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RDSO, pianist to perform Crittall’s latest works for fundraiser

The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra has received a unique gift from Edmonton composer Andrew Crittall.

The Red Deer Symphony Orchestra has received a unique gift from Edmonton composer Andrew Crittall.

Crittall is allowing the RDSO, along with pianist Simon-Marc de Freitas, to perform a concert of his music this week. And all of the box office receipts from the Thursday event will go to the local orchestra as a fundraiser.

Described as the Frank Mills of Alberta, Crittall writes compositions for piano, but his music has been orchestrated by Red Deer conductor Claude Lapalme.

Crittall, who studied at the Royal Conservatory of Canada, already recorded the CD, Inspired, with the RDSO and has another joint project in the works.

This week’s concert will be an opportunity to hear Crittall’s newest works performed by the orchestra and de Freitas, an Edmonton-based pianist who received his master of music degree from the University of Toronto, and also studied at the University of British Columbia.

As a recipient of several grants and scholarships, de Freitas has attended prestigious international music programs in Canada, Poland and Austria, including the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw and the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

He is an instructor of piano at Grant MacEwan University Conservatory.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert at the Red Deer College Arts Centre are $30 ($22 students) from Ticketmaster.