The Muskoka Music Festival’s 8^th season showcases some of the most energetic and exciting talent for this summer. The festival will be presenting a more integrated and comprehensive program of arts and culture beginning with the Summer Solstice Arts Festival from June 19 to July 1 followed by the regular concert season July 13 to August 11.

  The festivities will commence with the Kaleidoscope Children’s Festival on June 19 at the Port Carling Memorial Community Centre and will feature hands-on arts workshops led by local artists, including ‘Clayworld’, rainstick making, drum making, banner pictures and soundscapes, as well as performances by the Glen Orchard Public School Choir and ensemble, the Bracebridge Public School Band and the Mnjikaning Kendaaswin Public School Choir.  The event will be hosted by renowned folk singer Beverlie Robertson, who will lead everyone in sing-alongs.

  The month of June will be filled with family concerts, arts exhibitions, literary and culinary events including; The Muskoka Place Art Exhibition, Writing Out Loud, (June 22) Muskoka’s annual storytelling festival featuring local raconteurs and live music, the Annual Gala of Hospice Muskoka, and a Canada Day Literary Celebration, (July 1) featuring local authors, storytellers, poets and songwriters.

  The famous Flavours of Muskoka will be held on June 30. This amazing graze, the premier gourmet food and wine event of the Muskoka season, in its previous three years, has been a sold out event.  The monies raised by this event have contributed over $80,000 to help make a difference in our communities.

  The world premier of Saarinen & Sinclair: North America in Picture, Poetry and Piano, an amazing multi-media portrait of this beautiful continent, will be performed at 8pm on June 26 and will be the highlight of our new pre-season “Summer Solstice Arts Festival”. This world premier multi-media event will feature Gloria Saarinen, virtuoso pianist, Lister Sinclair, O.C., renowned poet and CBC Radio personality, and the paintings of Ted Harrison, beloved Canadian artist.

  The festival’s regular season will again feature the ever-popular Classical Tuesdays, Jazz Wednesdays and Variety Thursdays, from July 13 to August 11 at the air-conditioned Port Carling Memorial Community Centre. Single tickets for the regular season concerts are $20 and season passes are available.

  This year’s concert series will begin on July 13 with the return of renowned violin virtuoso Moshe Hammer and the German classical guitarist Michael Troester in duet and solo settings.

  The festival will showcase a variety of Jazz artists both on and off shore.  New to this season is the “Rhythms on Rosseau” series, an evening of Jazz on the Wenonah II, sailing out of Port Carling at 7pm on Tuesday evenings from July 13 to August 10. The Tuesday Night Jazz Cruises includes a 3 ½ hour cruise, mouth watering desserts, and live music performed by Swing de Paris (July 13), Bourbon Street Buskers (July 20), Swing Noir (July 27), Kory Livingstone (Aug 3) and Moodswings (Aug 10). Cruises board at the locks in Port Carling at 6:30 p.m.

  Jazz Wednesdays will begin with the Jazz vocal trio Skylark (July 14), and will continue with Jazz vocalist Adi Braun (July 21), Juno Award-winning saxophonist Richard Underhill (July 28), The Whitney Smith Big Steam Band (Aug 4), Songs Sinatra Taught Me-Tommy Ambrose & The Toronto All-Star Big Band (Aug 11).

  Variety Thursdays are set to include music for everyone with the return of the Piche Family performing East Coast and Celtic music (July 15), Israeli Jazz ensemble Seeds of Sun (July 22), Folksinger Beverlie Robertson (July 29) and the “Greek God of the Guitar” Pavlo (Aug 5).

  On Saturday, July 31 the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival will present an evening with Canadian music legend Jeff Healey and his all-new exciting traditional jazz group, Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards, featuring Healey on trumpet, lead vocals, valve trombone and of course guitar.  This show has been an ongoing smash hit at concerts and festivals across the country. This concert is a special event, admission is $25, and takes place at the Port Carling Memorial Community Centre, 8:00 p.m.

  All concerts are held at the Port Carling Memorial Community Centre, 3 Bailey St., Port Carling, at 8:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The Centre is air conditioned, wheel chair accessible, and has plenty of free parking. For more information visit the festival website www.artsinmuskoka.com. Inquiries and ticket orders can be made by calling toll free 1 888 311 ARTS(2787) or email info@artsinmuskoka.com.