36 — North Shore Nows — Friday, October 13, 2000 Weekend | concerts set for Gentenni From Page V3 Yzzard and Conway Baker share connections that span sone 20 years. Conway Baker recalls meeting Izzard ata party “so long ago and in another life.” When he married his sec- ond wife, lyricist Penny Anne Baker, the I7zards gave them a painting that now graces the cover ofa popular CBC-pro- duced CD, “The Music of - Conway Baker”. An early video featuring Conway Baker's music was produced by Izzard’s son, Peter Langer. And that connection will sup ly an unexpected part to - riday evening's festivities. Langer has blended slides ’ of 116 of Izzard’s paintings with Conway Baker’s “The Mountain” to create a 10- minute presentation that the two artists decided they would donate to the gala. ; Tronically, “The Mounuin,” one of Conway Baker's most popular pieces, is itself part of a larger suite (“Through the Lion’s Gate) that the composer donated to - the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra when its finances collapsed in 1989. : _~ . Conway Baker, like Izzard, voices the other danger that often befalls Canadian artists who become successful. “Both of us have suffered the slings and arrows of being _ accessible and successful. It’s “not acceptable.” : He goes on to recount the premiering of his first flute concerto at Shawnigan Lake. After long and rapturous audi- ence applause died down, the internationally renowned: - Mautist, who shell remain” ‘nameless, turned to Conway Beker and whispered “Anyone can write a melody.” - When Glenn Gould di the CBC convened a panel of musicians to talk about him and when Conway Baker walked into the room some- one said, “Here comes the Tehaikovsky of the West” — as if being accessibly romantic is somehow to be a lesser artist. While Conway Baker has over 117 concert works to ! credit and has received the Juno award for Best Classical Composition on recordings as well as the Order of British Columbia, he is considered to be a leading composer many different fields, with major awards in each includ- ing three Genies. He is as happy to be known for his film scores as anything else. His over 180 filn, television and video music scores owe muck of their success to his extensive background in wi ing symphonic concert music. As talk of recognition and the meaning of success contin- ues, Conway Baker pauses, and offers this thought about the FANS awards: . “You know, it’s unusual to see this kind of event. I can’t think of an event like this in Vancouver or Toronto, can you? I think this might be uite unique. Perhaps we leserve a little pat on the back.” Perhaps we do. | And the Arts Commission certainly does. The Fund for the Arts on the North Shore (FANS), honours artists from the North Shore who have achieved national or interna- tional recognition for their work. © -_ This year’s awards will be officially presented tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the 2000 FANS we Night at the Centennial - THE newly renovated Centennial Theatre beasts a larger fobby, better access from the perking let and, final ly, seats and washrooms accessibvie to the disabled. Theatre in North Vancouver. The gala fundraiser is planned as a special partner- ship with the Centennial Theatre to celebrate the of cial reopening of the new renovated facility as well as its 35th anniversa Vicky Gabereau will host the evening's events including: the official opening of the the- atre by Mayor Barbara Sharp; award presentations to Michael Conway Baker and Daniel Izzard; a cocktail reception; a visual art show organized by the North Vancouver Community Arts Council and dessert and danc- ing with Dal Richards and his band in the newly renovated lobby. : Each of this year’s FANS” Award honourees will receive an original sculpture in marble and glass created by North Vancouver's own Michaei Binkley. ; All proceeds from the evening will go towards the building of the FANS accounz, intended te support the development of the arts on the North Shore. This year, the fund will give its sec- ord annual FANS Artistic Merit Award to North Vancouver artist Joan Smith. icket for the evening are $35 per person and can be reserved by phone at 984- 4484. Other events lined up for the Centennial’s offici: ing include: pis Kaeshammer in concert Saturday Oct. 14 at 8 p.m.; a free Family Day Sunday frem 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; and the first concert for children by the new North Shore orchestra, Sinfonia, under the direction of conductor Clyde Mitchell, and featuring Laurel and Jan and the Vanleena Dancers. Tickets for this event, Miracle Island, are $14 for adults and $8 for children under 12. Information and > tickets: 984-4484. Es