Early Chamber Music
Soprano Dawn Bailey
Harpsichord Tammy-Jo Mortensen
Baroque Cello Josephine van Lier
Photo credit: Erik Visser
The acoustics of the sanctuary make Robertson-Wesley a popular venue for concerts. Both Robertson-Wesley United Church and the Robertson-Wesley Music Society host a variety of concerts every year – to see upcoming events, click the concert link above.
Many groups outside of Robertson-Wesley rent the sanctuary for one-time concerts, and there are two musical groups which reside within Robertson-Wesley during the year and rehearse and present concerts here and elsewhere in the city. They are:
and
The Robertson-Wesley Ringers perform an exciting Handbell Concert!
The Robertson-Wesley Ringers handbell choir and special guests will play a concert of varied repertoire on Sunday, May 27, 2012 at 11:30 am at
Robertson-Wesley United Church (10209-123 Street, Edmonton). This concert is the final performance of the season, and will include some
lively pieces for handbells which will appeal to you visually and musically.
The Robertson-Wesley Ringers play at a very advanced level, and will be performing on five octaves of Mallmark handbells
and choir chimes. They have been invited to play at many different events, have recorded for CBC, and have travelled to
international handbell symposia in Japan and Australia.
In this concert, they will be interpreting newly-composed pieces for handbells, dazzling hymns and even a jazzy
arrangement. They will be joined by two guest musicians, as well as the R-W Ringlets, a
recently-formed handbell quartet.
Admission to the concert is by donation.
For more information please call Tammy-Jo at 780-482-1587 or music@rwuc.org
The Choirs of Robertson-Wesley United Church, Knox-Metropolitan United Church,
Willan Chorale and friends are joining together again to present a programme of works by
the Austrian Classical-era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Friday March 23 2012 at 8:00 pm
There will be two performances of several of Mozart's works, including the ever-popular Ave Verum Corpus and some other small gems.
Also on the program is "Laudate Dominum" from Vesperae solemnes de confessore and "Exsultate Jubilate". The latter will feature
Claire Rolheiser, as soloist. The final work on the programme is Mozart's Missa Brevis in D Major, K. 194 which will include
many soloists from the choirs, as well as a chamber orchestra of some of Edmonton's finest string players. The first performance will be
Sunday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Knox-Metropolitan United Church (8307-109 Street) and a repeat performance on Friday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m.
at Robertson-Wesley United Church (10209-123 Street).
There will be a freewill offering for the morning (March 18) performance at Knox-Metropolitan United, and tickets for the
Robertson-Wesley United evening (March 23) performance are $15/adults, $10/students and seniors and are available in the church office or at the door.
A Concert of Instrumental Music
Composed by the Loeillet Family in 18th Century Flanders
On Sunday January 29, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Les Voix De Ghent - A Concert of Instrumental Music by the Loeillet Family in 18th Century Flanders will be performed at Robertson-Wesley United Church. Performed by Henri Gauci on baroque flutes and Tammy-Jo Mortensen on harpsichords using period instruments - historic reproductions of musical instruments used in the baroque period - the concert will present works by the renowned Loeillet family of musicians from the city of Ghent in Flanders. Featured will be instrumental sonatas composed by Jean Baptiste Loeillet, Jean Baptiste Loeillet de Ghent and Jacques Loeillet.
A great deal of confusion has existed around the Loeillet family due in part to the similarity of their given names - two cousins having the same Christian name Jean-Baptist and a younger brother bearing the name Jacques. Born a total of eight years apart the Loeillets developed as musicians at a time in Europe when French, Italian and German musical styles collided. As their careers developed the musicians of the Loeillet family headed to different regions of Europe, and this concert will examine how their divergences from a common musical and artistic origin affected each of their compositional styles. Although not well known today, in the opening decades of the 18th Century the Loeillet family were among the best-known musicians in Flanders, appropriately making them Les Voix De Ghent or The Voices of Ghent.
Admission is $15.00 for adults, $10.00 for students and seniors. Tickets available at The Gramophone 7913 - 104 St., Edmonton, the Robertson-Wesley church office or at the door, all proceeds will be in support of the Robertson-Wesley Music Society.
January 13, 2012, 12:00 pm
You are invited to join a noon-hour celebration of Italian and English baroque music with Montreal soprano Dawn Bailey, harpsichordist Tammy-Jo Mortensen, and cellist Josephine van Lier. Featuring these three internationally renowned performers, this intimate concert will bring to life celebrated compositions by Claudio Monteverdi and Henry Purcell. Lesser-known gems from seventeenth-century Italy are also on the menu, as well as a few surprise guest performers! An event not to be missed! Admission: By Donation
2011 Dec 11, Sunday at 4 pm, at Robertson-Wesley
This is a beautiful service of interwoven readings and music. As the light dissipates outside, we light more and more candles inside. The Choir of Robertson-Wesley is featured, along with choir soloists, and guest organist Belinda Chiang, all under the direction of Tammy-Jo Mortensen. No admission charge, freewill offering.
