Artists Angela Hardy and partner Robert Ruby are opening up their St. Thomas studio to the public on November 29 and 30 from 11:00 am to 4:00pm both days.
Angela Hardy is a widely published Canadian portrait and figurative painter whose work has graced the covers and feature articles of numerous international magazines such as American Art Collector, Southwest Art, CFAI Contemporary Fine Art Intl., Visual Language, Poetic Pin-Up, O&S, and MiPOesais. As well, her art has been showcased and regularly published in PoetsArtists Magazine for 7 years, and displayed at Zhou B Art Centre. She has also been featured on CBC TV, CBC Radio, NTV, and has had front-page articles in a variety of Canadian Newspapers. Angela holds an Interdisciplinary Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from NSCAD University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
(Pictured: Angela Hardy, “Metamorphosis”, 24″ x 36″ on canvas.)
Robert Ruby is a Canadian-born artist with a formal education in Fine Art. He lives and works in Southwestern Ontario. Robert studied Fine Art Environmental / 3 Year Interdisciplinary at Fanshawe College. London, ON. Although he works with a variety of media, most of his art is assemblages.
by Richard Young, The Beat Magazine Publisher & Content Manager
Q. What is the mission/purpose of the London Jazz Association?
To advance the appreciation of jazz music through education programs and performances in the area. We showcase jazz in our community by celebrating established and emerging talent, thereby inspiring future generations to enjoy the music we love.
Q.When was the Association founded and by whom?
The Association was formed in 2024 after the first London Jazz Festival. We received an investment from a local benefactor to run the festival, but quickly realized the opportunity to bring jazz lovers together extended well beyond the Jazz Appreciation Month of April. From that, the Association was born. Seth McNall and Jason Jamieson, along with Brian Ball, founded the Association, but Brian has since moved on to other endeavours.
(Pictured: Jason Jamieson and Seth McNall, London Jazz Association.)
Q. How is the Association organized?
The London Jazz Association is a registered charity that operates under the purview of a board of directors and other volunteers. The board is currently made up of six members, and there are several other volunteers that work on the projects overseen by those board members.
Q.Are London jazz musicians “members” of the Association?
At this time, the association doesn’t have members, per se, but the board is made up of both local musicians and advocates. There are teams of people who work with our performance, education and advocacy projects to help promote and improve the state of jazz music in the Forest City. We also help local musicians by recommending them for performances around town.
Q. I notice a lot of social media postings for musical events in the city say, “in partnership with the London Jazz Association.” Could you explain what that means?
The Association has been very lucky to have local establishments and vendors call upon us to share our contacts and expertise in order to hire local musicians for their events. Several restaurants and venues reach out to us and ask us to help organize and book their jazz nights, concert series, and other events. This has helped us establish a variety of different jazz series across London that allow for quarterly, monthly, and even weekly jazz events for the local music fans to enjoy.
(The Peppermoon Restaurant is one of the London Jazz Association’s partners.)
We have fantastic relationships with our retail and performance partners, and since our beginnings, we have held performances at over a dozen locations, including soft-seat theatres, restaurants, bars, and other venues, including Wolf Performance Hall, Toboggan Brewing, Peppermoon Restaurant, West Social, Highland Golf and Country Club, and many more.
Q. Does the Association sponsor any special annual events or series of shows?
The London Jazz Association is currently running a three-concert fundraising series. Our first event was held on the afternoon of Sunday, September 28th, and featured London’s own Denise Pelley with Toronto trumpet legend Kevin Turcotte and an all-star band. The show was a great success, and we’re hoping for the same at our next show on Thursday, November 27th, at 7pm at the Highland Country Club. That performance is a kick-off to the holidays with singer Paul Zubot and some incredible local musicians backing him up. Then, on March 26th, we’re running our third fundraising concert, and this time we’re featuring something never before seen in the region. Local musicians will be performing Miles Davis’s “Birth of the Cool” album in its entirety that night, as well as premiering several never-before-heard pieces by local composers. These concerts are meant to be showpieces for local and regional talent and promise to be something never experienced before in our beautiful city. Tickets for all of those concerts can be found at www.jazzassociationlondon.ca
Q. Could you identify some of the well-known London jazz musicians who have played concerts/engagements/events sponsored by the Association?
We’ve featured Denise Pelley, Rick Kish, Nevin Campbell, The Jitterbugs, The Baddest Big Band, Laurraine Sigouin, Steve Holowitz, Sonja Gustavson, The Jazz Collective, and the Seth McNall Sextet, to name a few.
Q. What type of relationships does the Association have with other London organizations like the London Music Office, London Musicians’ Association, Forest City London Music Awards, and others?
