Tag Archives: concert

Canada’s own Jean Valjean performs in Oliver

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Burgess 1

Forget Les Miserables at the movie theatre. Nothing compares to hearing Mr Les Miz in person! Canada’s premier musical tenor, Michael Burgess, is slated to perform on Saturday August 3, at 7 pm at the Oliver Bandshell, brought to you by the Oliver Community Arts Council.  Really? Truly? Yes.

A small number of early-bird tickets will be sold to generate  funds necessary to cover upfront expenses. They are already selling like hotcakes, so contact the arts council to reserve yours fast. They will be sold for the unbelievably (non-refundable) low price of $20 each, a steal when Burgess commands tickets for three to five times that price.

Regular advance tickets, at $25 apiece,  will be sold at local vendors once the first 100 early birds are gone. Ticket price at the door will be $35. Stay tuned for the announcement of vendors in Oliver, Osoyoos, and Penticton,

Early bird tickets can be purchased  from committee members Bernice Myllyniemi, Penelope Johnson, Mary Fry and Stephanie Salsnek. Contact olivercac @ gmail.com and include in your request the number of tickets and preferred payment. Credit card payment can also be received directly by calling Paw Prints Studio and Gallery at 250.498-4732

A popular singer, tenor, and actor,  Michael Burgess was born in Saskatchewan but raised in Toronto. He made his professional debut in The Fantasticks (Edmonton 1968), but came to national prominence as Jean Valjean in the long-running original Canadian staging of Les Misérables (1989-92). Later, he was Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha (Edmonton 1992, Toronto 1993), and appeared in the musicals Ten Lost Years, Blood Brothers, The Fantasticks, and Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. He created the role of Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere of Frankenstein . . . Do You Dream (Hamilton, 1 Nov 2003), and of Sound Man in Brian Finley’s Rapunzel (Westben Arts Festival, 10 Jun 2005).

Although without extensive opera training, Burgess sang his first opera role in 1974 (La Bohème, at Toronto’s Dell Cabaret Theatre), and has sung for Dallas Civic Opera, Western Opera Theatre, San Francisco Opera, and Virginia Opera. As Captain Corcoran, he performed in HMS Pinafore for the Stratford Festival in 1981. He was tenor soloist in Messiah with the Bach Elgar Choir (1996), and MacHeath in The Beggar’s Opera for Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre (1995).

Perenially popular among show-tune aficionados for his solo pop concerts and soulful yet virile demeanour, Burgess has toured extensively in Canada (often accompanied by Doug Riley), and has performed with the Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg symphony orchestras and the Calgary Philharmonic. His signature song is “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables made doubly famous beyond the theatre world when Kurt Browning used his version to perform in the 1990 World Figure Skating Championships.

He is also known in Canada for his frequent vocal performances of national anthems. Hockey fans are sure to have heard his heartfelt renditions that blow the roof off the stadium. Burgess was also the first individual to sing “O Canada” at the baseball World Series, in Atlanta in 1992

The Vancouver Sun praised Burgess’s “intense performance” as Jean Valjean: “Burgess is exquisitely moving when he sings the show’s one beautiful song, ‘Bring Him Home’ . . . .” (26 Jul 1990). