Special Performance: Great Newfoundland & Irish Songbook
Date: Nov 17
8:00 pm
- 10:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Pianist and composer James Hurley is joined by the Irish Tenor Dean Power for a magical evening celebrating shared folksong traditions from Newfoundland and Ireland.
Power and Hurley offer new arrangements of well-known songs through a program that also features Hurley's unique compositions based on the works of Irish literary luminaries including James Joyce and WB Yeats.
This performance will include World Premieres of poems by Oscar Wilde, James Joyce and Duncan Major.
Special for this performance, local artist Duncan Major has created visual art projections that accompany the music.
The evening brings tradition together with contemporary perspectives and melodies both known and new.
Tickets: $35 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms Members. Tickets are available online or by calling (709)757-8090.
About the Musicians:
James Hurley is a classical pianist and composer with a passion for improvisation. Originally from the West end of St. John's, he's been based in Germany since 2011. Together with his wife he runs Più Piano – a live performance venue and piano school which hosts events featuring artists from NL and around the world. He is affiliated with Memorial's School of Music and is dedicated to building a cultural bridge between his NL and German homes through performance and educational projects. As a musician he is involved in several solo and group projects and actively performs in Canada and the EU.
Dean Power is from Clarecastle, Ireland. He studied at both the RIAM and TU Dublin with Mary Brennan and Mairead Hurley. Following two years as a member of the opera studio at the Bavarian State Opera house, he was invited to join the house ensemble where he remained for another 9 years. Since leaving Munich he has enjoyed the flexibility of life as a freelance opera singer. His recent notable debuts include the Zurich Opera House, the Opéra de Lille, the Salzburg Festival, the Teatro Real in Madrid and the Salzburg Easter Festival, as well as guest appearances at the Bavarian State Opera, the Irish National Opera, the Armenian National Philharmonic, and with El Sistema in Venezuela. On the concert stage, his recent performances include collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the Orquestra Sinfonica Portuguesa. He is currently a Cara O'Sullian Associate Artist at the Cork Opera House. In 2025, he will make his house debut at the Opera National de Paris.
Duncan Major is a St. John's-based graphic designer, animator and artist. Since 2004 he has operated the printshop Walpurgis Press, creating cards, prints, and books. In 2024, he won an Arts and Letters Award for his poetry, and in 2025, his hand-printed animated short film Imprint—inspired by his late mentor and friend Tara Bryan and produced by The National Film Board of Canada—will premiere.
Today's Events & Programs
Art Tea is a contemplative way to experience our exhibitions. Join us for a visit to the art gallery, then exchange ideas and share reflections about current topics in art. This is a casual and relaxed group setting. Tea will be served overlooking the breathtaking view of the harbour.
Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Seating is limited. Tickets are available online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
Please note: All ticket sales are final; no refunds will be issued.
Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!
Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.
What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbour view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.
This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.
Quality drawing supplies are available, or feel free to bring your own sketchbook.
Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Drop-ins welcome!
Peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador
Stroll across land and sea, and through time, to meet the peoples who have made Newfoundland and Labrador home for the past 9,000 years.
Each tour is approximately 30 – 40 minutes and is included in the cost of admission. Free for Rooms members.
Unleash Your Inner Artist at The Rooms!
Come draw at The Rooms and practice your skills with focused exercises.
What to Expect:
Our experienced instructor will guide you through fundamental drawing techniques. Each session focuses on a different theme, from drawing the harbour view to capturing the details of our natural history collection.
This is a creative and supportive environment; all skill levels and experience are welcome! Designed for ages 15 and up.
Quality drawing supplies are available, or feel free to bring your own sketchbook.
Cost: $20 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members. Drop-ins welcome!
Make your own personalized wrapping paper while learning a variety of basic printmaking techniques. Suitable for all skill levels and experience, participants will leave the workshop with new skills and a roll of hand-printed, unique holiday giftwrap.
All workshop materials are included in the cost.
Cost: $40 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms members.
Limited spaces! Pre-registration required. Register online or by calling (709) 757-8090.
This workshop may get messy—appropriate clothing is recommended.
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Rescheduled date from December 3.
Get your thinking caps on, settle in with some hot chocolate from the bar and get ready for some Holiday Trivia! Join us for an evening of questions inspired by the holiday season, history, geography, and culture of the province.
Teams of 2-6 people.
Cash bar available
Prizes!
Finish up your evening with a stroll through the building to check out the decorations on each floor and stop by the giftshop for some last minute shopping!
Cost: $12 plus HST. 10% discount for Rooms. Get your tickets online or by calling 709-757-8090.