A Week of Cultural Experiences

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Mama Cormier

…from a visit to the ROM to an art opening at the Abbozzo Gallery and finally to a concert at Koerner Hall to celebrate International Women’s Day

Early in the week my friend and I and her two grandchildren and her daughter spent a few hours at the museum checking out the dinosaurs and the stuffed animal displays before heading to the playroom.

On Friday, Kevin and I joined our friends, Laurie and Phil and our daughter, Andrea and daughter-in-law, Josie at the Abbozzo Gallery for the opening of Richard A. Jacobson’ show, r|age. The theme was on age and aging and embracing the inevitable. It was a very interesting show and being able to meet the artist is always a bonus.

On Sunday, my friend Liz and I went to Koerner Hall to see the International Women’s Day Celebration. The concert featured three indigenous women from Canada. All three are award winning solo artists.

Shawnee Kish was the first presenter and her genre is alternative country.

Amanda Rhéaume was accompanied by a Métis fiddle player. Her music tells stories of Métis resistance and resilience.

Tia Wood was the youngest of the three presenters. In her 20s Tia left her home on the Rez in central Alberta to follow her dreams in Los Angeles. She developed an enormous social following as a creator.

Here are some of the songs put out by these artists.

Shawnee Kish

https://open.spotify.com/track/0D2DxT4D6SLe4a19HlzcgI?si=yccWvjw4SpS8ncEyTAAJxQ

Amanda Rhéaume

https://open.spotify.com/track/71ALgRSQ1neaZmRT2Ivj0P?si=ZqM-pbQjTzOZSsX_zZkpwQ

Tia Wood

https://open.spotify.com/track/6abgej5aQVjWvSFydjqo6o?si=8flK5kM2RU6uUQ-ArW-i1g

A Day Filled With Music

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Mama Cormier

….I was introduced to the music of James Ehnes

My good friend, D, took me as her guest to the final concert of the WMCT’s Music in the Afternoon 2012-2013 series. It was a special concert, held at Koerner Hall, featuring baritone Russell Braun, accompanied by his wife, pianist Carolyn Maule and violinist James Ehnes. The two men are past recipients of scholarship and career development awards presented to them by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto, an organization that has supported world class chamber music in the city for 115 years.

I leave you with a caprice played by James Ehnes. Many consider this Canadian treasure to be one of the best violinists in the world. Listen and see if you agree. His playing awed me today. I met him after the concert and bought one of his CDs.

From Winter Straight into Summer

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Mama Cormier

….we’ve bypassed spring

I love the spring green that pops from the trees as the leaves start to unfold. It was a glorious day. Sunny and hot….well it feels hot after the freezing temperatures we had earlier in the week. The cherry blossoms should be in full bloom in the next day or so and I’m looking forward to making a trip to High Park to snap a few pictures.

Philosopher’s Walk between Koerner Hall and the ROM (museum)

As you can see from the photo above people are walking around in short sleeves and shorts. The photo was taken from the balcony on the south side of Koerner Hall. If the concert I went to wasn’t so fantastic I would have regretted being indoors on such a beautiful day. I’ll post about the concert after my pottery class tonight. I’m off!

Cheers!