John McDermott, Canadian Brass to headline fourth annual New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts

Scottish-Canadian tenor John McDermott , and the world-famous ensmble, Canadian Brass, will headline the 2012 edition of the New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts. The fourth annual Festival will be held May 28-June 3, 2012.

Once again, the event will include live musical events, literature and the visual arts, including performances by internationally known actors, authors and singers. Also confirmed for the 2012 Festival are the Red Peppers Dixieland Jazz Band, who will appear at the Festival Gala, Wednesday, May 30. On Thursday evening, May 31, New Hamburg Live! will present a full opera in concert. Essential Opera, of Toronto, will perform Handel's "Alcina". The cast of seven soloists will include New Hamburg Live! musical director, mezzo soprano Vicki St. Pierre, and New Hamburg Live! favourite, soprano Erin Bardua.

New Hamburg Live! executive director Paul Knowles says that other performers confirmed for the 2012 Festival include the Peterborough Pop Ensemble, presenting the best of the 60's and 70's in concert on June 2. "And there is much more to come," said Knowles."We are well en route to the strongest line-up of performers and events we have ever offered."

Saturday morning, June 2, will see a literary event at Upper Case Books; Saturday afternoon will include a choral workshop. Participants will then perform Saturday evening with the Peterborough Pop Ensemble. The 2012 Festival will also include a multi-venue visual arts show; returning and new artists are already confirming their participation.

The New Hamburg Live! Festival of the Arts was the winner of the 2010 Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Award for Best New Festival, presentedby the Bank of Nova Scotia.

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