Earl Wilson has been crazy about music his whole life.
Visit his website and the first thing you see is the Friedrich Nietzsche quote “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
Wilson is the music director at Christ Church Beaurepaire in Beaconsfield and he’s set to debut a concert series that will touch on a number of musical tastes designed to engage a wide audience.
The series debuts Tuesday with a performance by cellist Vanessa Russell.
Russell has music in her DNA. Her father is Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal cellist Gary Russell, her mom is pianist and music teacher Sandra Hunt and her brother is trombonist Matthew Russell, who will also perform as part of the concert series, March 18.
“I wanted to give young, talented musicians an opportunity to perform,” Wilson said. “I’ve spent my life in the music world and I wanted to give West Islanders easy access to a good concert series. Concerts in smaller halls (like the church) are special. You can hear the musicians breath. You can’t buy that kind of intimacy at Place des Arts.”
The veteran pianist and music teacher already had plans for a concert series when he was hired as the church’s musical director in February and Archdeacon Michael Johnson was supportive of the idea right from the start.
The concerts, which occur the third Tuesday of the month, are by no means purely classical.
The series picks up after the Christmas break with the jazz vocalist Edith Boucher-Hazelton, Jan. 21.
Wilson described Boucher-Hazelton as a “remarkably talented” 19 year old who demonstrates a musical maturity well beyond her years. She weaves voice, movement, art and projected image into her performance.
“The musicians (in the concert series) represent the top tier of their generation,” Wilson said. “These are the musicians we will be seeing on the concert stages of the world for years to come.”
The seven-voice a cappella jazz vocal ensemble AJVM performs Feb. 18.
“It’s almost like a Manhattan Transfer experience,” Wilson said. “I’m a pianist and I love the instrument, but when I’m looking for pure musical inspiration, voice comes first. They are great.”
The ensemble’s repertoire includes blues, swing, jazz classics and bossa nova.
Harpist Emily Belvedere performs April 22. Wilson connected with Belvedere through Matthew Russell. The two studied together at the Glenn Gould School (Royal Conservatory of Music) in Toronto. She is now working on her music master’s degree at McGill University.
Closing the inaugural series is the Vega String Quartet. The quartet has performed at the Lincoln Centre, Carnegie Hall and been quartet-in-residence at the Van Cliburn Institute. They also “play a mean set of show tunes,” Wilson said with a chuckle.
The Christ Church Beaurepaire Concert Series debuts with a performance by cellist Vanessa Russell, Nov. 19 at 7:30 p.m. 455 Church St. Individual tickets cost $20. A series concert package costs $100. Tickets are available at the door or can be reserved by calling 514-697-2204 or emailing christchurch@qc.aibn.com. For more information, visit www.christchurchbeaurepaire.com.
kgreenaway@montrealgazette.com