Crete International Festival of Arts
International Performers
Melina Moore, Soprano (Canada)
A native of Buenos
Aires, Argentina, Melina Moore grew up in New York City and received her
undergraduate training at The Juilliard School in voice and piano
accompaniment, beginning at age 16. Prior to that, her vocal and
performance study began at the age of 9 at the Manhattan School of Music
Preparatory Division with Donald Read, and she was a member of the New
York City Opera Children's Chorus and the Metropolitan Opera Children's
Chorale, debuting in Boito's Mefistofele with Samuel Ramey.
A vocal performance major at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, Melina made her operatic debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with LaGuardia's Bel Aria Opera Company in 1995, under the tutelage of her first vocal instructor, Anna Ext. Among the honors she has received are a full academic scholarship to Columbia University, a tuition scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music and the Lucrezia Bori Grant for operatic and interpretive study and performance at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A versatile high-lyric coloratura, Melina participated in a four-year Bachelor Degree program at the Juilliard School where she trained under Beverley Peck-Johnson and Cynthia Hoffmann, and appeared as a soloist in the Alice Tully Hall opera concert series, the Juilliard Opera Center and the Maxwell von Gluck Fellowship, studying and performing the roles of Belinda in Dido and Aeneus, Celidora in L'Oca del Cairo, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera and Nanetta in Falstaff. With the Mannes College of Music, she performed the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Papagena in The Magic Flute with the Teatro Colon Y.A. Program in Argentina. She has been an active recitalist in and around the New York area, and since her move west, has continued to appear in concert in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
With a love of musical theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway productions in which she has appeared as a principal artist include Good News, Showboat, The Apple Tree, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys & Dolls, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast, Carousel, Candide and The Sound of Music.
A vocal performance major at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, Melina made her operatic debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with LaGuardia's Bel Aria Opera Company in 1995, under the tutelage of her first vocal instructor, Anna Ext. Among the honors she has received are a full academic scholarship to Columbia University, a tuition scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music and the Lucrezia Bori Grant for operatic and interpretive study and performance at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A versatile high-lyric coloratura, Melina participated in a four-year Bachelor Degree program at the Juilliard School where she trained under Beverley Peck-Johnson and Cynthia Hoffmann, and appeared as a soloist in the Alice Tully Hall opera concert series, the Juilliard Opera Center and the Maxwell von Gluck Fellowship, studying and performing the roles of Belinda in Dido and Aeneus, Celidora in L'Oca del Cairo, Despina in Cosi Fan Tutte, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Oscar in Un Ballo in Maschera and Nanetta in Falstaff. With the Mannes College of Music, she performed the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Papagena in The Magic Flute with the Teatro Colon Y.A. Program in Argentina. She has been an active recitalist in and around the New York area, and since her move west, has continued to appear in concert in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.
With a love of musical theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway productions in which she has appeared as a principal artist include Good News, Showboat, The Apple Tree, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys & Dolls, My Fair Lady, The Music Man, Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast, Carousel, Candide and The Sound of Music.
Melina's work in Canada has included The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Gretel in Hansel & Gretel, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, all with the Okanagan Vocal Arts Festival. Concert and oratorio works have included The Faure Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Schubert Mass in B Minor, John Rutter's Requiem and Carmina Burana,
with the Prince George, Kamloops and Kelowna Symphonies, and, most
recently, a tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber with the OSO. She has
performed with the Burnaby Symphony, Kelowna Canada Day Symphony
Orchestra, Prince George Symphony, Symphony of the Kootenays, Kamloops
Symphony and Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, and has been a featured artist
on CBC Radio Two. In July 2011, Melina completed a successful tour as
soprano soloist with the Victoria Summer Symphony and Choir with
conductor Simon Leung, and featured as soprano soloist in
Mozart's Requiem with the OSO in November.
Raised in the Jewish faith, Melina has been a cantorial soloist for Temple Beth Shalom in Manhattan, and The Okanagan Jewish Community Centre in Kelowna, BC. She has just completed a CD entitled Songs for my Zeide featuring original arrangements of Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian folksongs, accompanying herself on piano.
From 2007-2009, Melina produced and starred in Opera with a Twist, an original production bringing opera to the masses, completing two tours of Western Canada to great acclaim. Since 2010, Melina has been the headline performer at the new Swarovski Sparkling Hill Wellness Resort, performing as soloist in her original concert series, Soprano on the Hill, to Canadian, American and European audiences.
