ClassikFest Chaleur is back this August with a diverse and imaginative lineup that blends traditional classical music with modern inspiration. The festival has grown from a single recital in 2012 to a beloved community event drawing musicians from all over.
Festival director David Scott, a clarinetist and Bathurst native, is at the helm once again, curating a program that honors classical traditions while finding fresh ways to engage the public. “We really want classical music to be accessible to everyone in the community,” Scott says. “This year, we’re doing a few things differently to connect more deeply with people.”
The festival kicks off on Tuesday, August 12 at the Bathurst Heritage Museum with two free events: The festival launch which will allow you to get up close with the music through, instrument demonstrations by musicians and a guided look at the museum’s unique instrument collection, including a guitar that belonged to local legend Charlie Chamberlain, and a violin that survived the war. That evening at 7 p.m., the museum will host a screening of Amadeus (1984), the Oscar-winning film exploring the rivalry between Mozart and Salieri.
Following that, three donation-based concerts round out the week. The first, Echoes in the Ether, will be held Wednesday, August 13 at 7 p.m. at the Heritage Museum. It offers a calming, meditative program of ambient classical works for piano and strings, including pieces by Chopin. “I think we’ve been through a lot as a society since the pandemic. Now with so much tumultuousness throughout the world, I just wanted to present a program that will allow folks to sit back and find calmness through music and through beauty,” says Scott.
The second concert, Mozart Reimagined, takes place Saturday, August 16 at 7 p.m. at the First United Church. It explores the familiar brilliance of Mozart through smaller ensemble arrangements, making the timeless music accessible to both long-time fans and newcomers alike. “It’s really for anyone who just wants to hear timeless masterworks.”
The festival wraps up on Sunday, August 17 at 2 p.m. with Grooves in Motion, also at First United Church. This dynamic program showcases groove-based classical works influenced by jazz, disco, and tango. “It’s an ultra accessible program, actually it’s an ultra accessible genre of contemporary classical music,” Scott explains. “It’s fun, it’s different, and it’s not something you often hear in New Brunswick.”
This year’s ensemble includes: flutist, Nora Simard Saint-Cyr (QC), violinist Matthieu Deveau (QC), cellist Conor Britt (NB), pianist Dan Luong (ON), and Scott himself on the clarinet. While several of these musicians have participated in the festival in previous years, some of them are new to ClassikFest Chaleur.
ClassikFest has worked with over 100 musicians since its founding, many of whom have gone on to perform in prestigious orchestras and institutions around the world.
“I just want to get the word out and share the beauty of this music,” he says.For full event details, visit the festival website at Classikfestchaleur.wixsite.com/bathurst or email David Scott at classikfestchaleur@gmail.com.