SOCS Season Rocks … with the Classics

The South Okanagan Concert Society has recently signed contracts with musicians of exceptional talent for their 2010-2011 season. The time is now to get your season flex pass at early bird prices.

Opening the season are Andi and Peter Alexander, singing a programme of “Opera Spice and Everything Nice” on Thursday October 14, 2010. We can expect a fun-filled evening of fabulous song and crazy antics by two performers who have a true love story. They will entertain you with their wit and wisdom and their vast repertoire of operatic arias and duets from The Magic Flute, La Boheme, Carmen, La Traviata and favourite songs from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd and more.

Andi Alexander, Mezzo Soprano, is an accomplished singer, stage director and producer. Her previous opera roles include the roles of “Suor Dolcina” in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” and Dorabella in “Cosi Fan Tutte Unhinged.” She is in demand as a soloist in oratorio; highlights include Messiah, Elijah and Schubert’s Mass in E-Flat, Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Mass in C.

Peter Alexander, Baritone, has opera roles including Zuniga in Carmen, Belcore in Elixir of Love, Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Schaunard in La Boheme, and Frank in Die Fledermaus. Opera Canada magazine recently stated “Peter Alexander dominated the evening by exhibiting excellent vocal command eminently suited to the Baroque period,” for his performance of the title role in Pimpinone. Oratorio highlights include Elijah, Messiah, Haydn’s Creation and Carmina Burana.

On Friday November 19, the audience will be treated to the lively music of Daniel Gervais, who plays in a variety of fiddle styles as well as classical violin, performing with special guest, stepdancer Aline Dupuis. Aline has 15 years of training at the Edmonton School of Ballet, and is a skilled step-dancer and choreographer.

Daniel has also appeared on countless television and radio programs such as Good Morning Canada and various CBC broadcasts. In November 2002, he travelled to London, Ontario to receive the Conservatory Canada Speake Medal of Excellence for Grade 8 Strings for having attained the highest mark in Canada.

Daniel was honoured to have competed at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in August of 2003, representing Alberta. In 2004, Daniel returned to this competition and was a top eleven finalist.

In the spring of 2003 Daniel released his debut album Flying Fiddle. Daniel’s second album entitled Endless Possibilities was released in April 2005.

He was recently nominated for “Young Performer of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Concert pianist Sara Buechner performs on Friday january 14, 2011. She is a dazzling pianist and witty speaker, with a gregarious personality that leaps from the stage. In informal concerts she will chat delightfully about her cosmopolitan range of interests — from baseball and classic cartoons, to New York art deco architecture and Japanese kabuki — to connect with her audience on an intimate level, and make her music a personal and enchanting experience for everyone.

Her extensive repertoire includes over 100 different piano concertos spanning the breadth of keyboard music from Bach to the music of prominent composers of our time. Her affinities range from Mozart (InTune magazine: “the closest thing to a perfect disc of Mozart piano music known”) to Chopin to Japanese music to Ragtime, Novelty Classics and Gershwin.

She is Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Literature at the University of British Columbia.

The Foothills Brass Quintet returns to our stage on friday March 11, 2011. Since 1981, their trademark performance style has combined quality, entertainment, variety and high energy. Five wersatile and exceptional musicians perfoirm on two trumpets, a tuba, a trombone, and a French horn. Expect a delightfully aclectic and accessible program. Those who have heard them perform in the past will surely be back!

Early bird 4-way flex passes are on sale for $50 until May 31st at Miss Molly’s Quilt Shoppe in Oliver and at Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos. The regular flex pass sale starts June 1 for $60 for four tickets. The four admission pass allows one person to attend 4 concerts, two people to attend two concerts, or four people to attend one concert for maximum flexibility. Single entrance tickets are $20  throughout the year.

Young people 17 and under are always welcome for FREE at every concert.

All concerts are held at the Frank Venables Theatre, Oliver (in Southern Okanagan Secondary School on 350th Ave) and begin at 8 p.m. The venue is wheelchair accessible.