News

Concordia’s musicians have been out and about in the community lately, beyond the regular concert schedule and “internal” gigs like Lighting Up Ada Blvd., the christening of the Allan Wachowich Centre for Research, Science, and Innovation, and the counsellors’ brunch.

STARSTRUCK For the second consecutive year a group of Concordia Concert Choir choristers sang backup for The Tenors at their November 27 performance at the Jubilee, on pieces like O Holy Night, The Lord’s Prayer, and an Elvis-Pavarotti medley (!). Students were starstruck, and the stars once again loved our students and hope for a repeat collaboration!

ALBERTA (YOUTH CHOIR)-BOUND Five singers from the Concert Choir and two alumni choristers were selected to participate in the Alberta Youth Choir, the provincial honour choir, in October. Gregory Crawford, Josiah Maxfield, Isabela Ramos, Christina Sawchuk, and Justine Tomas and recent choristers Aaron Addorisio and Danika Deibert were among 75 young singers who spent two weekends in October first rehearsing and then performing a sizzling program on provincial tour with esteemed Venezuelan conductor-composer Cristian Grases. The consensus was that the program performed was one of the most difficult ever for the Alberta Youth Choir–and stunningly executed. Following the Music Conference Alberta’s Gala Concert at the Winspear, Concordia Assistant Professor of Music Jolaine Kerley commented on one particularly difficult piece: “I sang that with the National Youth Choir many years ago–but we didn’t sound nearly as good!” What an exceptional experience for our students.

SPREADING CHRISTMAS JOY About 35 of Concordia’s student/community choir singers swelled the ranks of a massed choir last Friday, December 14, leading the annual Christmas Bureau carol sing at the Winspear. School of Music professor Joy Berg was “recalled” from her sabbatical to conduct the group–a prestigious gig!–and tapped Music students Christina Sawchuk and Isabela Ramos as well as brother Nathan, an opera singer, for musical leadership. The event is an annual Christmas Bureau fundraiser, with donations from the audience helping to provide festive Christmas meals to Edmontonians in need.

TALENT TO SHARE Merry Christmas from the talented students in the School of Music, who invite you to enjoy their newly released tracks!

From Eric Scott, aka The Faceless Pianist, comes his new piece “Left Behind.” Watch for more about and from this talented composer!
And Stuart’s Dove (Preston Gray, Andrea McHenry, Gregory Crawford, & Aaron Addorisio) has just released an original album, “Only in Poems,” on Spotify and itunes. Follow them on Facebook!