Since 1996, she has been the founder and director of the Valley Vocal Arts Studio in Vernon, British Columbia. Acting as producer and musical director for aspiring singers of all ages, Valley Vocal Arts has enjoyed acclaimed full-scale productions of Les Miserables (2010), Mel Brooks' The Producers (2011) and the upcoming Pirates of Penzance (2012). She is passionate about bringing the best of live theatre and showcasing local talent to Okanagan audiences.
You can hear Melina's unique voice by clicking on the icon below:
Raised in the Jewish faith, Melina has been a cantorial soloist for Temple Beth Shalom in Manhattan, and The Okanagan Jewish Community Centre in Kelowna, BC. She has just completed a CD entitled Songs for my Zeide featuring original arrangements of Hebrew, Yiddish and Russian folksongs, accompanying herself on piano.
From 2007-2009, Melina produced and starred in Opera with a Twist, an original production bringing opera to the masses, completing two tours of Western Canada to great acclaim. Since 2010, Melina has been the headline performer at the new Swarovski Sparkling Hill Wellness Resort, performing as soloist in her original concert series, Soprano on the Hill, to Canadian, American and European audiences.
Since 1996, she has been the founder and director of the Valley Vocal Arts Studio in Vernon, British Columbia. Acting as producer and musical director for aspiring singers of all ages, Valley Vocal Arts has enjoyed acclaimed full-scale productions of Les Miserables (2010), Mel Brooks' The Producers (2011) and the upcoming Pirates of Penzance (2012). She is passionate about bringing the best of live theatre and showcasing local talent to Okanagan audiences.
You can hear Melina's unique voice by clicking on the icon below:
Just Harrie - Harriet Whitehead & Chris Peet (Wales, UK)
Just Harrie consists of singer Harriet Whitehead and guitarist Chris Peet.
Their rise to international noteriety has been a roller coaster; after less than a month of 'jamming' together in the BRfm radio station, Just Harrie were fortunate enough to be asked to join West End musical theatre star Peter Karrie and musical director John Quirk on their UK wide tour throughout 2010. Later that same year they were then asked to perform for 'Sony's' official Christmas party, to great acclaim.
Chris and Harrie are both involved in a variety of different areas of the music industry. Running their own recording studio, Chris is also a director at BRfm, a social enterprise volunteering organization, which both Chris and Harrie are heavily involved in, and both also tutor and run workshops in amateur dramatics, vocal and performance technique, songwriting and recording.
Just Harrie visited Crete in 2011 as guests of Symphonic Brass Wales, supporting Peter Karrie in the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts and performing in the Crete International Tattoo. They are currently working on their first album, along with their own production which they aim to tour across the UK. Harriet was recently featured in the major BBC television production 'The Voice'.
Just Harrie will soon resume their touring performances, both solo and together with Peter Karrie, and will also continue their support of charities including Bobath Cymru, In the Pink and others.
Their rise to international noteriety has been a roller coaster; after less than a month of 'jamming' together in the BRfm radio station, Just Harrie were fortunate enough to be asked to join West End musical theatre star Peter Karrie and musical director John Quirk on their UK wide tour throughout 2010. Later that same year they were then asked to perform for 'Sony's' official Christmas party, to great acclaim.
Chris and Harrie are both involved in a variety of different areas of the music industry. Running their own recording studio, Chris is also a director at BRfm, a social enterprise volunteering organization, which both Chris and Harrie are heavily involved in, and both also tutor and run workshops in amateur dramatics, vocal and performance technique, songwriting and recording.
Just Harrie visited Crete in 2011 as guests of Symphonic Brass Wales, supporting Peter Karrie in the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts and performing in the Crete International Tattoo. They are currently working on their first album, along with their own production which they aim to tour across the UK. Harriet was recently featured in the major BBC television production 'The Voice'.
Just Harrie will soon resume their touring performances, both solo and together with Peter Karrie, and will also continue their support of charities including Bobath Cymru, In the Pink and others.
|
|
|
Paris Port Dover Pipes & Drums (Canada)
Proud ambassadors of Canada, the Province of Ontario, Brant County and Norfolk County, the award-winning Paris Port Dover Pipe Band has garnered a reputation for excellence - locally, nationally, and internationally.
