Scarborough Mirror

Scarborough has the perfect elixir for a case of the winter blues: a week-long celebration of local arts and culture sure to warm the soul.

Arts and culture is one way to give residents a warm and fuzzy feeling during the dead of winter. And the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Arts and Events Programming’s annual Winter Blues Festival offers just that from Monday, Jan. 28 to Friday, Feb. 1.

Andrew Hercules, spokesperson for the event, pointed out, “We are in a cold snap right now, and this is something to look forward to — cheer everybody up and brighten their day with arts and culture.”

The festival also features professional artists to give concerts and artist talks.

The event highlights the fantastic arts and culture that exists on campus, Hercules said, and is sure to “help you get over a really bad case of the winter blues.”

All artist talks, concerts and exhibitions are free and open to public.

A variety of events are planned for this year’s festival, including the second annual UTSC Piano and Guitar Competition.

The competition, next Thursday and Friday, is a “great opportunity for our students to engage with piano and guitar, because we have our concert band but piano is not part of it,” Hercules said.

“It was an amazing opportunity for piano and guitar players that are on campus to come out. It was a huge success last year. A lot of people loved it. We decided to bring it back this year.”

There will be two adjudicators who will provide feedback on the performances.

“And we’ll announce the winners, who will receive a prize from us,” Hercules said.

Friday is the winners showcase, where the top performers will get together and play.

“It’s a nice tail end to the week as a nice lunchtime concert people can come out to,” Hercules said.

Also, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. in the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre, indie folk rock group, Evening Hymns collaborates with Toronto-based projection artist Sean Frey to create a unique music, visual art, and performance experience. Due to limited seating for this event, guests are asked to RSVP online at http://ehsf-utsc.eventbrite.ca/.

All of the events that are part of this year’s Winter Blues Festival take place at the University of Toronto Scarborough located at 1265 Military Trail.

For a full listing of events with date, time, and location information, please visit www.aeplive.ca/winterblues2013.php.

MONDAY, JAN. 28

Artist Talk with David R. Harper

1-2 p.m. in room BV 340

UTSC Concert Choir Open House Rehearsal

5-8 p.m. in room AA 303

TUESDAY, JAN. 29

Poetry Slam and Workshop

Noon to 3 p.m. in the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre

Artist Talk with Midi Onodera

2-5 p.m. in room BV 340

Small Ensemble Open House Rehearsal

5-7 p.m. in room AA 303

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30

Evening Hymns and Sean Frey

7-9 p.m. in the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre

Light Play (workshop with Sean Frey)

2-4 p.m. in the Leigha Lee Browne Theatre

Write A Song, See The World (workshop with Jonas Bonnetta)

2-3 p.m. in room SW 335

THURSDAY, JAN. 31

Piano & Guitar Competition – Main Competition Round

1-4:30 p.m. in room AA 303

Concert Band Open House Rehearsal

5-7 p.m. in room AA 303

Alumni & Community Concert Band Open House Rehearsal

7-10 p.m. in room AA 303

FRIDAY, FEB. 1

Piano & Guitar Competition – Winners’ Showcase

12-1 p.m. in room AA 303