World-class fiddlers coming to town

NEWS RELEASE

BARRAGE

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Barrage unleashes 'Soundtrack of the World'

Barrage is a high-energy fiddlefest, weaving together extraordinary musicianship and dance with traces of everything from country to heavy metal music.

Five violinists are backed up with wild and interesting percussions, strong vocals, guitar, bagpipes and expertly executed choreography.

The result is a show that blows the doors off “Stomp” and “Riverdance” alike.

“Barrage is too wow for words!” says The Denver Post.

Created in Calgary, Canada in 1997, this violin-based, world-beat ensemble tours more than 40 weeks a year and has released seven albums, four DVDs and five television specials to date.

Barrage recently celebrated its milestone 2500th international performance.

Over the past 15 years the group has entertained millions of concert-goers and performed to sold out houses in over 27 countries.

Hand-picked performers - young prodigies who can play, sing and dance with enthusiasm and endless energy - make up the group.

Five performers are violinists supported superbly by a rock 'n roll engine room featuring drums, bass and guitars.

"Barrage ... defies efforts to neatly categorize its style,” says Planet Rockwall. “The band seems to leave no musical stone unturned ....”

Barrage continues to be leaders in the string education field by cultivating an ongoing partnership with over 400 school and youth orchestra programs around the world, inspiring countless young musicians along the way.

Barrage’s roots are in string education and they have been dedicating their recent touring schedules to continuing to build their legacy with string players across America and the world.

In the 2011-12 touring season, Barrage will perform with over 60 string programs in venues worldwide culminating with a featured performance at the American String Teachers convention in Atlanta, GA.

For 2011-12, Barrage will debut its new album and touring spectacle called “Soundtrack of the World.”

Fresh material highlights the group’s virtuoso cast of young musicians performing a jaw-dropping mix of world music and dance with non-stop intensity.

The show’s play list ranges from Coldplay to killer reels - a musical theatrical extravaganza filled with dazzling choreography and blurring fast fret work.

“After an evening of performing jigs on rocket fuel, its no wonder that more than a few horsehairs snapped on their bows,” says the Los Angeles Daily News.

The current incarnation of the group consists of Kristina Bauch (violin and tin whistle), Taylor Morris (violin), Kiana Weber (violin), Daniel Pentecost (violin and bagpipes), Lindy Donia (violin), Tim Harley (bass guitar), Charles Bullough (drums) and Phil Smyth (guitar).

Dean Marshall is the artistic director.

“Many bands in the past half-century have chosen strange names that don't seem to mean anything,” says the St. Petersburg Times. “The name chosen for the musical group Barrage, on the other hand, is perfectly obvious: Eight high-powered musicians present a barrage of sound and sights when they take the stage.”

Barrage brings its show to Korah Collegiate on Thursday, December 1, at 7 p.m.

Doors will open at 6:15 p.m., with a pre-show beginning at 6:30 featuring the Korahsters, Concert Strings and Solo singing performances.

Tickets for the show are $20 for adults and $15 for students/seniors and can be purchased by contacting the Station Mall Box office at 705-945-7299 or via the Internet.

This public performance is part of the Barrage Educational Outreach Program and provides a rare opportunity for string students and the general public to see and interact with Barrage in a unique and intimate environment.

The concert is sponsored by the Algoma District School Board (Korah Collegiate & Vocational School) in collaboration with the Algoma Conservatory of Music.

The show is a creative offering of 5 to 1 Entertainments, the team responsible for determining the show’s music selections, training each player, composing and arranging all music and recording and producing all shows.

For schedule updates please visit here.

To view video clips of Barrage, visit here.

Editor's note: The former department head of music at Korah, John Grandmont, is Barrage's education manager. He won the Marshall McLuhan award for education in 1989 for setting up the keyboard lab/recording studio at Korah and has been instrumental in getting the group to the Sault.

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