Top-notch choir from University of Alberta to sing in Oliver

2013-choirJoin the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus in concert as it comes to Oliver on its 69th annual Spring Tour.

University of Alberta Mixed Chorus 69th Spring Tour

with the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers

Oliver Alliance Church

May  2, 2013

 7:30 pm

Admission $5  Adults  

Students FREE!!

The UAMC is a student run choir that is based at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB. It was founded in 1944 by Gordon Clark, a medical student, who wanted to bring together students who shared his love for music and singing. Sixty nine years later, that tradition continues.

Led by conductor Dr. Robert de Frece, the UAMC is pleased to present a delightful repertoire of choral works ranging from the Baroque to Broadway. Highlighted works include J. S. Bach’s ‘Bist du bei mir’, William Byrd’s ‘O Magnum Mysterium,’ and selections from the musical ‘The Music Man.’

Handbell-Ringers-2011-12Featured with the UAMC are the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers, who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year. Founded by Dr. Robert de Frece in 1988, the Handbell Ringers have dazzled and entertained audiences with their quick hands and beautiful tones. This group plays one of largest collections of handbells and chimes in Canada. The Handbell Ringers will be playing “Syncopated Clock,” and a specially commissioned arrangement of “Belle of the Ball.” Both pieces were composed by Leroy Anderson whose works were often showcased by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

The UAMC is one of the University’s oldest groups. Each season, its members come together to share a love of music, under the inspirational leadership of Dr. Robert de Frece. For almost 70 years the UAMC has created beautiful music, and shared it with communities like Oliver in the spirit of those who founded the group in 1944.

The Oliver concert is sponsored by the South Okanagan Secondary School Enrichment Fund Society. The SOSS Enrichment Fund Society provides bursaries and scholarships to qualifying graduating students from SOSS going on to post-secondary education. The Society is sponsoring the event by finding billets for 65 performers, hosting a dinner before the concert and taking interested chorus members on a hike.

UPDATE from SOSS!!  

“We were able to arrange for Lisa Ante, the SOSS Music teacher, to involve her Music Futures class in the concert. They are going to sing with the chorus for the final two songs. They will rehearse with the choir in the afternoon and then be given a vocal workshop by the conductor. It should be a great experience for approx 25 students and their teacher. The Youth Ambassadors are going to assist in a coffee and dessert table at intermission.  Students of course will be given free admission.”  from Janet Shannon

For additional information, please reach the U of Alberta contact Nicola Gale at gale at ualberta dot ca or  SOSS Enrichment Fund contact Janet Shannon at larjanshannon at gmail dotcom

Sage Valley Voices celebrate the 70s

by Heather Fink

The Sage Valley Voices is a 45 to 50-member adult choir based at the United Church in Oliver.  Alice DeRoche has fearlessly, and with much patience and good humor, led the Voices for the past eleven years, selecting the music, writing scripts, sewing costumes, and she has even had a hand in designing sets for the choir’s performances.  A busy lady indeed!

The Sage Valley Voices will present their 2012 spring concerts, “GOLDEN DECADE OF THE 70s“, featuring a variety of cool music from the 1970’s – think ABBA, McCartney, Cash, Denver, Broadway show tunes and more! – on Saturday May 5 at 7:00 pm and Sunday May 6 at 2:30 pm at the Oliver United Church.  Admission is $10 at the door and includes sweet treats following the concerts.

The choir is a non-profit organization and proceeds from the concerts support local community outreach programs such as the church’s soup kitchen and the Oliver Food Bank.  Donations of non-perishable food for the food bank are always welcome at the concerts.

The choir usually performs four concerts per year, two in December and two in April or May, and welcomes new members – no audition required.  Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Oliver United Church. If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a part of this fun-loving show choir, or for more information, please contact Lois Bzdel at 250-497-7966, or Alice DeRoche at 250-492-4159.

Sage Valley Voices sing the 70s

The Sage Valley Voices are hard at work practicing for their upcoming concert “The Golden Decade of the Seventies”. This concert has something for everyone – a little country, theatre songs, movie music, and those great songs you heard on the radio – so don’t miss it !

Saturday May 5 
7:00 p.m.
Sunday May 6 
2:30 p.m.
$10 at the door
Oliver United Church
Admission includes refreshments
Donations to the Oliver Food Bank welcome!