Wearing the Lamont Tartan, the band has impressed audiences at parades, concerts, festivals, ceremonies, tattoos and competitions. PPD has performed at the Virginia International Military Tattoo (four times), Highland Games throughout Ontario, numerous stage performances in Port Dover, Paris and Brantford, the Marymass Festival in Scotland, the World Championships in Glasgow (twice), the Calgary Stampede, Mount Rushmore and twice on the Greek island of Crete. In addition, the band has also performed with Sir Paul McCartney at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Since the band's formation in 2000, it has grown rapidly from its modest beginnings of only ten pipers and one drummer to close to 120 members made up of pipers and drummers from beginners to advanced level players. Competing in the international competition at the Calgary Stampede Parade in 2004, PPD won second place over other more experienced bands in front of 35 million television viewers and 400,000 spectators. The band also played at the Spruce Meadows Equestrian Centre by exclusive invitation and it became the first band to play at the Lake Louise Lodge by putting on an impromptu performance surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains.
The very first competition band became North American Champions as well as winning the Champion Supreme titles in Grade V in 2005. In 2006 the band was upgraded to Grade IV. In this grade they placed consistently in the prize list at the North American Games.
In 2006, the band traveled to France to play at the Juno Beach Centre celebrations in Normandy, and also played at the Dieppe ceremonies, continuing on to Scotland to play at the Marymass Festival, and in 2007, the Grade Four competition band traveled to Glasgow, Scotland to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships, bringing home the fourth place trophy.
In 2008, the new Grade Five band, which was formed in 2007, traveled to the World Championships in Glasgow where they played their way into an impressive second place in Grade 4b. They also won the North American Championship and, gained the title of Ontario Champion supreme for 2008. In 2010, the Grade 5 competition band once again gained the title of Champion Supreme.
The mandate of the Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band is: to act as ambassadors of Canada, the Province of Ontario, Brant County and Norfolk County while achieving excellence in the performance of Scottish music; to provide young people of any skill level with instruction in Scottish music and give them opportunities to play with the band; and to assist local service clubs and non-profit groups with their various ceremonies, memorials, parades, and events through band performances.
Wearing the Lamont Tartan, the band has impressed audiences at parades, concerts, festivals, ceremonies, tattoos and competitions. PPD has performed at the Virginia International Military Tattoo (four times), Highland Games throughout Ontario, numerous stage performances in Port Dover, Paris and Brantford, the Marymass Festival in Scotland, the World Championships in Glasgow (twice), the Calgary Stampede, Mount Rushmore and twice on the Greek island of Crete. In addition, the band has also performed with Sir Paul McCartney at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Since the band's formation in 2000, it has grown rapidly from its modest beginnings of only ten pipers and one drummer to close to 120 members made up of pipers and drummers from beginners to advanced level players. Competing in the international competition at the Calgary Stampede Parade in 2004, PPD won second place over other more experienced bands in front of 35 million television viewers and 400,000 spectators. The band also played at the Spruce Meadows Equestrian Centre by exclusive invitation and it became the first band to play at the Lake Louise Lodge by putting on an impromptu performance surrounded by the majestic Rocky Mountains.
The very first competition band became North American Champions as well as winning the Champion Supreme titles in Grade V in 2005. In 2006 the band was upgraded to Grade IV. In this grade they placed consistently in the prize list at the North American Games.
In 2006, the band traveled to France to play at the Juno Beach Centre celebrations in Normandy, and also played at the Dieppe ceremonies, continuing on to Scotland to play at the Marymass Festival, and in 2007, the Grade Four competition band traveled to Glasgow, Scotland to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships, bringing home the fourth place trophy.
In 2008, the new Grade Five band, which was formed in 2007, traveled to the World Championships in Glasgow where they played their way into an impressive second place in Grade 4b. They also won the North American Championship and, gained the title of Ontario Champion supreme for 2008. In 2010, the Grade 5 competition band once again gained the title of Champion Supreme.
The mandate of the Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band is: to act as ambassadors of Canada, the Province of Ontario, Brant County and Norfolk County while achieving excellence in the performance of Scottish music; to provide young people of any skill level with instruction in Scottish music and give them opportunities to play with the band; and to assist local service clubs and non-profit groups with their various ceremonies, memorials, parades, and events through band performances.
Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers (Scotland)
The Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers was established in 2007 and have performed at a variety of international events in recent years.
In 2007 the group had the honour of representing Scotland at the Virginia International Tattoo held in Norfolk, USA performing with the Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia and the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Canadian Forces. Ailsa Craig returned to the event in 2010, on this occasion joined by the Schiehallion Dancers of Hamilton, Ontario.
