborated to bring to you a new line of exclusive figurines of the rapper and we have all the details regarding their release date, price, and more.

Known as The Dogg House, the collection is said to include several Snoop-themed Funko Pop and GOLD figurines.

The collection also puts on display the rapper’s love for football with the game-themed collectibles and other products stretching across sports, music, TV shows and more.

Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Snoop Dogg and Funko Pop release date

The Dogg House collection was released on Friday, January 6, 2023.

The store is located at 913 S. Prairie Ave. in Inglewood, California. Fans can also buy the figurines and other products on Amazon or Funko.com until the supplies last.

The store is located at a short distance from the rapper’s clothig line, which is situated across the street from SoFi Stadium.

He told Billboard at the time of the launch of the store that he was put in touch with Funko Pop through DJ Skee. “Once we started talking about business and the things that we could do, it was just a natural fit.”

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Prices of the figurines

The Funko Pop figurines show Snoop in differnet avatars, each one of them priced differently. You can also find him in the jerseys of his favorite sport teams – the Los Angeles Lakers and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Meanwhile, Funko’s GOLD series depict the rapper in the 90s outfits, as a tribute to his earlier music videos.

The Snoop Dogg figurine featuring him wearing his natural hair, while dressed in plaid shirt and khakhi pants is available for $12.99 while Snoop Dogg with Fur Coat is poriced at $11.99.

All the Funko Pop! collexctibles are priced within $15.

The latest collection also includes Funko Pop! Albums featuring Usher, The Notorious B.I.G and others along with a limited-edition crossovers of Snoop Dogg in his favoprite sports gear.

Store hours

The Dogg House will be operaring during standard hours starting Januaruy 12. You can visit the store from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm.

The store will remain closed on Tuesday, January 10 and Wednesday, January 11.

Funko’s official website also notes that the store does not accept cash. However payments currently accepted include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

Check out here for more details.

In other news, Who is Jessica Robb? CTV News reporter suffers on-air medical emergency

Chicago Classical Review » » Grant Park Music Festival announces 2023 season


By Lawrence A. Johnson

The 2023 Grant ParK Music Festival opens on June 14.

In his penultimate summer as the guiding artistic light of the Grant Park Music Festival, Carlos Kalmar will continue to be a podium presence even as the lakefront festival ramps up the number of guest conductors in search of a successor.

The ten-week festival will serve up its usual artful mix of orchestral favorites, rarities and contemporary works from June 14-August 19. Though in this year’s manifesto, er press release, the music at times almost seems to be an afterthought.

Even more than in past years, the city festival seems primarily focused on what it calls “Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging (DEIB).”

“Fostering equitable representation in the classical music field is a priority for the Grant Park Music Festival,” the statement reads. “The 2023 season aspires to better reflect our community by presenting more works by women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).”

That applies to the booking of guest artists as well: “The Festival’s commitment to DEIB extends to fostering a more equitable environment for music professionals, including the artists who grace our stages. This season, the Grant Park Music Festival welcomes a number of gifted women and BIPOC artists.”

Performing more music by non-European composers is, of course, laudable. But booking soloists primarily on the basis of ethnic and gender bean-counting risks crossing the line from “equity” into race-conscious discrimination itself.

Kalmar will open the ten-week season June 14 leading the Grant Park Orchestra in Schumann’s Symphony No. 4, Robert Muczynski’s Symphonic Dialogues and Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No. 3 with concertmaster Jeremy Black as soloist.

Kalmar will devote the first weekend (June 16-17) to a single solo work, Dvořák’s rarely heard Stabat Mater with the esteemed Grant Park Chorus. A program of Shakespeare-inspired music will be heard on June 23-24. Other works Kalmar will conduct include Mendelssohn’s rarely heard Walpurgis Nacht, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8, William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, Joel Thompson’s Seven Last Words of the Unarmed, and Brahms’ German Requiem.             

Returning this summer are two conductors deserving of consideration as Kalmar successors: Gemma New (July 12) who will lead a program of Barber, Tchaikovsky and Vivian Fung, and David Danzmayr (Beethoven, Rodrigo and Unsuk Chin on August 2).

Conductors making their festival debuts this summer will be Jordan de Souza, Valentina Peleggi, Ludovic Morlot, Kevin John Edusei, Eric Jacobson, and Ken-David Masur.

Soloists appearing this summer are pianists Michelle Cann, Stewart Goodyear, Joyce Yang, and Stephen Hough, violinists Augustin Hadelich, Stefan Jackiw, Tai Murray, and Esther Yoo, cellist Zlatomir Fung, guitarist Aniello Desiderio, and violist Masumi Per Rostad,

Festival memberships are currently on sale. Go to grantparkmusicfestival.com

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