{"id":113770,"date":"2025-04-22T12:35:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T16:35:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113770"},"modified":"2025-04-22T14:00:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T18:00:02","slug":"interview-artistic-director-daniel-vnukowski-talks-expanding-collingwood-festivals-youth-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/04\/22\/interview-artistic-director-daniel-vnukowski-talks-expanding-collingwood-festivals-youth-programming\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski Talks About Expanding Collingwood Festival\u2019s Youth Programming"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_113772\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-113772\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-113772\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65.jpg\" alt=\"The Collingwood Music Festival (Photo courtesy of CMF)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-113772\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Collingwood Music Festival (Photo courtesy of CMF)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>What\u2019s the best way to ensure a future for a music festival, and by extension, a musical art form itself? By adding more focus to the next generation. That\u2019s the idea behind an expansion of the youth programming being offered at the Collingwood Music Festival, taking place this year from July 9 to 18.<\/p>\n<p>We talked to Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski about what\u2019s new, and what\u2019s being offered to younger music lovers at the Festival.<\/p>\n<h2>Daniel Vnukowski, Artistic Director<\/h2>\n<p>Daniel founded the Festival in 2019 to bring a major music festival to the beautiful Southern Georgian Bay area of Ontario. Along with his role as Artistic Director of the Collingwood Music Festival, Daniel Vnukowski has a busy career as a concert pianist and also as the host of the Classical Jukebox on the New Classical FM radio station. He studied at the Lake Como International Piano Academy in Italy, the Peabody Institute of Baltimore, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. In addition to concerts in Canada, Europe and Asia, he has been dedicated to education and outreach efforts, including a series of performances in remote communities.<\/p>\n<p>Highlights of this year\u2019s expanded youth and community programming include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The annual Youth Academy has been expanded to five days with scholarships;<\/li>\n<li>A Rising Star concert series;<\/li>\n<li>Local school outreach to more than 500 students;<\/li>\n<li>A free outdoor Symphony Under the Stars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s so integral to our growth,\u201d Vnukowski says of the focus on next gen programs.<\/p>\n<p>As he notes, along with other considerations, it\u2019s a response to changing demographics in the Georgian Bay region. More and more families are moving into a region that was once known largely as a vacation area.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe kind of wanted to grow into a mini Tanglewood here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Youth Academy is a program for musicians age 24 and under, with applicants chosen by audition. Expanded to five from three days previously, events take place in the National Ski Academy facilities, and include an intensive masterclass, youth talent night, concerts, and a chamber music group. Scholarships will cover 20% of the tuition fees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s having fives days of really immersive instruction,\u201d he notes. The natural setting is part of the appeal.<\/p>\n<p>Along with events during the Festival, the school outreach program is an important component. \u201cWe really want to hit the schools again,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s was a challenge to restart that outreach post pandemic, as he reports, but it\u2019s essential, particularly considering the dearth of music education being offered in the school system. He believes that targeting middle school kids aged about 10 to 12 is key, and the response is best. \u201cIt\u2019s before the peer pressure gets to them.,\u201d he explains. It\u2019s an age where kids start to want to know more about the world around them. \u201cThat\u2019s the kind of sweet spot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He mentions the excitement the young performers have had in previous Festivals when they work with nationally and internationally recognized performers like the Elmer Iseler Singers. \u201cThey\u2019re so inspiring when they work with youth.\u201d The mentors this year include cellist Roman Borys, violinist Sharon Lee, mezzo soprano Andrea Ludwig, and Vnuknowski himself.<\/p>\n<p>Vnukowski says the response to their call for video auditions went beyond their expectations, including both the Youth Academy and Rising Star concert series.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe did not expect to have a full house,\u201d he said of last year\u2019s concert. \u201cThat was hugely successful.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Summer and Beyond<\/h3>\n<p>Around the core of summer\u2019s Festival week, adding more concerts and events throughout the year will keep the momentum. That will include top touring artists.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s in the works for the fall,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s a natural growth. We\u2019ve come from a mom and pop group playing in cottages.\u201d It\u2019s now an event with a true sense of community. \u201cIt\u2019s very festive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Festival has a notable economic impact on the larger community, but it\u2019s about more than dollars and sense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s helps the newcomer find a sense of belonging,\u201d he says. \u201cIt can help teens find themselves as they grow up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Symphony Under The Stars, a free outdoor concert that\u2019s being introduced this year, aims to bring the Festival experience to a broader audience, including those who may not think that orchestral music is their thing. The program will include well known classical works, along with movie music and orchestral arrangements of pop. \u201cAll the usual suspects,\u201d Daniel says.<\/p>\n<p>An exit survey will help them determine the impact. Are they newcomers to the Festival? Did they enjoy it \u2014 enough to come back?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs you can see, we\u2019re branching out,\u201d he says. \u201cWhen the 10 years olds become 65 year olds, are they still buying tickets?\u201d<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find out more about the Collingwood Music Festival [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/collingwoodfestival.com\/festival-events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? Have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/masthead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>news tip<\/u><\/a>? Need to know the best\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/events\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><u>events<\/u><\/a>\u00a0happening this weekend? Send us a\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><a href=\"mailto:anya@ludwig-van.com?subject=Let's%20chat\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em><u>note<\/u>.<\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em><b>#LUDWIGVAN<\/b><\/em><\/h3>\n<p class=\"western\"><em>Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"western\"><em>Sign up for the Ludwig Van Toronto e-Blast! \u2014 local classical music and opera news straight to your inbox <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid=S3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/583e6ce0-dfd0-48be-8a33-61256b3c58e3.mlbtlr.com\/p2\/Fbd8jWoWQQ6CdBcLIvut3Q\/02E3cYaETqaj4Xm087cpSg?contactid%3DS3HHYfHY5rZv5f94S15MnA&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1695737525351000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QTqKRwRJQFGK3KoJYigxX\">HERE<\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What\u2019s the best way to ensure a future for a music festival, and by extension, a musical art form itself? By adding more focus to the next generation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":113772,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[41660,76,19,41496,29,3693,49,59],"tags":[41342,36103],"yst_prominent_words":[11623,12835,7412,14508,6616,7410],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/04\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-65.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9bakr-tB0","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113770"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=113770"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":113775,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113770\/revisions\/113775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/113772"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=113770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=113770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=113770"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=113770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}