Sunday, January 8, 2023, 3:00 pm

Darke Hall, Conservatory of Performing Arts

Jonathan Craig Penner, cello & Dr. Christopher Kayler, piano

Cellist Jonathan Craig Penner is currently in his third year of studies at McGill university, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Cello Performance in the class of Brian Manker. Jonathan was born and raised in Regina SK, studying cello with Simon Fryer at the Conservatory of Performing arts. As winner of the 2019 Shurniak Concerto Competition, He was featured as soloist with the Regina symphony orchestra in Fall of 2021, and Saskatoon symphony orchestra in spring of 2022. As a chamber player, Jonathan is involved with numerous small chamber ensembles in Montreal and has served as principal cello of the McGill symphony orchestra. He has had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses with Adrian Fung, Andrew Yee, Yuri Hooker, and Tom Weibe among others. Jonathan performs on a J.B. Stensland Cello made in 1997.

Recently appointed the Principal Keyboard of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Christopher Kayler is an Assistant Professor of Music at Briercrest College. He completed his DMA in Accompanying and Chamber Music at the esteemed Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) under the tutelage of Dr. Jean Barr. An accomplished performer, Dr. Kayler was awarded 1st prize in the 2017 Jessie Kneisel Lieder competition, which was judged by the internationally renowned pianist-scholar Graham Johnson. He has performed as a piano soloist with the University of Manitoba Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. While at Eastman, he received an Excellence in Accompanying award and held graduate assistantships in opera coaching, studio accompanying, and as a teacher’s assistant. He has participated in numerous prestigious summer music programs, including the Vancouver International Song Institute, SongFest (Los Angeles), and the Franz Schubert Institut (Baden bei Wien, Austria). His academic awards include Eastman’s Jerald C. Graue Fellowship for excellence in musicology and the University of Manitoba’s Gold Medal for the highest graduating average in music. At Briercrest, he teaches piano lessons and various music courses, performs in concerts throughout the year, and directs the Briercrest Orchestra. He has adjudicated at music festivals across Saskatchewan and Manitoba and also typesets music for academic publication. Chris lives in Moose Jaw with his wife Heather and young sons Benjamin and James.

Program 

Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1009 (25’) Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) 
 Prelude 
 Allemande  
 Courante  
 Sarabande 
 Bouree I & II 
 Gigue 

Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38 (26’) Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) 
 Allegro non troppo 
 Allegretto quasi menuetto 
 Allegro

Nocturne, Op. 9, No. 2 (6′) Frederic Chopin (1810-1849) Transcribed for cello by David Popper

Du bist die Ruh, D.776 (5′) Franz Schubert (1797-1828)