Over the last eighteen months, we have worked closely with many of the London organizations. We have a close relationship with the London Musicians’ Association and are pleased to be able to provide union scale wages to all of our musicians at their events. We enjoyed a close relationship with the London Music Office last year and worked together to bring an amazing jazz group from Poland to perform at the 2025 festival finale on April 30th. We’ve also worked with Dundas Place and Cherryhill Mall, and other city venues, to bring jazz to the people of the city for no cost.
Q. Jazz appears to be experiencing a renaissance in the London area, if the postings on social media are any measuring stick. Is Jazz finding newfound popularity? If so, with whom and why?
Jazz never died, it just evolved. When rock became the most popular genre, Count Basie did a Beatles tribute album, and Miles Davis did jazz covers of Cyndi Lauper and Michael Jackson tunes. Jazz continues to permeate modern popular music, influencing performers like Meghan Trainor and Bruno Mars. Jazz has always been there, growing, changing, and becoming more diverse and interesting.
As for jazz’s newfound popularity in the region, I think that’s happening everywhere. The advent of AI-generated, formulaic pop tunes is making consumers crave a high-quality, genuine, live experience. People like hearing music performed in person because it satisfies their desire for authenticity while satisfying their need to be entertained. And if you want to be entertained, why not hear someone at the top of their craft, performing the music they love for people who want to listen.
(Pictured: Toboggan Brewing is another one of the London Jazz Association’s partners. Here’s a poster for one of their recent shows featuring Rick Kish & Friends.)
Q. Is there anything else Londoners should know about the London Jazz Association and its activities?
Besides the five different concert series we’re currently running, we also run a Jazz Education Program on Wednesday nights for students in grades 7-9 and 10-12. These ensembles are run by local jazz performers and educators, and they already have a spot to perform at the London Jazz Festival in April 2026. For more information, visit https://www.jazzassociationlondon.ca/lja-lab-bands
We also run a London Jazz Archive whose goal is to help preserve the vibrant jazz history of the region, right from Guy Lombardo through keynote performances from the last few years. You can see some of the videos at https://www.youtube.com/@Londonjazzarchives
The London Jazz Association podcast is just getting started, but there are two episodes up that showcase some of the local performers and their connection to the history of London jazz. You can find that on any podcast aggregator.
Lastly, anyone who wants to donate to the charity can learn everything they need to know about that at our main website.
If you know Wortley Village resident Dave Semple, his quality of generosity first comes to mind. The retired drama teacher with over thirty-five years of experience as an actor and director has offered free workshops for aspiring thespians. As a guitar luthier, he has built and given away several guitars to those he felt needed them, as well as taking the time to teach the instrument to seniors.
Dave is a prominent and familiar presence in local theatre, and both his love of the stage and music have become the focus of his post-retirement life.
Dave was born in Quebec to a young and struggling mother and was put up for adoption when he was five months old. His adoptive parents moved about, and Dave found himself in the city of Rouyn Noranda, a mining town, dedicated to the recreations of hockey, snowmobiling, and ice fishing.
(Photo by Ross Davidson.)
Dave felt that he really didn’t fit in. “I had a little music room with a piano and a couple of guitars, and that’s where I escaped,” he says. He noodled about on the piano and eventually took lessons, but again, could not fit in with the role of a piano student.
“My teacher realized that I was struggling to learn to read music, so she started to train my ear. I couldn’t sight-read but she recognized that I had a really good ear, and maybe she could train that instead. It influenced me in how I became a teacher, as her philosophy to meet the student where they are became my philosophy as a teacher.”
Dave eventually crossed the border into Ontario, where he enrolled at the University of Windsor in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program. He considered the idea of theatre as a career but did not pursue it. “I never wanted to be an actor full-time as the idea of always looking for work scared the crap out of me,” he says.
He had a friend working at the University of Western Ontario who was able to cast him in Romeo and Juliet as the character Tybalt. “They needed someone to do the sword-fighting scenes, and I had learned combat choreography at university. I had also done some fencing,” Dave recalls.
(Photo by J Bruce Parker.)
With this success, he realized he liked the idea of teaching, and it appealed to him as a choice for a working career. Dave taught Drama at Strathroy Collegiate for four years before transferring to Oakridge Secondary School. It was here he met James Patterson, head of the Drama Department, who would be part of his career in theatre for the next thirty years.
After leaving Oakridge, Dave taught Drama and English at Saunders Secondary School for nine years, leading up to his retirement in 2022.
Dave’s wellspring of creativity has produced two novels, four books of poetry, one poetic novella, and two books of ‘Words of Wisdom.’ As a singer/songwriter, he has released five CDs, but his musical artistry was stifled for a time when “The pandemic kicked that out of me,” he says.
Three years out of the pandemic, Dave is rethinking and creating again.
(Photo by J Bruce Parker.)
His work as a guitar luthier began when he could not find an electric guitar with specific woods and electronic features that he wanted. It was his father who taught him carpentry and electronics, which aided in his task. He found the parts online and built his own. This hobby grew over the last seven years when local guitarists would seek him out for repairs or to customize their own instruments. Eventually, orders came in for specific body designs, woods, and electronics, and ‘Phoenix Guitar Works’ was born. Dave tells me, “The name came from a few crashes and burns in my life.”
After his retirement, Dave found a new energy and discovered that “time is now finite.” This energy inspired him to audition for leading roles in two productions at the Palace Theatre: The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon and The Donnellys, which was directed by his long-time friend James Patterson. He was eventually doing back-to-back rehearsals. Dave moved from the sinister but charismatic character of the devil in ‘Black Bonspiel,’ to the patriarch of the infamous family from Lucan.
“I like dramas more than comedies,” he tells me. “I like stories that are dark and have a good depth of substance to them.”
(Photo by Ross Davidson.)
Peter Colley’s play about the brutal massacre of a family in Lucan in 1880 was previously performed in London at the Grand Theatre in 1974. It portrays Johanna and James Donnelly as victims of this horrendous crime. Other accounts of this event have been less sympathetic to the couple. “We wanted to bring out that they were a loving couple and that they were trying to make the best world, despite all the strikes against them. We wanted to make them likeable and relatable,” says Dave.
Last year, Dave was cast in local playwright Jason Rip’s Man Up, a piece of theatre produced and directed by John Pacheco, which was performed at the Manor Park Memorial Hall for five sold-out performances. Divided into eighteen scenes, the production explored the definition of masculinity and the associated high rate of male suicide.
In a television interview about Man Up, Dave expressed, “Since COVID, I think theatre has gotten really safe with light and fluffy productions to bring audiences back in. You go to the theatre to escape or connect. With this play, every night when I go home, it stirs up feelings and thoughts, and I want to have discussions with people. And this is what is important about this play in particular.” He adds, “In thirty years of teaching, I lost eight students to suicide.”
Dave has directed nineteen plays, and he enjoys moving back and forth from directing to acting. “It depends on my frame of mind if I want to direct or act. But acting is more work as you have to memorize.” Laughing, he adds, “I have a hard time liking young actors. I like the ones who are my age and older.”
It is tough for him to single out a favorite actor, but Gene Hackman comes to mind when he is persuaded for an answer.
It is no surprise that this talented craftsman recently created and performed Stories and Songs, a fundraising event for the Palace Theatre on November 6. Dave is a voice of his community, and his voice regaled friends and fans with his music and personal reflections.
His performance at the Palace’s Procunier Hall was perfect for an intimate evening. A comfortable parlour chair, an antique table displaying the visual memories of his songs, underscored with soft lighting. He picked from four guitars, regarding all as his ‘friends,’ and explaining the history of each.
His three-hour marathon performance with a brief intermission was culled from his vast creative work and warm and generous heart. He emptied his pockets of childhood memories in song and spoken word, often in a cathartic voice, directing us to his beginnings as a five-month-old child being given up for adoption. Love, acceptance, and family become important themes in his music.
His presentation was interactive as he requested ‘Dad Jokes’ regarding his remembrance and relationship with his own adoptive father, as well as inquiring about a recent moment of ‘joy’ from his audience. And joy is something we need more of these days.
(Photo by J Bruce Parker)
Gathering a few young people to sit at his feet, in a most grandfatherly and comedic manner, Dave told an anecdote of something antiquated and nearly extinct: the vinyl record.
His final song was not his, but of his friend, musician Jake Leveque, a musical force of this city who passed away in 2024.
Following Dave Semple down his road of memory is often a very familiar journey, as his memories can be relatable. He examines his humanity, which allows us to reflect on our own. You listen closely, and his voice in song becomes your voice.
Originally, Stories & Songs was to be a one-off event, but it was met with such a measure of success, several performances are now booked at the Palace Theatre in the Spring of 2026.
Dave Semple is now directing Closer, a play by British playwright Patrick Marber, in a production which will run from February 5 to 15 at Procunier Hall at the Palace Theatre.
Compiled by Richard Young, Publisher & Content Manager, The Beat Magazine 2025
LIVE THEATRE
Original Kids Theatre Company presents The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition, November 13-16, at the Spriet Theatre.
Get your tickets to ‘The Wizard of Oz Youth Edition’ before it’s too late! Visit our website www.originalkids.ca or call the Box Office today. 519-679-8989
The London Fringe Festival may be over for 2025, but the buzz still lives on, and for one more night, we’re bringing back some of the shows you couldn’t stop talking about! On Friday, November 14, join us at the Palace Theatre’s David Long Stage for MAGIC IMPROV MONSTER; an encore celebration of our People’s Choice favourites!
