Words to touch
Music to feel

QQN News

QQN News - September 2003

September 2003

Jasper Wood awarded use of Stradivarius

Jasper Wood

Exciting news for young Jasper Wood, Canadian violinist – he has been awarded the use of the $3 million Stradivarius “Taft” violin from the Canada Council’s Musical Instrument Bank. The announcement was made by Jean-Louis Roux, chairman of the Canada Council, at a news conference and reception held at the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, and later by Richard Paul Concert Artists in a press release of September 8, 2003.

Jasper's first public performance of this instrument is the Beethoven Concerto with the Billings Symphony on October 11, 2003.

This is exciting news indeed. Jasper Wood is certainly a young violinist to watch for, and as the interview article posted on this web site explains, he is very passionate about the instrument he plays. Congratulations Jasper!

Fort Nelson schools closed for a while

I have heard that the primary schools in Fort Nelson have been subjected to flooding over the summer (water – what a blessing when the rest of the province is so very dry) and this has resulted in closures while the buildings are freed of mould. That is one of the gifts of travelling and touring, is that when I hear such news I can picture the buildings, the teachers and the children. We had such a wonderful time doing “One Seed” in June of this year. My heartfelt thoughts go out to everyone in Fort Nelson.

Fires in British Columbia

British Columbia was not alone in the forest fire dilemmas of the last couple of months. Alberta and several northern states in the US were also affected. We here in Grand Forks were subjected to the Galena (Togo) Mountain fire on the US side of the Washington border. It was a scary situation and one that certainly had folks looking at what is really important in their lives. Of course, Kelowna and Kamloops areas have been devastated, and homes lost. So what really is important to us all? What is Mother Nature trying to tell us? Didn’t David Suzuki warn us about this twenty years ago?

9-11 Commemoration

This last week the media was full of memories and commemorations of the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York two years ago, and the tragic loss of life. While listening to CBC’s Cross-Country Check-up I decided to participate in their Internet forum (www.cbc.ca) and was fascinated with what folks were writing. I added my own comments that come from the QQN Bite of the Month for September “The Cycle Continues”. Cicero wrote about these things two thousand years ago. So have we really learned anything? Do we really understand why all this has happened and continues to happen?

"One Seed" Courage Kit now available

What is a Courage Kit you may ask? Well, instead of an Emergency Kit, or First-Aid Kit, or a Survival Kit, QQN provides a Courage Kit.

Do you know of a child (or grown-up) who could use a little support in the courage department? Or of another who has done something very courageous (like learn to ride a bike)? Or another who did something they didn’t think was possible?

The Courage Kit brings together the book and CD along with a button, to be worn as a symbol that the child (grown-up) has the courage to be like the One Seed, and a bookmark (with wildflower seeds for growing) to remind the reader that:

"It took one seed to make a diff’rence
It took one seed to grow up tall.
It took one seed to have the courage,
One seed that’s all."

Discount on "One Seed"

Purchase "One Seed" - the book/CD, buttons, bookmarks and Courage Kits before November 30, 2003 and receive a 15% discount.

For further information please visit this page of my website.

Tours

At this time the tour “One Seed” for Vancouver Island schools is being postponed until Fall 2004 so I can devote more time to writing stories. I will, however, be doing a special workshop and presentation for the Chilliwack Hospice on October 4, to coincide with national hospice celebrations. It will be a very special day.

Response to the new-look web-site

Response to the new-look web-site has been fantastic and readership has certainly increased, more than quadrupled. Thanks to Green Thumb Web Design for all your work. The site is starting to shape up into a really good resource for promoting musicians and talent, and ideas. This is exciting.

Special thanks go to Margot Holmes of Caline Artists Management for inspiration and support in the writing of many of these articles. Margot is a true supporter of the arts and I really admire her skills in management and promotion. Thanks Margot.

The vision I have now is of the QQN site becoming a global location for human-interest stories about artists and people who have ideas, and who contribute to the betterment of human life on this planet. The talent featured so far is top calibre, even world class. But here on QQN is where you find the story that introduces the human, the real person. For example, at this time my story of world renowned jazz and New Age flutist Paul Horn is about the most in-depth that you will find on the world wide web.

If you or someone you know would like to be included in this amazing roster of people, contact me.

Tell me your news

Artists and individuals featured on this web site are invited to send me your latest news that I can pass on to QQN readers. The site is continuously updated so if you have anything exciting that you would like to share with folks, pass it on.

See you in October. Have good health, and prosper.

Cheers
Rosemary