.png;w=960)
STURGIS — The Whitehawk Arts Council’s next performance for the season features Prairie Debut, presenting Jaca in Sturgis on Nov. 21.
Cross vivid, folk-inspired melodies with two well-travelled jesters and you’ll find Jâca (ZHĀ-ka), a guitar and clarinet duo with exuberant energy, charm and wit. Clarinetist Wesley Ferreira and guitarist Jaxon Williams define their style as world music fused with personality, and are unafraid to experiment with that which captures their fancy — fresh takes on classics as well as compositions from emerging artists. They invite you to wander with them through a program ranging from the flirtatious tangos of Piazzolla to a striking Romanian-influenced new work by Canadian composer Candace Bouchard.
Highly skilled musicians and educators, both Wesley and Jaxon hold doctorates in music. Wesley is a gifted expressionist whose engaging personality connects audiences with his beloved works. He performs worldwide as soloist, orchestral and chamber musician. International award-winning guitarist Jaxon is a former Fulbright scholar and master of the Spanish guitar repertoire.
From the moment the duo steps foot on the stage to the final round of applause, audience members will find themselves engaged, entertained and enthralled. An evening with Jâca is an encounter with virtuosic performance, cheeky banter and rhythms that coax you to play along.
Prairie Debut’s reputation for presenting artists with a high level of excellence is well established. Each year, it receives more than 80 applications from Canadian artists eager to tour through Western Canada. An independent artistic advisory panel selects four artists or ensembles who will tour the following season. Prairie Debut plans, develops and financially supports tours of between 30 to 40 concerts per year, and pays appropriate fees to the artists in recognition of their high artistic standard. Community presenters across the Prairies and Yukon have the opportunity to feature these artists in concert at a subsidized fee, which makes the concerts affordable for smaller communities. Artists also engage in school performances, workshops, masterclasses and community outreach activities.