The evening kicks off with jaw-dropping illusions in Many Rooms: The House of Magic by Andrew Olmstead and Leonardo Martins.
Then brace yourself for a whirlwind of laughter and unscripted brilliance with The Improvables in their fan-favourite Controlled Chaos.
We’ll close the night with an electrifying one-man tour de force starring Jared Brown in Daniel McIvor’s “Monster”, a powerhouse performance you won’t forget.
BOGO: Buy one ticket, get the second free!
Tickets: Just $25 (all fees included)
Proceeds are shared between the performers and the theatre
Dating Games features five short plays, each showcasing a comically terrible first date that goes off the rails. Written by Garth Wingfield, the show’s real focus lies not in the dates themselves, but in the emerging theatre talent directing the plays. This production serves as a groundbreaking training initiative, providing mentorship and performance opportunities for up-and-coming directors.
“Dating Games is a truly special production. It is more than just a show; it’s a project that combines mentorship, training, and performance, contributing to the entire theatrical community,” says Elizabeth Durand, Theatre Aezir’s Artistic Director.
If You Go:
What: Theatre Aezir presents Dating Games.
When: November 6th to November 16th
Where: First Baptist Church, 568 Richmond St., London, ON
Award-winning, world-renowned, and infamously cheeky, Ronnie Burkett is back at the Grand Theatre with his unmatched mischievous, rollicking irreverence. Burkett’s latest work, Wonderful Joe, unleashes his sharp, unrelenting wit on the cities we call home, the people we overlook, and the four-legged friends walking beside them. And he’s bringing Mother Nature, Santa Claus, Jesus, and the Tooth Fairy along for the ride. Wonderful Joe, created and performed by Ronnie Burkett, opens the Grand Theatre’s Auburn Stage for the 2025/26 Season. Already extended due to popular demand, the production will run from Tuesday, November 4, through Sunday, November 23.
Single tickets are $48, and Auburn Series Subscriptions offer a 25% discount ($71.44 for both Wonderful Joe and Mrs Krishnan’s Party). Tickets and subscriptions are available at grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519.672.8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.
To learn more about Wonderful Joe by Ronnie Burkett at the Grand Theatre, please visit grandtheatre.com/event/wonderful-joe. Follow the production and peek behind the scenes by following @thegrandlondon and #GrandJoe on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, & TikTok.
According to Edgar Allen Poe, what’s scarier than a raven? “Raven on Scot Pine”, coloured pencil on Museum board, is one of Beth Stewart’s submissions for our spooky art challenge at the Lambeth Art Association. Beth’s other submission, “We Three,” is coloured pencil on paper. Why is it scary? Beth explains that snapdragon blossoms, when dried, look like tiny human skulls. Who knew?
WHAT: LONDON SYMPHONIA CONCERT Payadora – The Soul of Tango London Symphonia, Scott Good, conductor, Payadora Tango Ensemble.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm
WHERE: Metropolitan United Church, 468 Wellington St, London, ON.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS: Ticket packages start at $155 for a 3-concert General Admission subscription and $212 for Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. 5-concert packages are also available. Individual adult tickets range from $55 General Admission to $75 Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. Family Flex packs and free student tickets are also available. In-person subscriptions and tickets can be purchased online now at londonsymphonia.ca.
Join us for another cozy afternoon in our Jazz Series featuring Rick Kish & Friends — live from 2–4 PM on Sunday, November 16th.
Enjoy smooth tunes, local craft beer, and good company with a $5 live music fee in partnership with the London Jazz Association.
Tobboggan Brewing Co. 585 Richmond Street
2–4 PM
At The Aeolian:
ONE NIGHT ONLY — The Ultimate Cabaret Variety Show! A Cabaret for WENDAKE …a campy affair!! Prepare for an unforgettable evening of glitz, glamour, and jaw-dropping talent as we bring together the boldest and brightest stars of the stage in a dazzling cabaret extravaganza!� Sultry Singers� Live Musicians� Fierce Drag Royalty & newcomers…� Seductive Burlesque Bombshell� Electrifying Dancers� Surprise Acts & More! From classic jazz to contemporary pop, cheeky comedy to high drama, this is cabaret like you’ve never seen it before. Whether you’re here for the sparkle, the sass, or the sheer spectacle – we’ve got something for everyone.� Dress to impress. Bring your wild side. Leave your inhibitions at the door. �� Aeolian Hall� Friday, November 14th � , 6:30: Doors Open� 7:30: Showtime� Tickets: [aeolianhall.ca or 519-672-7950]� Limited Seating – Reserve Now! Dare to be dazzled. Come for the show, stay for the magic.