2011 Dec 1, Thursday, 7-8 pm, at the Legislature
Robertson-Wesley Ringers and Ringlets perform festive favourites at the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Free admission, great music, hot chocolate and Christmas lights!
At Robertson-Wesley, September 23, Friday at 8:00 pm. Tickets: $20 at the church office. Proceeds go to the Mission and Service Fund of the United Church of Canada.
Concert flier . Kirsten Jones web site
Celebrate Canada Day weekend with
Canadian and Scandinavian Organ Music!
Tammy-Jo Mortensen, organ
1:30 pm Sunday, July 3, 2011
Robertson-Wesley United Church
10209-123 Street, Edmonton
Admission by donation
Organist Tammy-Jo Mortensen celebrates Canadian composers past and present and rounds out the concert with the addition of some Scandinavian composers. Composers included in the program are Edmonton's own Allan Gilliland, Jacobus Kloppers, and Ontario composers Eleanor Daley and Healey Willan. Also included is Danish composer Niels Gade, Swedish-Canadian Bengt Hambraeus, and Norwegian composer Mons Leidvin Takle.
Mortensen has an active career in Edmonton as the Music Director at Robertson-Wesley United Church, harpsichordist of the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and as a free-lance performer, conductor, and teacher. This summer, she will play recitals in Denmark, and will co-direct the United Voices of Edmonton in a two-week tour to England with stops in Bath Abbey, Alveston, and Gloucester Cathedral.
Admission to the concert is by donation, and proceeds will go toward the United Voices of Edmonton England tour.
The Robertson-Wesley Ringers handbell choir and special guests will play a concert of varied repertoire on Sunday, June 5, 2011 at 11:30 am at R-W. This concert is the final performance of the season, and will include some lively pieces for handbells which will appeal to you visually and musically. In this concert, they will be interpreting newly-composed pieces for handbells, dazzling hymn and spirituals arrangements. For the concert they will be joined by a cowboy poet as well as the R-W Ringlets, a newly-formed handbell quartet.
A Concert full of contrast
The Choir of Robertson-Wesley United Church and the University of Alberta Graduate Recital Choir join together to present a programme called "Light and Darkness" on Friday, 2011 April 1, at 8 pm at Robertson-Wesley United Church.
This concert will feature Canadian composer Eleanor Daley's haunting Requiem as well as music by Byrd. The first half of the program will be sung by the Choir of Robertson-Wesley, and will feature soloists Claire Rolheiser, soprano and Michael Kurschat, baritone. The second half of the concert will be performed by U of A Graduate Recital Choir, and chamber orchestra, and will feature soprano soloist, Kimberley Taylor. The U of A Choir will present a wide variety of pieces spanning four centuries and the texts speak about night and day, darkness and light, sleeping and waking, as well as death and life.
Leading the choir and orchestra will be conductor Tammy-Jo Mortensen. This concert is in partial fulfillment of a Masters Degree in Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta.
There is no admission charge for this concert.
On Sunday February 27, 2011 at 3:00 pm, some of Edmonton’s top chamber musicians will perform a Romantic Chamber Music concert at Robertson-Wesley. The concert is a fundraising event in support of the United Voices of Edmonton’s trip to England in August 2011. Tickets, available at the door, and in advance at the office are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.
The musical selections for Romantic Chamber Music include music from Johannes Brahms, Carl Reinecke, and other Romantic German composers and will feature piano, horn, violin, oboe, and singers. Special guest pianist Robin Phillips, a pianist and vocal coach with the Karlsruhe State Opera in Germany, will accompany soprano Judith Richardson in a set of German Lieder. Robin will be joined by pianist Andrew Sims to play the piano four-hands accompaniment for Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, which will be sung by soloists. Andrew will also perform in the Brahms’ trio with French horn player Laura Snyder and violinist Marie Krejcar. Along with oboist Beth Levia and pianist Tammy-Jo Mortensen, Laura Snyder will also be featured in the Reinecke Trio in a minor for oboe, horn and piano.
a celebration of Mozart?s 255th birthday! Sat. Jan. 29 at 7 pm, featuring many young artists from our community as well as the Robertson-Wesley and Knox-Metropolitan Choirs singing ?Missa Brevis? by Mozart. Tickets are $10. Tickets will be available beginning Jan. 9.
a very unique concert ? an opportunity to hear a Baroque flute played by Henri Gauci with Tammy-Jo Mortensen on the harpsichord. Sunday, Jan. 23 at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $10 for student/seniors. Tickets will be available beginning Jan. 9.
