Live at Aeolian Hall

LIVE: Aeolian Phoenix Sessions Summer Retrospective SeriesJump to Info for LIVE: Aeolian Phoenix Sessions Summer Retrospective Series

With Special Guests

Denise Pelley Jump to Info for Denise Pelley

Laurraine Sigouin Jump to Info for Laurraine Sigouin

Kathleen Gahagan Jump to Info for Kathleen Gahagan

Thursday September 01, 2022
8:00 pm   |  Doors Open @ 7:00 pm

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Headliner

LIVE: Aeolian Phoenix Sessions Summer Retrospective Series

Welcome to the Aeolian Phoenix Sessions… LIVE AND IN-PERSON.

The Phoenix Session Summer Retrospective Series is eight weeks of live entertainment presenting artist combos previously heard in the digitally offered Aeolian Phoenix Sessions: live and in-person every Thursday on the Aeolian’s Dundas Garden Stage and in the Dave Southen Lounge.

Seating is limited to 40 guests. Tickets are not required but reservations can be made by calling the Aeolian Hall Box Office during business hours. Admission is by a $10 cover charge but donations are welcome to help support the Aeolian, our brilliant artists and the extraordinary work of our technical team. The patio gate and Southen Lounge Bar will open at 7 p.m. so come early and socialize with friends. Concerts will begin at 8 p.m. with the setting sun providing an extraordinary backdrop to our intimate garden stage.

For two years, the Aeolian Phoenix Sessions have provided patrons with a cross-section of the music going experience. From classical to jazz, rock to country, and bluegrass to folk, the Sessions aim to bring music back into your home and heart.

With over 200 musicians having participated, the sessions have been a safe and consistent experience during rather uncertain times.

Our goal was has always been the same: reignite live music and get artists on stage, technicians behind the soundboard and our patrons on their feet listening to extraordinary talent in extraordinary times.

Concerts will take place on the Dundas Garden Stage or in the Dave Southen Lounge depending on the weather and instrumentation. The performances will be recorded and presented as part of the digital series – so you have two opportunities to participate.

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Special Guest

Denise Pelley

www.denisepelley.com

Denise has performed with many great artists including acclaimed trombonist Ray Anderson, Gospel/Blues legend Jackie Richardson and Flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook.  She has opened for Aretha Franklin at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario.

Denise has performed with symphony orchestras and festivals which have included the du Maurier Downtown Jazz Festival (Toronto), Ottawa Jazz Festival, The Royal Canadian Big Band Festival (London), Bluesfest (London), Waterloo Jazz Festival and Sunfest (London), among others.

Denise also enjoys acting and has been part of The Grand Theatre (London) seasons performing in the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, Wang Dang Doodle with Denis Simpson and A Streetcar Named Desire.  Denise’s one-woman show, Jazzabel premiered in September 2004 at the McManus Theatre (Grand Theatre), London, Ontario to sold out audiences!  In October 2005 Jazzabel was performed in Washington, DC at the National Museum for Women in the Arts and in February 2006 to audiences in New York City at Urban Stages Theatre.  As well, she was premiered in the February 2006 issue of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine.  Denise’s recording credits include seven CD’s.

She is honoured with being the recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.  In 2003 she was named a YM-YWCA Woman of Distinction in the Arts and Heritage category.  Denise won best jazz artist in London, Ontario’s Music Awards in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008, 2009, and 2012.  In April 2006 the Hyde Park Rotary presented her with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, Rotary’s highest honour.   In 2008 and 2014 she won Jazz Artist of the Year at the Jack Richardson awards.  In February 2009 the London Black History Committee honoured Denise with the Black Community Achievement Award in recognition of her accomplishments, contributions and support to her community.  In April 2015 she was inducted into the London Music Hall of Fame.  In November 2015 Denise received a honourary licentiate diploma from Conservatory Canada.

Denise is a volunteer with Canadian Aid for Southern Sudan traveling annually since 2007 where she helps to deliver a music and art camp for the children.  She is also a board member with Educate the Children helping to raise funds for a school in Nigeria.

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Special Guest

Laurraine Sigouin

www.enchantissimo.ca

Laurraine Sigouin has appeared as a singer at Maggie’s, Aeolian Hall, Restaurant Ninety-One, London Music Club, Jazz by the Bog, London Jazz Society, and at the long-standing “Jazz for the People” concert series. She is a proud member of the wonderful vocal ensemble Mosaic, which has performed at the Home County Folk Festival and the Montreal Jazz Festival. She also performs with LP Soul, a collective of soul-loving musicians who are passionate about creating a musical experience that moves and grooves. Along with Jake Levesque, she founded Enchanté which has been serving up a bilingual mix of jazz and other styles of music to London area audiences since 2004. Their motto is “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”, which is French for “Let the good times roll!”.

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Special Guest

Kathleen Gahagan

www.kathleengahagan.com

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Kathleen began her harp studies with Nora Bumanis, and completed her Bachelor of Music at McGill University studying under Jennifer Swartz. She has had the pleasure of playing with the London Community Orchestra since 2008, and has also performed with professional orchestras in Edmonton, Stratford, London, and Kitchener, as well as musical theater productions throughout southwestern Ontario. She performs frequently as a chamber musician, choral and vocal accompanist, and in church music settings. She also enjoys educating the public about the harp, and coaching composers with an interest in writing for the instrument. Kathleen is an enthusiastic teacher to her studio of harp students, who have ranged in age from 5 to 60. She also founded and continues to lead the harp ensemble program offered through Forest City String School since 2010.

Kathleen also works as an occupational therapist, working with individuals who have experienced health concerns that affect their ability to participate in daily activities. At times, this work offers her the opportunity to support the musical community: she offers injury prevention and management workshops to musicians of all levels, and she has been a clinician since 2016 with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, assisting students and staff who are struggling with physical or mental health challenges that affect their ability to practice and perform.

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