Program 4

Darkness to Light

Sunday, April 13 - 3 pm

St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville, ON
Free street parking on streets and nearby city lots such as 300 Church St., behind the old post office, and behind the Queen's Head.

Ticket Prices

Regular - $40
Under 30 - $20
Under 12 - $15

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Venue Details

Charles, our Music Director, writes:

We all experience difficulties in life, negative things will happen, ideally, we deal with them, and move on/move back to a state of positivity. One of my favourite concert ideas is the process of darkness to light, in which this facing of challenges and moving forward to positivity is expressed, and celebrated.

This version of the theme moves away from the personal and towards the universal. Brantford composer Ronald Beckett has written a moving tribute to our relationship with the natural world, entitled Nature’s Cry. It addresses, on an emotional level, the state of our connection to the animals that we share the planet with.

Russia is very much on our minds these days, as it moves closer and closer to the totalitarian state that it was when Joseph Stalin was its ruler. Dmitri Shostakvich lived through the darkest years of Stalin's terror, and it marked him for life; he later said that all of his music after that point, was a memorial to Stalin's innocent victims. His Cello Concerto #1 is a particularly moving and poignant tribute. Lexie Krakowski won 1st place in the senior category of our concerto competition, and is a truly memorable cellist.

These are dark things to think about, and I wouldn't leave you in that state of mind.... positivity is recovered in the second half of the concert with Beethoven's sparkling, brilliant, funny, Symphony #1. I hope that you'll join us on our journey towards optimism!

Ron Beckett Nature’s Cry
Shostakovich Cello Concerto #1
- Lexie Krakowski, soloist

Beethoven Symphony #1 in C

Lexie Krakowski

Lexie grew up drawn to the love of performance and storytelling. She spent her childhood in Victoria, BC putting together plays, dances, and really any type of performance you can imagine. Eventually this translated into a passion for music and brought her to The Glenn Gould School, where she is about to complete her Bachelor of Cello Performance.

As a cellist, Lexie has had the honour of being recognized on CBC’s “Classical 30 under 30” list and as the First Prize and Grand Award winner at the National Music Festival of Canada. Most recently, Lexie toured as co-principal cellist with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and was an artist at the 2024 Banff International String Quartet Festival. Her 2025 season comprises performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra, and collaborating with the Grammy nominated ARC ensemble.

From coast to coast, Lexie has been praised for her moving performances and her sound described as ‘youthfully vibrant yet having the quality of an old soul’. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to perform with the Oakville Chamber Orchestra having won first prize (senior category) in their 2024 Youth Concerto Competition, and as always, hopes to convey that the purpose of music is joy, and that joy is meant to be shared.

Venue Details

St. John’s United Church
262 Randall Street, Oakville
(905) 845-0551

Parking on streets and in Town of Oakville lots is free on Sundays, and all other days after 6 pm. There is a Town lot behind the Queen’s Head Pub on Church St. There is a large Town lot with entrance on the south side of Church street, between Trafalgar and Reynolds.

Darkness to Light

Meet Our Soloist

Lexie Krakowski

Venue Details