Monday, December 13, 6 pm
Actor and musician Tom Jackson brings an entourage of musicians across Canada in December to raise money for various cities Food Banks. Come hear the Robertson-Wesley Ringers, other opening acts and Tom Jackson! Tickets available at Robertson-Wesley and Edmonton's Food Bank soon.
Sunday, December 12, 4 pm
This is a beautiful service of interwoven readings and music. As the light dissipates outside, we light more and more candles inside. The Choir of Robertson-Wesley is featured, along with choir soloists, and guest organist Belinda Chiang, all under the direction of Tammy-Jo Mortensen. No admission charge, freewill offering.
Fri. Oct. 15, 2010 Memorial Hall 6 pm
Step back in time with a night of medieval merriment. Enjoy melodious music, fantastic food and raucous rabblerousing. Lords, ladies and peasants alike are welcome. If you can, come in your favourite medieval costume. But beware! Brave knights abound and are ready to fight.
Tickets available in the church office. $60 in advance ($65 after Oct. 1)
which includes a $25 tax receipt.
Cheques should be made out to the Robertson-Wesley Music Society.
In support of the United Voices of Edmonton trip to England in August 2010.
2010 June 27, Sunday at 2 pm West Coast Soprano Nancy Washeim returns to Robertson-Wesley for a concert of music of the English composer Purcell as a fundraiser for the United Voices of Edmonton England tour! Nancy is an early music specialist and her captivating voice will be joined by soprano Jill Hoogewoonink, cellist Ronda Metzies and harpsichordist Tammy-Jo Mortensen. Tickets are available through the church office for $15, and the concert will include an intermission of English dainties and cordial.
Choral Concert full of exuberance and joy to celebrate the Easter season!
The Choirs of Robertson-Wesley United Church, Knox-Metropolitan United Church and the Willan Chorale have joined together to present a programme called “Te Deum”. There will be two performances of two works – the orchestral and choral masterpiece - Te Deum Laudamus by French Baroque composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier and an orchestral ballet suite by Jean-Baptiste Lully. The first performance will be Sunday, April 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Knox-Metropolitan United Church (8307-109 Street) and a repeat performance on Saturday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Robertson-Wesley United Church (10209-123 Street).
Sponsored by the Robertson-Wesley Music Society, the choir’s performance of Te Deum Laudamus will present a celebratory text for the Easter season. Both works are filled with exuberant joy and the elated triumph of light over the darkness, love over death.
The two works will be performed by the choirs and a chamber orchestra consisting of some of Edmonton’s finest string players. Leading the choir and orchestra will be conductors/organists Warren Mack and Tammy-Jo Mortensen and the featured soloists are the much sought-after singers around Edmonton – Kimberley Taylor, soprano, Adrienne Sitko, mezzo-soprano, Ron Long, tenor, and Michael Kurschat, baritone.
There will be a freewill offering for the morning (April 18) performance at Knox-Metropolitan United, and tickets for the Robertson-Wesley United evening (April 24) performance are $15/adults and $10/students and seniors and are available at the door at Robertson-Wesley United Church (10209-123 Street). All monies raised will go toward a choral tour in England planned for August 2011.
For more information call Tammy-Jo at 780-482-1587 or music@rwuc.org
Piano and voice concert given by Arne Sahlen and Hy Chanthavouth, Tuesday, May 18 at 7:30 pm in the R-W Sanctuary. Vouth is a young man from Cambodia, who has been brought to Canada by the Cambodia Support Group in Canada. He has AMAZING talent and an exceptional tenor voice, and has been given the opportunity for training in Canada. He gives back to his community as much as possible raising funds for the poor in Cambodia and Canada, and works with the disabled and children. A freewill offering will be collected in support of the Cambodia Support Group and the Robertson-Wesley Music Society for the choral trip to England. Come hear amazing young talent and support two causes!
Sunday, May 30, 2 pm – Two Sopranos concert….you’ve heard of the Three Tenors, well, come hear Two Sopranos! Jill Hoogewoonink and Caroline De Grave share some marvelous music with a concert titled “Musings” in the Robertson-Wesley sanctuary. The freewill offering proceeds will go to the Mission and Service Fund as well as an audition tour for Jill.
Sunday, June 6, 11:30 am – Robertson-Wesley Ringers and guests in concert. Hear some wonderful, challenging, and familiar bell music. Special guests include percussionist Bob Fenske. Freewill offering.