International Music Academy

LAVAZZA INCLUCITY FESTIVAL
presented by Rogers

Toronto’s fav outdoor film fest is back!

🎬 From June 25 to July 19, The Lavazza IncluCity Festival, presented by Rogers, transforms the Distillery Historic District into a dreamy cinema village. Tickets include films, food, drinks, concerts, AI art exhibit access & more! All from your favourite outdoor couches 🎟️



Visit www.icff.ca for more info 💫

iMA 2026 Summer Music Festival -

iMA 2026 Summer Music Festival Dear Parents and Students, We have begun preparations for the iMA Summer Music Festival, which will take place on June 13–14, 2026, at the Cornell Recital Hall in the Cornell Community Centre and Library (3201 Bur Oak Ave). The 5,000 sq. ft. hall features a beautiful Steinway grand piano, amphithe...

TICKETS: KSOrchestra.ca

ARCHITECTURE AND CONVERSATIONS
Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 8 p.m.
Cornell Recital Hall
3201 Bur Oak Ave, Markham

Karl Jenkin’s Palladio takes inspiration from the eponymous sixteenth-century architect Andrea Palladio. Jenkins himself notes that “Two of Palladio’s hallmarks are mathematical harmony and architectural elements borrowed from classical antiquity,” and Jenkins himself structures the music based on similar mathematic proportions.

Inspired by the famous Brandenburg Concertos, the Concerto in E-flat (Dumbarton Oaks) was the last piece that Stravinsky wrote before emigrating to America in 1939. The piece inspires the idea of a musical conversation, with each of the instruments appearing as its own character.

The concert concludes with Britten’s Variations of a theme by Frank Bridge, a set of ten variations written as a tribute to Britten’s teacher; each theme is intended to represent one aspect of Bridge’s personality.

Jenkins, Palladio concerto grosso for strings
Stravinsky, Concerto in Es “Dumbarton Oaks”
Britten, Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge

Kristian Alexander | conductor
Andrew James Clark | host

TIckets: KSOrchestra.ca | 905.604.8339

PREVIEW | Kindred Spirits Orchestra Presents Virtuosity And Revolution The Kindred Spirits Orchestra will present a program they’re calling Virtuosity and Revolution, featuring 20th century music by three composers with music that helped to define the era.

Manuel de Falla’s El Sombrero de tres picos (The Three-Cornered Hat), Suite No. 2 draws on Andalusian folk traditions, flamenco idioms, and the expressive depth of cante jondo, originally conceived for ballet with sets by Pablo Picasso.

Acclaimed Italian pianist Antonio Di Cristofano then performs Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major — a vibrant fusion of jazz, folk colour, and classical elegance.

The program concludes with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 12, a strikingly programmatic work that stands apart from much of his symphonic output.

Kristian Alexander | conductor
Antonio Di Cristofano | pianist
Daniel Vnukowski | host

7:10 p.m. Prélude: pre-concert recital
7:20 p.m. Pre-concert talk
Intermission discussion & Q&A with Antonio Di Cristofano and Daniel Vnukowski

Tickets: KSOrchestra.ca

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, we are pleased to offer an 18% discount on tickets for the Virtuosity and Revolution concert on March 21. When you click “Buy Tickets,” you will be taken to the Ticketmaster seating chart. Select the “Unlock” button and enter promo code CNY18 to access this special offer. The number 18 is considered highly auspicious in Chinese culture, symbolizing a sure path to good fortune—and we are delighted to share that good fortune with you.

Due to the high volume of submissions and multiple requests received today, after the March 1 deadline, the International Music Festival and Competition has extended its application deadline to March 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.

We want to reassure all applicants that every submission including those received after the March 1 will be processed.

IMFC welcomes musicians of all ages, nationalities, and disciplines to perform, conduct, and compose while receiving professional guidance from distinguished leaders in the classical music industry.

Full details and application guidelines are available here: https://intermusic.ca

MEET OUR NEW VIOLIN / PIANO TEACHER LESLIE TOWNSEND

Mr. Leslie Townsend is an accomplished violinist and dedicated educator with extensive performance and teaching experience in Canada and internationally. He holds a Master of Music from Privat Universität, Vienna (Austria), a Bachelor of Music with Honours from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance (UK), and a Violin Certificate from the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory.

Leslie’s teaching career spans a range of institutions and private studios, including Allegro Music, Infiniti Strings, Studio Vivian, Jamlabs, ABC Music, and his own practice based in Vienna, Austria. He has guided students at all levels, preparing them for major examinations, competitions, and professional performance opportunities. As a performer, Leslie has received numerous distinctions.

During his time at Trinity Laban, his quartet won the Cavatina Competition as a first-year undergraduate and was awarded the All-UK Cavatina Audience Prize in 2010. He is also a proud recipient of the Sir John Thompson Prize and Baborolli Prize with the Halcyon String Quartet in London.

Certified by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) and Trinity College London, Mr. Townsend combines rigorous training with a passion for nurturing musical growth. His students benefit from his holistic approach, emphasizing technical excellence, expressive artistry, and a deep understanding of musical interpretation.

Mr. Townsend is teaching on Monday at the IMA - Markham and on Friday at the IMA - Stouffville.

Register for the International Music Festival and Competition by this Sunday, March 1.