Jon-Paul Walden has the jitters again.
He’s remembering what it’s like to get ready for a public performance: the hours of preparation, the pressure to sell tickets, the anticipation of the crowd.
But for his show on Saturday — a Valentine’s themed-concert that will feature a choir from Port Coquitlam’s Riverside secondary — Walden will face an extra test.
Not only he is debuting a new CD with his longtime piano teacher and mentor — the world-famous composer, music arranger and symphonic conductor Ryszard Wrzaskala — he’s also entertaining on home turf.
Walden’s musical talents will be displayed at the Evergreen Cultural Centre, where he is the executive director of the Coquitlam Town Centre arts hub.
“I’m really feeling the heat,” he joked during an interview last week, “but luckily the administration here loves my work so I had no problem getting approved.”
It’s the second time Walden has paired up with Wrzaskala. In 2013, the tenor sang at a Vancouver recital in honour of the Port Moody resident, who was celebrating 60 years in the business.
The gala event was supported by the Consulate of Poland.
Before moving to Canada in 1969, Wrzaskala conducted the Legnica State Symphony Orchestra in his native Poland. He won the top prize in a Polish radio song competition, moved to Warsaw and composed for Polish radio and T.V. In 1968, he conducted the National Dance Company of Poland.
But while he’s had a prolific career in eastern Europe, Wrzaskala hasn’t had much of a following in Canada.
Walden hopes to change that.
Two months ago, they cut 14 tracks at The Warehouse Studio in Gastown — in an astonishing five hours — for a new CD titled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. Walden said it contains compositions from the mid-1990s to modern day. “People are really liking it especially the kids,” Walden said, holding the new CD in his hand. “The songs have very catchy melodies.”
For this Saturday’s concert, the Riverside choir (under music teacher Glenda Ottens) will accompany the pair for four songs while Russian vocalist Luda Gogolinski will sing duets with Walden for a few other numbers. Mark Bender will be on bass while Jonathan Reichard is on drums.
As for future performances with the 83-year-old pianist, Walden said they’re eager to do more. “This is just the beginning,” he said.
• Tickets for Walden Sings Wrzaskala: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow on Feb. 13 are $25/$15. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Call the Evergreen box office at 604-927-6555 or visit evergreenculturalcentre.ca.
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