August 9th Aria 21 will enchant you with a lunch of scrumptious classical voice paired with an appetizer of delicious violin by Olivier Lafleur.

Olivier Lafleur is a 14-year-old violinist from Owen Sound. He has been playing for 9 years under the tutelage of Richard Mascall. As a member of the Georgian Bay Symphony, he loves playing in a large ensemble, but he is also comfortable performing as a soloist in festivals, at the market or at music campHe is a competitive swimmer and Nordic skier, and he loves science and math. Olivier mostly enjoys classical music, and his favourite composer is Dmitri Shostakovich. He also plays French horn and participated in MusicFest Canada with Lesley Hallett's band called "Sous-Sol Symphony" in Niagara Falls last spring.

Aria 21 is comprised of pianist Christina Edwards and vocalists Meghan De Jager and Liz Coates. All three performers are post-secondary graduates of Classical Music programs who now live along Lake Huron.

Their collaborations began in 2017 for what was to be a one off concert called “Sommerlieder” featuring art song, folk and classical repertoire. Not only did the performers have a fabulous time, but they were met with enthusiastic community response and as a result have formed their trio and continued performing together.

While Aria 21 was founded with a love of Classical song, they have an ever expanding repertoire performing everything from art song and opera, folk tunes of the British Isles (2018), swinging Andrews Sisters with the Canadian Big Band (2019), and more recently has turned to comedic commentary on music and music making ( a-la-Victor Borge) with their most recent and most popular programme to date “No, Seriously- A Seriously Silly Comedy Concert” (2023). Upcoming in August 2023 Aria 21 will be performing “Aria 21 at the Beach” with Art Song, Broadway Favourites, and unclassifiable musical odds and ends, all centred on summer and sun.

The name Aria 21 comes from the group’s love of classical song (Arias) and the highway which they all live on (Highway 21) making a punny nod to “Area 51”. The three performers have a performance philosophy to continue having all their performances available by donation as they believe music should be accessible to all.

Music is for sharing so concerts are open to all and pay-what-you-can.Children and anyone who hasn't felt that folk, classical, or traditional music was for them are warmly welcomed. Clap, laugh, and cry as you wish throughout the show. Come early and stay to chat or sneak in or out as your schedule requires. Bring yourself and all of your friends and acquaintances.

All concerts begin at noon at Georgian Shores Church.

We look forward to seeing you!

Concert Dates and Performers:
August 9 — Aria 21 (classical voice and piano)
*** Olivier Lafleur
August 16 — Kati Gleiser (piano)
August 23 — Two Singers and a Poet (poetry, voice, and guitar)
August 30 — Sebastian Ostertag (cello)

Please share this with anyone who is interested and look for the posters and postcards around town.

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