The colourful history of Newfoundland’s fishers and loggers, sealers and whalers is told with story, song and incredible visuals in this engaging musical review by Shipyard Kitchen Party, creators of “Tom Thomson’s Wake” and “100 Years from Now”. From the remote outports to the vibrant city of St. John’s, from the fishing stages to the kitchens and front parlours, you’ll hear the timeless sea-shanties, triumphant ballads and the hilarious foot-stomping sing-a-longs that make Canada’s 10th province its most legendary. You may not be a Newfoundlander when you take your seat, but you’ll feel like one when you leave! Saturday at The Aeolian. https://www.facebook.com/events/1170578908213804
Saturday, November 15th. It’s time to celebrate the awesomeness that is 80’s Hair Bands!! 80’s GONE WILD 9pm start. Tickets $20 at Eventbrite.ca & The Bar.
Tango did not begin in a sad dance studio in Brooklyn. Tango is a passionate, provocative music and dance style that began in the working-class bars and brothels of Buenos Aires and Montevideo in the late 1800s, emerging from a melting pot of African, European, and local influences. Born where desire and melancholy intertwined, tango quickly became infamous for its sensuality and daring social dynamics—people danced close, in smoky rooms where the music’s erotic undertones mirrored the pulse of the city’s nightlife. It swept into the salons of Paris and beyond, transforming from a sultry scandal to an international sensation, all while keeping traces of its rebellious origins. (All right, while I fan my fevered brow, I’ll admit I got this history through AI research)
Tango’s music is syncopated rhythms played on bandoneon, violin, piano, and double bass – sometimes with voice that punches even higher on the emotional gauge.
Tango was danced by immigrants, misfits, and the marginalized in port neighbourhoods. Its lyrics and notes embody carnal passion. Its performance scandalized polite society but, naturally, fascinated them as well.
Today, Tango Nuevo renews the music and the dance for its sensuality, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling. It blends high drama, cultural fusion, and the thrill of improvisation. Check out this instructional video on dancing Tango Nuevo: https://youtu.be/2mtoTyMns8o?si=ENxIAGDhyPUjduGd
Who are the members you’ll hear – and later meet- of Payadora? The brilliant musicians were drawn together in 2013 by their love of this unique music. And their ensemble’s name? A payador is a male improvising poet-musician in South America, particularly Argentina and Uruguay (the feminine form is Payadora). These musical vagabonds roam the countryside, improvising verses, often accompanied by a guitar, to respond to rivals in a musical contest known as a contrapunto.
So, at The Met (corner of Wellington and Dufferin), how will you be hearing and seeing?
Our beloved composer-in—residence, Scott Good, will conduct members of London Symphonia and the musical powerhouses of Payadora.
(Pictured: London Symphonia’s Composer-In-Residence, Scott Good.)
Rebekah Wolkstein is the founder and leader of Payadora. She holds a doctorate in Violin Performance from U of T, plays in a classical string quartet- and excels in klezmer/Yiddish swing!
(Pictured: Rebekah Wolkstein, founder and leader of Payadora. Photo by Peter Yuan.)
Joe Philips– our hometown boy who lives here and is principal bass of London Symphonia – was born in Toronto. He also plays classical guitar and has appeared with orchestras and musical artists too varied – and many – to mention. I’ll just pop in Joel Quarrington’s name and Shane Cook’s, and the TSO, and Le Violons de Roi.
(Pictured: Joe Phillips, principal bass of London Symphonia.)
Drew Jurecka, an impressive jazz and classical violinist, began as the record producer of Payadora’s albums. His gifts on viola, saxophone, clarinet, and mandolin have made him a valued addition to performances by Jeff Healey, Jesse Cook, Stewart MacLean, and Alex Pangman. He’s composed movie scores- and takes time to teach at Humber College, where he’s created the only jazz strings program in Canada.
Drew is also the group’s bandoneon player – what is that, you ask? According to a post from the Los Angeles Tango Academy, “The bandoneon is a large, rather complicated concertina originally developed in Germany for churches that could not afford organs.”
(Pictured: Drew Jurecka playing the bandoneon. Photo by Karen E. Reeves.)
This monster of reed instruments has no keyboard, so it’s not the accordion we all conspire to keep Uncle Heinrich from playing at Christmas. It’s got 71 buttons, 38 for the right hand and 33 for the left. The musician uses both hands to push and pull air through bellows.
And for Mark Camilleri, music is life. Mark’s entire professional life embraces music, and he has had a wonderfully varied career for over 35 years. As Marvin Hamlisch put it, “Mark Camilleri, or ‘Mr. Canada, as I call him, is a one-man does-it-all musical powerhouse, whether he’s conducting, playing keyboards, or arranging.”
Mark has conducted countless shows for Mirvish, worked with film directors, and performed from the Vatican to the Oprah Winfrey show. He’s shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Annie Lennox, and Eric Clapton.
And the vocals!
