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Blowing in the Wind | The WindRose Trio: Matthew Howatt, Jeff Campbel and Beth Levia.

WindRose Trio
Jan. 23, 3 p.m.
Robertson Wesley United Church (10209-123 St).
Tickets: $10-20.

On an early Saturday morning Beth Levia’s house is already a hive of activity. So much so that her cat, Squirrely, does not mince meows to express disapproval. Surely, working this early on Saturday is something out of the ordinary for the aristocratic animal — but not for the members of The WindRose Trio. Coffee mugs are clinking, music scores are being reshuffled and organized according to their intended order, music stands arranged, chairs placed in a semi-circle. Despite the despairing cat’s protests, the rehearsal must go on, the trio working on their new program. Ready, steady… Oh, no go yet, as the resident house pixie must have secreted a couple of pages.  Shucks!  Here they are!  With a sigh of relief, the three friends are ready to begin.  Not!  The telephone rings and Beth picks it up. People are already enquiring about the show and need answers, pronto.

So, I chat with the clarinetist Jeff Campbell and the bassoonist Matthew Howatt about their work.

”We had more fun pretending than actually doing it,” Howatt chuckles.  “I mean, when we learned that our CD, Paths of Contact, was up for the 2009 Western Canadian Music Award, the three of us staged a mock celebration, acceptance speech and all. We had so much fun we almost laughed our heads off.

Imagine our surprise when they announced we actually won the thing! How amazing and scary at the same time. You know, coming on stage and delivering the real acceptance speech in front of hundreds of musicians and music moguls... Goodness gracious, one lives for such moments — and dreads them.  I’ve never had such stage fright, man,” he guffaws again.

“Fantastic experience,” adds Campbell, “and a reward for our work. We’ve been playing together for six years and to get recognition from our peers was cool. Like winning the lottery, or something, but much better because the lottery is pure chance, while we actually spend a great deal of time developing both our sound and repertoire.”

Beth Levia is off the phone and immediately joins in. “This time we wanted to do pieces with wide appeal,” she says, “yet so well written even the most discriminating listeners can be happy.  We’re doing “Evergreens” by the French composers Marius Constant, Jacques Ibert, and Francis Poulenc. Plus, as always, music by local composers — John McPherson’s quirky “Three Guzintahs” and [the late] Roger Deegan’s “King of the Cats,” a neat music theatre piece based on the well-loved fairytale. Fabulous stuff.”

As soon as she says “King of the Cats,” Squirrely stretches and turns on his back, inviting us to scratch his tummy. The king, indeed.