Music at MERA Concerts
Since the early 2010's, MERA has presented concerts at the schoolhouse under it's Music at MERA Schoolhouse Series (folk/roots/jazz) and the Blue Jeans Classical banners. MERA concerts provide entertainment and cultural experiences for local residents in their own community, and professional performance opportunities for both established and up-and-coming musicians from this region and beyond.
The MERA Schoolhouse is an intimate space with excellent acoustics. The concerts allow a rare opportunity to be close to professional musicians as they display their talent and knowledge. We encourage the musicians to talk in an informal way about their careers, instruments and the musical pieces they have chosen to present.
Most concerts are held on Sunday afternoons, typically from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. The MERA Cafe is open before and at the break in the concert, offering a range of hot and cold drinks, and tasty treats, and a great opportunity to talk to fellow music lovers.
We are very pleased with the variety and quality of our five offerings this fall at MERA. Two genre bending quartets, two accomplished singer-songwriters and our very first one act play.
MERA Sunday Schoolhouse Concert Series
Music at the MERA Sunday Schoolhouse Concerts centers around a wide array of genres. From eltic, bluegrass, pop/folk, Jazz/funk and Gypsie/Klezmer eclectic acts have made appearances as well. The common element with all the performances is excellent musicianship combined with the ability to communicate the joy of live music in an intimate setting.
Blue Jean Classical Series
Perhaps the best way to describe what to expect is to list some of the musicians who have performed within the last several years.
Musicians that have performed for the Blue Jeans Classical series include: Triola, Michel Szczeniak, the Jorge Miguel Ensemble, Emily Kennedy & Keenan Reimer Watts, Trio Corventano, Paul Marleyn, Frederic Lacroix, Gertrude Letourneau & Catherine Donkin, Mark Valenti, Karen Donnelly. The Alireza Ensemble, Chis Lee, the Robson Truong Duo.
The MERA Café offers Fair Trade coffee, a selection of tea and cold beverages and an enticing array of sweet treats available before the performance and during intermission. This is a great opportunity to catch up with friends and neighbours or chat with the musicians.
Upcoming Concerts
Watch for upcoming dates on the MERA Home Page, and in the MERA newsletter
Tickets are available in advance on line at Tickets Please and at the door while availability lasts.
New for this season!
Discount Tickets!
We can now offer discounts! Thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council we are able to offer a $20 discount to those 30 years and under, and if they wish, an additional $20 discount for their “guest” of any age. The intent of these discounts is to encourage young folks to join our audience and to make attendance more affordable for young families. If you know a young person who might be interested, the two of you could attend for less that the price of one regular ticket. Sweet!
Childcare
And we have one more great deal for young families - free childcare during the show! Bring your child to the Schoolhouse and the same wonderful folks who have been running children's activities at the MERA Café and the MERA Children's Summer Art Camp will keep your little one(s) busy while you enjoy the performance. You must have a ticket for the show and pre-book in advance by contacting Jan Griffiths at janetleeg@gmail.com. Feel free to contact Jan for more information about this service.
All concerts are announced through the MERA Website, the MERA Newsletter, Facebook page, the MERA Events Calendar and "The Music at MERA" newsletter.