Elbio Fernandez is apparently known as El pequeño gigante del tango” (the little giant of tango) – but I’m not judging. Born in Uruguay, he is now a Canadian who performs around the world.
(Pictured: Payadora vocalist, Elbio Fernandez. Photo by Peter Yuan.)
And this Saturday, at 7:30pm, you can dream of being young, lithe, sensual, and worthy of someone asking you to tango. To quote Sherman Alexie, ”If you really want a woman to love you, then you have to dance. And if you don’t want to dance, then you’re going to have to work extra hard to make a woman love you forever, and you will always run the risk that she will leave you at any second for a man who knows how to tango.”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: LONDON SYMPHONIA CONCERT Payadora – The Soul of Tango London Symphonia, Scott Good, conductor, Payadora Tango Ensemble.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm
WHERE: Metropolitan United Church, 468 Wellington St, London, ON.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS: Ticket packages start at $155 for a 3-concert General Admission subscription and $212 for Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. 5-concert packages are also available. Individual adult tickets range from $55 General Admission to $75 Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. Family Flex packs and free student tickets are also available. In-person subscriptions and tickets can be purchased online now at londonsymphonia.ca.
Subscriptions to all concerts, including the Family Concert, and individual concert rentals are available on London Symphonia’s Watch and Listen video on demand channel.
(Pictured: Sarah Smith, Photo Credit Gene Schilling)
The Beat Magazine featured well-known London singer-songwriter Sarah Smith on the cover of its July 2012 issue. Dawn Lyons did a Q&A interview with Sarah about her new album, Stronger Now, and her future career as a solo artist after leaving The Joys band. (Since then, Sarah has moved to BC and continues to tour Canada and Europe.)
Bob Klanac previewed that year’s Home County Art & Music Festival, while Beth Stewart profiled Stained Glass artist, Lynette Richards. Susan Scott spoke to London luthier Geoff Stubbs. Chris Loblaw previewed the 2012 Pride Art Exhibit, while Art Fidler wrote about Outdoor Theatre in London: Past, Present, and Future.
Nicole Laidler previewed the 2012 Stratford Summer Music Festival, and Robert Pegg (Sonny Drysdale) commented on the status of local AM Radio.
Overall, it was an issue packed with local arts and culture news.
Experience tango like never before when the award-winning Payadora Ensemble performs with London Symphonia in a concert sure to entertain. Payadora – The Soul of Tango is a genre-crossing celebration of rhythm, melody, and cultural connection that takes you on a vibrant journey from Argentina across Eastern Europe, exploring the music, song, storytelling, and dance behind this multidimensional art form that continues to captivate the world. Scott Good, London Symphonia’s Composer-In-Residence, will conduct.
Based in Toronto, Payadora has been officially endorsed by the Argentinian Consulate in Toronto for its authentic representation of the spirit of tango. The members combine their collective background in classical, jazz, and global music traditions to create their distinctive sound.
The group was founded in 2013, and its members are sought-after musicians in the Canadian chamber music scene, including Rebekah Wolkstein (violin, vocals), Drew Jurecka (bandoneon, violin, mandolin), Joseph Phillips (double bass, guitar), Mark Camilleri (piano), and Elbio Fernandez (vocals).
The superstar group has combined their deep knowledge of tango with their classical, jazz, and world music backgrounds to create something entirely new. Together with London Symphonia, this dynamic concert will dig deeper into the meaning of tango as an art form, telling stories of resilience and grace with an unwavering respect for tradition. “Over the past 13 years, Payadora has developed its musical personality from one that closely studied and emulated the great tango masters, to one that performs across Europe, North and South America to great musical acclaim,” said Andrew Chung, Artistic Producer, London Symphonia. “They have created a special London Symphonia concert version of the music they love so much, and we can’t wait to perform with them.”
(Pictured: Andrew Chung, Artistic Producer, London Symphonia.)
“It is with the greatest admiration that I see longtime Payadora member and London Symphonia principal bass, Joe Phillips, bringing together his favourite groups to celebrate this soulful music,” Chung added. “With Uruguayan roots and a lifelong love for this music, singer Elbio Fernandez’ extraordinary voice sings with the intensity and passion of the very best tango performers”
The soul of tango may have originated in Argentina and Uruguay, but it has long captivated the world with its mix of melancholy, passion, longing, and embrace.
“We are excited to perform with London Symphonia,” said Rebekah Wolkstein, leader of the group. “This concert offers a vibrant and wide-ranging journey through Argentine and Latin-inspired music. From the dramatic sweep of tango classics by Mores, Piazzolla, and Gardel to contemporary works by Payadora members Rebekah Wolkstein and Drew Jurecka, the evening blends tradition with innovation. The program also features folkloric Argentine styles and theatrical songs, showcasing the emotional storytelling at the heart of this music. We hope you will join us. It’s going to be a great evening!”
