Collingwood Music Festival Flag Raising

VIDEO: The Collingwood Music Festival is welcoming world class talent to South Georgian Bay this summer. Organizers officially launched the concert season with an official flag raising ceremony in front of the Collingwood Library on Tuesday July 4th. John Kirby introduced the many special guests including Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin, Clearview Mayor Doug Measures, Debra Bloom Hall from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson, Simcoe-Grey MP Terry Dowdall and Festival Artistic Director Daniel Vnukowski.

In the Festival’s official program, Daniel Vnukowski, host of The Classical Jukebox on The New Classical FM, says award-winning artists from various genres have been invited. “From the stirring, soulful songs of Jeremy Dutcher’s Wolastoq roots to Olivier Messiaen’s transcendent masterwork Quartet for the End of Time, written in a POW camp during the early days of World War II – there’s something for everyone to be inspired by.”

The inaugural concert will feature the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, to take place along the shoreline of South Georgian Bay alongside what hopefully will be another magical Collingwood sunset. Vnukowski said in his travels around the world he has concluded song and dance represents a binding experience for all cultures. “Collingwood is the perfect destination for people to unwind and enjoy amazing musical experiences” he added.

Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson said the region is extremely fortunate to have Daniel Vnukowski, with his insightful vision of inviting such diverse and talented performers, as the Festival’s Artistic Director. “I am proud that this year’s Festival is being financially assisted by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a program of the Government of Ontario” Saunderson stated.