{"id":107197,"date":"2024-08-28T12:47:29","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T16:47:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=107197"},"modified":"2024-08-28T14:00:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T18:00:01","slug":"interview-artistic-director-edwin-huizinga-takes-us-inside-sweetwater-music-festival-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/08\/28\/interview-artistic-director-edwin-huizinga-takes-us-inside-sweetwater-music-festival-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga Takes Us Inside The SweetWater Music Festival 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R:
L-R: Violinist and Festival Artist Yusuf Tajbaksh (Photo courtesy of SweetWater Music Festival); Soprano\/Pianist Rachel Fenlon (Photo: Karyn Avalon); Composer Matthias McIntyre (Photo courtesy of SweetWater Music Festival); Cellist Karen Ouzounian (Photo: Ebru\u00a0Yildiz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Songs & Serenades is the theme for this year\u2019s SweetWater Music Festival, the 21st season for the event. The Festival takes place from September 11 to 15 in various locations across Owen Sound, Meaford and Leith in the Grey Bruce region of Ontario.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a wide variety of concerts, recitals, and experiences available to audience members, including opportunities for amateur musicians to join in a performance.<\/p>\n

The list of guest artists is a long one: Measha Brueggergosman-Lee (voice), Michael Gurevich (violin), Matthias McIntire (composer\/violin), Rachel Fenlon (voice, piano), Keith Hamm (violin), Julie Hereish (cello), Edwin Huizinga (violin), the Canadian Chamber Choir (voice), Stephanie Morin (alto flute), Aaron Davis (composer, keyboard), Karen Ouzounian (cello), Amy Hillis (violin), Catherine Gray (violin\/viola), Dr. Julia Davids (voice), Dr. Joel Tranquilla (voice), Sherryl Sewepagaham (voice).<\/p>\n

We spoke to violinist, composer and Festival Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga about the festival and its lineup for 2024.<\/p>\n

\"The
The 2023 Jam Session led by SweetWater AD Edwin Huizinga (Photo courtesy of SweetWater Music Festival)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga<\/h2>\n

Huizinga is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he now works as a professor alongside his performing, and programming, careers.<\/p>\n

Giving audiences a range of experiences, including active participation, is part of what drives the Festival, says. Huizinga. \u201cIt is a really big important mandate for me,\u201d he says. That means all all levels. \u201cI really think that\u2019s so important, and I love that about the festival.\u201d<\/p>\n

The opening Gala includes performances, along with the chance to meet headliners like Measha Brueggergosman-Lee \u2014 who will be performing her jazz\/classical hybrid project Zombie Blizzard<\/a> along with Aaron Davis and his trio, and the Hannaford Street Silver Band \u2014 Rachel Fenlon, Karen Ouzounian and others.<\/p>\n

Huizinga\u2019s own artistic journey has taken him across North America, including many projects in New York City, and put him in contact with many artists and organizations. Bringing some of them back home to perform in the Festival has been one of his pleasures.<\/p>\n

That includes people like noted cellist Karen Ouzounian<\/strong>, an Armenian-Canadian whose career is taking off south of the border, and soprano and pianist Rachel Fenlon<\/strong>, a Canadian with a thriving career in Berlin. Fenlon is noted for both singing and accompanying herself, a rare feat in the opera world. She will perform \u201cSing Nature Alive\u201d by Festival composer Matthias McIntire.<\/p>\n

Both will be performing in ticketed mainstage events.<\/p>\n

Joining In Jam Sessions<\/h3>\n

However, along with the internationally known musicians and virtuosic concerts, the festival allows string musicians and vocalists to join in.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have these two jam sessions that I\u2019m organizing,\u201d Edwin says. \u201cLast year we had about 60 musicians just soaring through the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by Bach.\u201d<\/p>\n

A look at the jam session from 2023:<\/p>\n