Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 16/06) - World-renowned bassoonist George Zukerman will return to the NWT later this month for performances in Inuvik and Yellowknife.

"I've been doing this extensively in the North for years," he said.

Bassoonist George Zukerman with Simon Anaviapik during his 2001 visit to Qikiqtarjuaq, Nunavut. Zukerman will perform in Inuvik and Yellowknife this month. - photo courtesy of George Zukerman

His last visit to the NWT in 2000 took him through the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu Regions.

Zukerman enjoys jamming with aboriginal drummers and vocalists while visiting the North, he said.

"Music is a non-confrontational language," he said.

"It's a window we can all look through and share."

Audience participation is always a part of his unconventional performances, he said.

He has brought music demonstrations and talks into Northern schools with funding from the Music Performance Fund, administered by the Canadian Music Union, since 1998.

"It's something that has to be continuous," he said.

"You can't just do it once and say 'Oh, we've served the North' - especially with schools, because every three years there's a new bunch of kids."

Born in Great Britain, Zukerman has lived in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey/White Rock since 1953.

He was a member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the distinguished CBC Chamber Orchestra.

He received the Order of Canada for his contributions to touring in remote regions of the country, including concerts throughout the NWT in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

Zukerman will perform in Inuvik on Jan. 25 during a special concert for solo bassoon arranged by the town's Music Festival committee.

He will also perform diverse solo works by Corelli, Kodaly, Mozart, Rossini, Saint Saens and Weber at the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre in Yellowknife at 8 p.m. on Jan. 28.

He will be accompanied by Edmonton pianist Janet Scott-Hoyt. He will also visit schools in both communities.

"As far as I'm concerned, when I come North, schools have got to be part of the package," he said.

"Because that's where it all begins."