Events > PERFORMING ARTS SERIES

The beat of students' feet has echoed through the hallowed halls of Waterloo Collegiate Institute in Waterloo, Ontario for almost 50 years. On the weekend of June 4 - 6, 2010 a group of dedicated volunteer alumni from as far away as Santiago, Chile and San Francisco, California hope that more than mere memories will come flooding through the doors of their alma mater.

The 50th Homecoming will feature many free events throughout the weekend aimed to entertain, delight and rekindle old friendships. One such event, ''The WCI Performance Series" hopes to entice former alumni to return to share their talents once more from the stage where many of their careers began.

Imagine if the following alumni, just to name a few, came together for an afternoon full of music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

Naomi Snieckus: "Naomi Snieckus is one of Canada's most talented actor/writer/improviser/voice-over artists.”

Evan Mitchell: "Conductor Evan Mitchell is proving to be one of Canada’s most promising young conductors. Currently the Assistant Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony, Evan is slated to play a key role in programming, artistic development and of course performance with the VSO, leading the orchestra through a wide assortment of concerts.”

Jeff Reilly: "Jeff Reilly is internationally respected as an innovative master of the bass clarinet. He is also a composer, music producer, and an award winning radio documentary maker.”

John Thiessen: "Baroque trumpet players are an elite group, like celebrity chefs, dramatic tenors, and ace relief pitchers. In the forefront of this select set is Canadian John Thiessen.”

John Hill: "Since 2000, John has worked as recording engineer with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. He has recorded a veritable who's-who of renowned classical performers including: Yo-Yo Ma, Branford Marsalis, Itzhak Perlman and James Galway.”

Shawn Kellerman: "Guitar wizard Shawn Kellerman is poised to join the inner circle of musicians who define modern blues. Traditional forms are reinterpreted — a not-so-subtle union of past and present delivered with ferocious authenticity.”

Nicola Pantin: Choreographer and Dancer. Dance film credits include Blues Brothers 2000, various music videos and short films for Big Toad Productions, Revolver, CBC and Bravo!FACT.

Peter Etril Snyder: "While many artists profess their hearts to be in New York City or Paris, Peter Etril Snyder has said, "My heart, she is in Hawkesville."" The successful Waterloo painter, who grew up in a Mennonite family, found success in business by painting what he knew – Waterloo County Mennonites.”

Jana Skarecky: "Jana Skarecky is a Canadian contemporary classical composer of vocal and instrumental music – for solo voice, choir, solo instruments, chamber groups, and orchestra.”

The Performance Series is being coordinated by David Steckenreiter, a 1971 grad. He is continually sifting through the archives and student lists looking for professional or semi-professional alumni to add to this exciting roster of artists and entertainers. Any past or present students interested in participating should contact David at 1971viking@gmail.com