Hello, Schubertiade fans, and welcome to 2026 and less than four weeks away from Calgary’s first Schubertiade!

I am delighted to bring your our preliminary schedule:

Program (subject to change):

Saturday, January 31, at Summit View (formerly St. David’s) United Church:

1:00 pm – 1:20 pm
Sanctuary: Belita Ensemble (Hyun Jung Song & Cathy Cheon);

• Military March No. 1 D.733 (1st. Hyun Jung Song, 2nd Cathy Cheon)
• Lebensstürme Allegro in A minor D.947 (1st Cathy Cheon, 2nd Hyun Jung Song )

Lower Hall: Tony Cavalleri and pianist:

• Fischerweise, D.881
• Der Lindenbaum, D.911
• Aufenthalt D.957
• An die Musik D. 547
• Abschied D.957

1;20 pm – 1:30 pm
Social break

1:30 pm – 1:50 pm
Sanctuary:
Summit View Orchestra;

• The Unfinished Symphony, mvt 1, D. 759

Tony Qin:

• impromptu in G flat Major, no. 3 op. 90, D.889

Lower Hall:
Tanisi Sinha and pianist:

• An die Laute D.905
• An den Mond D. 259

Anagha Mankekar and pianist:

• Frühlingslied D.398
• Adieu D.578
• Liebhaber in allen Gestalten D.558

1:50 pm – 2:00 pm
Social break

2:00 pm – 2:20 pm
Sanctuary: Summit View Chamber Choir

• Mass No. 3 in B-flat major D 324, selected movements

Lower Hall:

Tamara Vardomskaya and Tony Qin:

• Ganymed D.544
• Suleika I D. 720

Nai Garcia and pianist:

• Der Alpenjäger D.524
• An den Mond D.193
• Abendstern D.806
• Die Forelle D.550

2:20 pm – 2:30 pm
Social break

2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Sanctuary: Singalong of “Ave Maria” D. 839 (scores provided to all interested) and open jam

Singalong?

My favourite part of Christmastime recitals in one of the vocal studios I had been part of was when all the participating singers just sang a beautiful carol like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” all together, with the pianist on piano. I think the Schubert piece that most people know, or at least have heard, is the “Ave Maria.” In the spirit of informality true to Schubertiades, most participants can just join in the melody, though improvised harmonies are welcome.

Open Jam?

For the “open Schubert jam”, I want to try to replicate the fun and camaraderie of a jazz jam or traditional music session. The music playing becomes even more informal, individual orchestra or choir members are welcome to step up, and friends and family members from the audience are welcome to join in if they know the music (maybe they’ll be motivated to sign up as billed performers next year!) . The relationship to Schubert also doesn’t have to be as direct.

E.g. When I attended the 2014 Schubertiade in Chicago, local jazz improviser George McRae was playing the final segment. He introduced one piece by saying that he had researched Schubert’s life. Paraphrasing: He had lived a difficult life. At his heart, he was a songwriter, like the famous songwriters of later: Lennon/McCartney, Rodgers and Hart. Lorenz Hart, he said, was Schubertesque: very short, with the added issues of being Jewish and gay. Well, that was all an excuse because George just wanted to play “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, and “I’d like to play it for you, if you’d indulge me.”

So, as loose as that. You want to play some Nick Cave because Nick Cave has explicitly said he was influenced by Schubert? Leonard Cohen’s “Take This Waltz” because it’s about Vienna? Something from Sleeping Beauty because it and “Gretchen am Spinnrade” are both about spinning thread? Some Beethoven because he and Schubert were contemporaries? Rock on!

I will be happy to see all of you there!