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: LONDON SYMPHONIA CONCERT Payadora – The Soul of Tango London Symphonia, Scott Good, conductor, Payadora Tango Ensemble.
WHEN: Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:30pm
WHERE: Metropolitan United Church, 468 Wellington St, London, ON.
SUBSCRIPTIONS & TICKETS: Ticket packages start at $155 for a 3-concert General Admission subscription and $212 for Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. 5-concert packages are also available. Individual adult tickets range from $55 General Admission to $75 Reserved Seating, plus fees and HST. Family Flex packs and free student tickets are also available. In-person subscriptions and tickets can be purchased online now at londonsymphonia.ca.
Subscriptions to all concerts, including the Family Concert, and individual concert rentals are available on London Symphonia’s Watch and Listen video on demand channel.
Lisa Johnson’s recent artist residency in Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, is the driving force behind her Full Circle exhibition at Westland Gallery.
While this was Johnson’s third month-long residency at Pouch Cove, this time was different.
In 2021 and 2022, she recalls clambering over rocks and sitting amongst lichen and berries to sketch. This time, she went to Pouch Cove during an East Coast winter, where the conditions are challenging and the landscape is stark. She encountered nature at its most elemental.
Johnson was excited to do a winter residency to bear witness to the dramatic contrast of snow against the black coastal rocks. It is a location she describes as “transcendent” and “raw”, alluding to its timelessness.
Wearing long johns and a parka, and with crampons on her boots to keep from slipping, Johnson was able to go out for hikes, drawing, and even a bit of plein air painting.
(Lisa Johnson, The Painter and the Poet. oil on canvas, 32 by 40 inches. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
On a typical day, she would paint in the studio first thing in the morning and later, if it warmed up a bit, go out for a hike either on her own or with other Pouch Cove residency artists. Returning to her studio, she’d paint for the remainder of the day on large canvases she’d stapled to the walls.
Charcoal gesture drawings have always been an important part of her practice; she loves their simplicity and energy. With this series of paintings, she aimed to achieve a similar aesthetic using oil paint on canvas. The resulting work is pared down to the point of abstraction.
It is an approach that perfectly captures the starkness of the landscape in winter and the drama of this Eastern coastline. It is evident in two oil-on-canvas pieces: “Drawing on Memories” and “Aerie”.
(Lisa Johnson, “Drawing on Memories” oil on canvas 22 by 24 inches. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
(Lisa Johnson, “Aerie”, oil on canvas, 40 by 38 inches. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
A particularly striking piece is “Silent Drift”, measuring 40-by-30-inches, it has an oriental flavour with its ink-like markings, flattened perspective, and preserved white space.
(Lisa Johnson, “Silent Drift”, oil on canvas, 40 by 30 inches. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
Full Circle includes landscape paintings created during this residency as well as work inspired by it and created after returning to her Ontario studio.
In the latter, Johnson continues with the approach that she began in Newfoundland. These paintings are large and gestural and employ a neutral palette. It is work she describes as closer to drawing.
(Lisa Johnson, “Early Riser”, oil on canvas, 32 by 40 inches. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
Full Circle also includes more colour-filled works from a spring and fall series, some from Newfoundland, and some from other Canadian locations.
These are sequestered in the upper level of the gallery and lean more toward using the visual vocabulary of color, value, shape, and composition to communicate memory while abstracting the landscape.
(Installation shot. Photo by Beth Stewart.)
Lisa Johnson’s Full Circle is invigorating and breathtaking. The show continues to November 29 at Westland Gallery, 156 Wortley Road.
Theatre Aezir’s latest production, Dating Games by Garth Wingfield, offers a sharp and entertaining look at the unpredictable world of dating and modern relationships. Produced by Elizabeth Durand and directed by five emerging talents, this vibrant and polished staging proves that collaboration and fresh perspective can deliver an invigorating night of theatre.
Running a brisk seventy-five minutes, the show is a dynamic blend of styles and tones that somehow interweave with ease. Each vignette stands on its own while contributing to a cohesive whole, a testament to the directors’ shared vision and the power of creative synergy.
Under the collective guidance of its five directors and their mentors, the production maintains a remarkable sense of unity. The vignettes shift from playful to poignant, all anchored by Wingfield’s clever, relatable writing. The minimalist set design serves the piece beautifully, enabling fluid transitions and keeping the spotlight firmly where it belongs – on the script and stellar performances.
(Photo Credit: Helen Wrack-Adams.)
And what performances they are.
James Callaghan, Chiedza Gondoza, Haley Gordon, Aidan Robertson, Billie Gould, Danika Goss, Matthew Lazaris-Brunner, Ryan Memarzadeh, and Mike Wisniowski form a stellar ensemble. Each actor brings charisma, honesty, and razor-sharp comedic timing to the stage. While the entire cast impresses, a few moments shine especially bright for their precision and emotional nuance.
