Trent University to Welcome Genre-Bending Musician on Wednesday, September 28

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renowned musical talent John Kameel Farah will perform a free concert at Lady Eaton College

Tuesday, September 13, 2011, Peterborough

Trent University and Lady Eaton College invite the public to experience the avant-garde musical genius of John Kameel Farah, during a free performance at The Pit in Lady Eaton College on Wednesday, September 28, at 7:30 p.m.

Composer, pianist, electronic musician and visual artist John Kameel Farah has been described as a “barrier-busting,” musical “polymath” who merges his diverse musical background into one “unified voice” during his electric performances.

The event will bring together Trent students and faculty in what will be the first public performance using new state-of-the-art sound equipment now housed at Lady Eaton College, donated to the University by Trent alumnus Stuart Butts (’65).

“We are thrilled at Lady Eaton College to be hosting an artist with so much talent, passion and skill,” said Dr. Carolyn Kay, principal of Lady Eaton College. “John Farah is an original and exciting musician whose compositions are unforgettable. For students, John is an inspiring example of what can be achieved by pushing past the boundaries in any discipline. Lady Eaton College invites the entire community to take advantage of this free opportunity to hear one of Canada’s finest musicians.”

Now based in Toronto and Berlin, Mr. Farrah was classically trained in composition and piano performance at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory, where he received the Glenn Gould Composition Award twice during his studies. Mr. Farrah has the rare gift of being able to seamlessly blend musical styles to create a genre that is drawing new music listeners and fans.  He is a virtuoso keyboardist who simultaneously uses piano, synthesizer sound sculpture, computer sequencing and even harpsichord and organ in his performances.

With mastery of multiple musical genres, including jazz, improvisation, classical and electronica, Mr. Farrah is a true musical wonder. He combines his classical and jazz training with Arabic rhythms, microtonal scales and electronic genres in his compositions and performances. Drawing inspiration from history, mythology, painting and psychology, his compositions “redefine electronica”, and his performances have been described as “trance-inducing,” “somewhere between a solo piano concert and a techno event.”

Mr. Farrah performs regularly in Toronto and Berlin, and has toured the world. He has garnered rave reviews from the Toronto Star, Now Magazine, the New York Daily News and CBC Metro Morning. He is the 2011 recipient of the K.M. Hunter Artist Award in music from the Ontario Arts Council.

The event is free and open to the public, sponsored by Lady Eaton College as part of its student and community engagement efforts. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Performance begins at 7:30 p.m. and concludes at 9:30 p.m. The Pit is located in Lady Eaton College on Symons Campus.

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For more information, please contact: Dr. Carolyn Kay, principal, Lady Eaton College, 705-748-1011 x7625, ckay@trentu.ca