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NEXT I MEDICI CONCERT – LECTURE: In the Presence of Haydn and Brahms

Montreal, March, 30, 2009... I Medici di McGill Orchestra closes its 20th season on Monday, April 20, at 8 pm with a public concert at Oscar Peterson Hall, Loyola Campus of Concordia University located at 7141 Sherbrooke West under its conductor Iwan Edwards.

This concert features Haydn’s 31st symphony “Mit dem hornsignal”, Brahms’ First Serenade op.11 and the 20th Annual Biology of Music Lecture with Dr. Robert Zatorre.

Dr. Robert Zatorre, the James McGill chair in Neuroscience at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, will discuss in his presentation “Music in the brain: Hard wired or hard work?”, how our brain allows us to perceive and perform music. Because music touches upon almost all of the higher mental functions, it provides not only a rich source of material to understand how the human brain works but understanding how the brain works may also give musicians additional insights into music.

Maestro Iwan Edwards has conducted I Medici di McGill since the year 2000.  He also directs Concerto Della Donna and the Montreal Children’s Choir. Formerly a professor at McGill University he recently retired from being music director (and founder) of the St. Lawrence Choir, MSO Choir, Ottawa Choral Society and the Canadian Chamber Choir.

I Medici di McGill was founded in 1989 by Dr. A. L. Padjen of McGill’s Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics.  The mission of I Medici is to provide musical content for various events in the life of the Faculty of Medicine, the University and the community and thus add a unique social dimension to medical education and to the profession.  The orchestra also plays during an annual lecture series on ‘’Biology of Music’’.  I Medici is available for fundraising events.  The players come from the staff and students of McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine and the ensemble is completed by players from the community, upon invitation and audition.

The musicians of I Medici are all volunteers. Admission to all I Medici public concerts is free but as there are costs associated with putting on each concert, a voluntary contribution of $15 at the door is strongly encouraged.  More information on the orchestra may be found on its website: http://www.imedici.mcgill.ca.

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Contacts:

Ms. Julia Mlynarek
Communications, I Medici di McGill Orchestra
MSc Candidate, McGill University
Tel: (514) 398-7988
e-mail: julia.mlynarek@mail.mcgill.ca

Dr. A. L. Padjen,
Director, I Medici di McGill Orchestra
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
McGill University
Tel : (514) 398-3603
e-mail : ante.padjen@mcgill.ca