In July 2010 seven dancers joined the Rhythm of Africa dancers, based in South Africa, at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland performing with the Swiss Army Concert Band and piper Stuart Samson. The group also performed at the first Crete International Tattoo in September that year, working with Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, Symphonic Brass Wales and the Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra. At the event the dancers learned some traditional Greek dancing to perform alongside Cretan dancers in the show finale.
In April 2011 choreographer Aileen Robertson was appointed Dance Director for the first ever Las Vegas International Tattoo, choreographing the Ailsa Craig Broadswords for an international team of dancers from Scotland, Canada & the United States. The dance was accompanied by the Pipes & Drums 1st Battalion Scots Guards led by Pipe Major Brian Heriot. The Tattoo was held in the 10,000 seat Thomas & Mack Arena in conjunction with a two day Highland Games.
The Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers returned to the Virginia International Tattoo in April 2011 and again to Crete in September 2011, performing in the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts. In November the group travelled to Berlin to perform in the Berlin Tattoo, at the prestigious O2 Arena, which also featured The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and Top Secret Drum Corps.
In 2012 the group look forward to returning to Switzerland and the Basel Tattoo, and to Crete for the Crete International Festival of Arts.
In 2007 the group had the honour of representing Scotland at the Virginia International Tattoo held in Norfolk, USA performing with the Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia and the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Canadian Forces. Ailsa Craig returned to the event in 2010, on this occasion joined by the Schiehallion Dancers of Hamilton, Ontario.
In July 2010 seven dancers joined the Rhythm of Africa dancers, based in South Africa, at the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland performing with the Swiss Army Concert Band and piper Stuart Samson. The group also performed at the first Crete International Tattoo in September that year, working with Paris Port Dover Pipe Band, Symphonic Brass Wales and the Heraklion Philharmonic Orchestra. At the event the dancers learned some traditional Greek dancing to perform alongside Cretan dancers in the show finale.
In April 2011 choreographer Aileen Robertson was appointed Dance Director for the first ever Las Vegas International Tattoo, choreographing the Ailsa Craig Broadswords for an international team of dancers from Scotland, Canada & the United States. The dance was accompanied by the Pipes & Drums 1st Battalion Scots Guards led by Pipe Major Brian Heriot. The Tattoo was held in the 10,000 seat Thomas & Mack Arena in conjunction with a two day Highland Games.
The Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers returned to the Virginia International Tattoo in April 2011 and again to Crete in September 2011, performing in the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts. In November the group travelled to Berlin to perform in the Berlin Tattoo, at the prestigious O2 Arena, which also featured The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines and Top Secret Drum Corps.
In 2012 the group look forward to returning to Switzerland and the Basel Tattoo, and to Crete for the Crete International Festival of Arts.
Symphonic Brass Wales (UK)
Wales' leading touring brass ensemble, Symphonic Brass Wales has been
providing top quality brass performances across Wales & beyond for
over a decade.
Concert engagements, corporate work and ceremonial occasions, Symphonic Brass Wales performs a wide variety of music in various different combinations and ensembles, suitable for all events and occasions.
In recent years musicians from the group have toured to Canada, Germany, Greece and North Africa, and featured in some of the world's largest ceremonial events including the Crete International Tattoo, the Hamburg Polizei Show, the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and the World Military Music Festival.
SBW have appeared in concert alongside West End musical theatre star Peter Karrie, and featured in the Imperial Ice Stars production of Cinderella On Ice, performing live at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Alongside all of this Symphonic Brass Wales also performs regularly for charity, performing annually in aid of both the Royal British Legion and Ty Cymorth children's hospice.
SBW remains committed to providing performances of the highest quality at home and abroad, and will continue their role as musical ambassadors for Wales, Welsh music and the medium of brass.
Concert engagements, corporate work and ceremonial occasions, Symphonic Brass Wales performs a wide variety of music in various different combinations and ensembles, suitable for all events and occasions.
In recent years musicians from the group have toured to Canada, Germany, Greece and North Africa, and featured in some of the world's largest ceremonial events including the Crete International Tattoo, the Hamburg Polizei Show, the Mediterranean International Festival of Arts, the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo and the World Military Music Festival.
SBW have appeared in concert alongside West End musical theatre star Peter Karrie, and featured in the Imperial Ice Stars production of Cinderella On Ice, performing live at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Alongside all of this Symphonic Brass Wales also performs regularly for charity, performing annually in aid of both the Royal British Legion and Ty Cymorth children's hospice.