Down Home Christmas with Sage Valley Voices

A Down Home Christmas to get you in the spirit! The Sage Valley Voices are known locally for their lively programmes, zany humour, colourful costumes, and … surprises! Their sense of fun and love of singing comes across in every performance. A true “community choir” that knows what its audience likes, and delivers.

You can also “sample” the choir in performance at Oliver’s downtown LightUp celebration on the evening of Friday December 2 and at the Community Christmas Concert on December 4 at 2:30 p.m. on the  Oliver Alliance Church stage.  But you’ll want  to get the full show “Down Home” on December 10 & 11 at Oliver United Church (see poster for details). 

The choir is hunting for a new director to carry on the tradition. Are you interested? Find out more by contacting the arts council and we’ll pass your inquiry along olivercac @ gmail.com  Don’t let “A Down Home Christmas” be their last concert!  These folks are just having way to much fun to stop!

Two Concert Must-Sees!

The South Okanagan Concert Society presents the final two concerts in their 2009-2010 series.  All concerts are at the Frank Venables Auditorium, Southern Okanagan Secondary School on 350th Avenue. Tickets are available for $20 at Miss Molly’s on Main Street Oliver BC or at the door.

 ezeadi2EZEADI ONUKWULU AND ONE HUMAN RACE
Friday, February 5, 2010

 Ezeadi’s charismatic presence, versatility and soothing voice have endeared him to audiences. Ezeadi is an innovator, motivator and  instigator in the African and World Music scene.

 Ezeadi’s music, based on traditional Igbo rhythms, evokes the spirit of highlife and afrobeat with a splash of funk, jazz, blues and reggae. The lyrics are prayers and appeals to universal consciousness and our conscience to make the world a better place for all.

His unique mastery of the pennywhistle, other instruments and vocal styling will take you to beautiful new places.

“This music uses gentle African rhythms and bubbling vocals to deliver peaceful idealism emphatically. It is new kind of African roots based world music cooked and ready to be served to the world from British Columbia.”  – The Province

 vanchamberchoir1VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR

Friday March 5, 2010

The Vancouver Chamber Choir is Canada’s outstanding professional vocal ensemble. The choir impresses audiences with the depth and range of their repertoire and interpretive skills.

“… When it comes to unearthly beauty and awe-inspiring power, they’re a pretty fine mortal approximation of how celestial singers should sound.”  – North  Shore News

“Jon Washburn’s Choir remains at the forefront of Canadian vocal ensembles. ….“Canada’s leading professional vocal ensemble.”  –  Toronto Star

“…the choir’s performance… began with admiration and finally left you in awe.” – Vancouver Sun

Sage Valley Voices Community Choir

 

sage-valley-voices-2

The Sage Valley Voices are a fun-loving and welcoming community choir that knows how to entertain! They specialize in contemporary arrangements of seasonal music and 20th century standards and classics. 

The choir performs two concerts a year under the directorship of Alice Deroche: a Christmas concert in December, and a spring concert.

Above is a formal picture of the choir in its early days, looking unusually sedate. My how times change! Now the choir rarely stands still long enough for a formal portrait, and is more often found in costume than in uniform!

Members may be all decked out in top hats and satin gowns for a Dickensian Christmas, flouncing in poodle skirts and saddle shoes and lounging in leather jackets for a tribute to hits from the fifties, or wearing cowboy hats, bandanas, and Wranglers  for a country hoedown. 

OCAC Publicity Photos 03 2009Check out these choir members dressed for their “High Flying Forties” concert: high society women, Hollywood glamour queens, Rosie the Riveter, soldiers, WACS, dapper Dans, and all.  

Below is the oddest collection of cowboys you will ever see round a campfire. Maybe it’s cowboys and …. mobster guys taking a weekend off at a dude ranch? You never can tell who or what will show up at a Sage Valley Voices concert.

svv-buttons-bows-1The choral music is often interspersed with readings, jokes, short skits, and special guest appearances.

Audiences are guaranteed to leave with a smile and the warmth of community spirit!

Concert proceeds  are put towards a number of community programs, including the local Sunshine Soup Kitchen.

Rehearsals are on Monday evenings through the fall, winter, and spring.  No audition is required.

Join us at our next concert! 

“A Sentimental Journey”
Music of the 40s and 50s
plus special selections from our
Senior Choral Fest Gala Concert
Saturday May 2
7:00 p.m.
Sunday May 3
2:30 p.m.
Oliver United Church
$5.00 at the door
Guest appearance by the Naramata Choir