One such standout is “Mary Just Broke Up With This Guy,” featuring top-notch performances from Haley Gordon and Aidan Robertson. Robertson, in particular, delivers a variety of characters with such wit and timing that you’ll wish this ‘playlet’ ran just a little longer.
Witty, tightly executed, and full of heart, Dating Games highlights Theatre Aezir’s flair for fresh, thoughtful programming and affirms the promise of London’s next generation of theatre-makers. It’s a smart, engaging production that reminds us, kind of like love itself, that live performance is always worth the risk.
(Photo Credit: Helen Wrack-Adams)
If You Go:
What:Dating Gamespresented by Theatre Aezir Where: First Baptist Church, 568 Richmond St, London, Ontario When: November 6-16th, 2025, Evenings at 8:00pm • Matinees at 4:00pm Tickets: $30, available Dating Games – Bad dates. Good theatre.
(Pictured: Joe Pickle and Mister the Dog. Photo Ian Jackson, Epic Photography.)
Puppetry seems to be a lost art. If you remember The Friendly Giant or Howdy Doody, we are about the same age. And, of course, Puppeteer Jim Henson created a cultural legacy with his Muppets, which still live on.
A marionette takes the skill of the puppet to the next level, creating the lifeblood of the character with deft movements of their hand and fingers on their stringed or wired figure. This form of theatre has been around since the Middle Ages.
Ronnie Burkett is an award-winning Canadian puppeteer, hailing from Medicine Hat. His career was inspired at the age of seven by the puppet scene of the Lonely Goatherd in the film The Sound of Music. Again, if you recall that, we are about the same age. Burkett’s puppetry work is not new to the Grand Theatre, as previous productions of The Daisy Theatre (2017) and Little Dickens (2023) were sold-out events.
He now brings the poignant Wonderful Joe to the Grand Theatre’s Auburn Stage with a glorious score and soundscape by John Alcorn
The story explores the all-too-common urban practices of “renoviction” and gentrification. It happens to the folks in a high-rise and is viewed through the eyes of Joe Pickle and his listless dog, Mister. Joe consoles his neighbours, who, like him, will soon hit the streets as well as those who work the street. He is an endearing soul, wrapped in a veneer of positivity, and seizes the opportunity to take us on a walkabout through the fictitious Eileen Avenue.
(Pictured: Ronnie Burkette and the marionette leaning rail as playboard. Photo – Ian Jackson, Epic Photography.)
Joe foresees his beloved block, the home of various drag queens and sex workers, becoming “white and boring and clean and neutral.” He sees the beauty in this derelict neighbourhood and the goodness and worth of its inhabitants.
The denizens of Eileen Avenue all have a story to tell, told in a wickedly paced repartee. There is pathos as well as humour as we are witnesses to the local residents attempting to find identity and acceptance. It is all too real and very touching, and quite easy to relate to the struggle of Burkett’s characters.
Burkett conjures up bizarre yet hilarious meetings of Jesus, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy in a gay bar, all struggling with who they are and what is expected of them.
(Pictured: Sonny, Joe, and Mister. Photo – Ian Jackson, Epic Photography.)
We end with Joe on a bench in a parkette, consoling a young, troubled schoolgirl. It is here that Joe reveals his own tragic youth, his creative ways of coping, and his dreams.
Ronnie Burkett’s dark production is honest, gritty, and convincing to the point where one often loses track of the man on the stage pulling all the strings.
Wonderful Joe is both heartfelt and heart-wrenching in defining the ability to cope in current times and transcend beyond your past.
Credits:
John Alcorn – Music Production, Arrangements, Vocals, Keyboards, and Digital Programming
Kevin Humphrey – Lighting Design
Terri Gillis – Production Manager/Artistic Associate
Crystal Salverda – Stage Manager/Technical Director
John Lambert – Associate Producer
Ronnie Burkett – Marionette and Costume Design
Kim Crossley – Costumes
Puppet Studio – Alexander Mantia, Aidan Sparks, Angela Talbot, Dina Meschkuleit, with Martin Herbert, Andy Hayward, Shanna Miller, Justin Mezzapelli, and Brigitte Sampogna
Mixing and mastering – Jeff Wolpert, Desert Fish Studios
If You Go:
What: Ronnie Burkette’s Wonderful Joe
When: November 4 to November 23
Where: Auburn Stage at the Grand Theatre. 471 Richmond Street, London, Ontario
Tickets: Single tickets are $48, and Auburn Series Subscriptions offer a 25% discount ($71.44 for both Wonderful Joe and Mrs Krishnan’s Party). Tickets and subscriptions are available at grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519.672.8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.
The Beat Magazine 2025 