SBW remains committed to providing performances of the highest quality at home and abroad, and will continue their role as musical ambassadors for Wales, Welsh music and the medium of brass.
Club Piruett (Estonia)
Club Piruett is a gymnastics school based in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. The club was founded in 1990 and is a member of the Estonian Sports Association "Kalev". Club Piruett currently has more than 600 members, the youngest of whom are as young as 3 years of age.
The club has become a centre for various gymnastic activities for children and different styles of workout for women.
Club Piruett boasts a first class team of highly educated and experienced coaches, whose strong and goal oriented work with competitive groups sees Piruett consistently among the best clubs in Estonia.
Club Piruett's internationally best known performing group is the Club Piruett Elite group. The Elite group consists of about 20 gymnasts, and the members of the team are in age between 12 to 25 years. Their programs are a mixture of rhythmic gymnastics with apparatuses, dance and ballet. During the 10 years since their formation the Elite group has participated in many international sport and culture events.
They have been invited to Kiel's Week on several occasions, which is the group's success actually began. In addition to that the Elite group has participated in international festivals in Japan, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Germany and many other countries.
The club has become a centre for various gymnastic activities for children and different styles of workout for women.
Club Piruett boasts a first class team of highly educated and experienced coaches, whose strong and goal oriented work with competitive groups sees Piruett consistently among the best clubs in Estonia.
Club Piruett's internationally best known performing group is the Club Piruett Elite group. The Elite group consists of about 20 gymnasts, and the members of the team are in age between 12 to 25 years. Their programs are a mixture of rhythmic gymnastics with apparatuses, dance and ballet. During the 10 years since their formation the Elite group has participated in many international sport and culture events.
They have been invited to Kiel's Week on several occasions, which is the group's success actually began. In addition to that the Elite group has participated in international festivals in Japan, Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Portugal, Finland, Germany and many other countries.
Sbandieratori Sansepulcro (Italy)
Anywhere and everywhere, a community is recognised through certain symbols. Badges, standards and flags are part of these symbols, which become a source of pride and unity among people.
Europe in the late Middle Ages was often afflicted by wars and the standard-bearing officers were those that led the troops into battle. These standards, armed with blades, gradually become real weapons.
In periods of peace, the standard-bearers would meet in order to develop and improve their techniques, and over time, greater emphasis was given to perfecting the routines and the spectacle. And it was thus that the flag wavers came to be.
In 1953 in Sansepolcro, a splendid Renaissance town in the heart of central Italy, the Società dei Balestrieri (crossbow association), which had been keeping alive the centuries-old tradition of the Palio della Balestra (crossbow tournament), decided to rediscover the ancient art of flag waving and went on to found a company of flag-wavers.
The Sansepolcro Flag-Wavers, were the first group to be formed in Italy and are still the oldest of all groups involved similar activities. Made up of flag-wavers, drummers and trumpeters, the group uses hand-painted flags and wears costumes made by professional theatrical costumiers.
Featured in events across the word, every second Saturday in September, in the main square of their town, the group gives the town citizens and guests a complete display of their routines, over an evening dedicated to the Giochi di Bandiera (flag games).
Europe in the late Middle Ages was often afflicted by wars and the standard-bearing officers were those that led the troops into battle. These standards, armed with blades, gradually become real weapons.
In periods of peace, the standard-bearers would meet in order to develop and improve their techniques, and over time, greater emphasis was given to perfecting the routines and the spectacle. And it was thus that the flag wavers came to be.
In 1953 in Sansepolcro, a splendid Renaissance town in the heart of central Italy, the Società dei Balestrieri (crossbow association), which had been keeping alive the centuries-old tradition of the Palio della Balestra (crossbow tournament), decided to rediscover the ancient art of flag waving and went on to found a company of flag-wavers.
The Sansepolcro Flag-Wavers, were the first group to be formed in Italy and are still the oldest of all groups involved similar activities. Made up of flag-wavers, drummers and trumpeters, the group uses hand-painted flags and wears costumes made by professional theatrical costumiers.
Featured in events across the word, every second Saturday in September, in the main square of their town, the group gives the town citizens and guests a complete display of their routines, over an evening dedicated to the Giochi di Bandiera (flag games).
Further information on all aspects of the 2012 Crete International Festival of Arts, including the star Greek performers to be featured in the event, can be accessed by clicking on the links below:
Aims Schedule Featured Artists International Performers Events Venues Partners Supporters