Music Alive concerts, workshops coming to Iqaluit

Iqaluit performer Sylvia Cloutier will host a throat-singing workshop at Inuksuk high school as part of Music Alive. (FILE PHOTO)

Pangnirtung’s well-known accordionist will play two performances at Iqaluit schools Jan. 23 and 24, part of the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive program. (FILE PHOTO)

Iqaluit will soon be alive with the sounds of music.

Music Alive, a program of the Ottawa-based National Arts Centre, will stage four concerts and a number of musical workshops in Nunavut’s capital Jan. 22 to 24.

The three-day event will stage NAC musicians alongside some of Nunavut’s best throat-singers, choirs and musicians.

On Jan. 22, the NAC’s Brass Trio will perform with throat singers Syvlia Cloutier and Madeleine Allakariallak, drummer Mathew Nuqingaq and the Inuksuk High School choir in a community concert called “Bringing the Qaggiq Back.”

The free show, presented by Iqaluit’s Qaggiavuut Society, will be held at Nakasuk school from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

See below for other highlights of the three-day event.

On Jan. 23:

• 9:00-10:00 p.m.: Pangnirtung accordionist Simeonie Keenainak and performers Tim Evic and Etulu Aningmiuq perform at Nakasuk school in a show presented by the Alianait arts festival.

• 10:30-11:30 a.m.: NAC Brass Trio performs with Mathew Nuqinaq at Joamie school.

• 1:00-3:00 p.m.: NAC Brass Trio will host a school brass demonstration and workshop at Inuksuk high school, for students and teachers.

• 1:30-2:30 p.m.: Sylvia Cloutier will host a throat-singing workshop at Inuksuk high school.

On Jan. 24:

• 9:00-10:00 a.m.: NAC’s Brass Trio will lead a bilingual school performance at École des Trois-Soleils, including NAC trumpeter Karen Donnolly, horn player Julie Fauteux and trombonist Don Renshaw.

They’ll be joined by throat singers and the Inuksuk high school choir.

(Concerts and workshops on Jan. 23 and 24 are not open to the public.)

The Music Alive program was developed to bring music education to remote communities across the country. The program has visited over 425 schools and 60,000 students since it launched in 2005.

Nunavut joined the program two years ago.

The Nunavut component was designed with local educators and community leaders, and funded in part by the Government of Nunavut, the RBC Foundation and First Air.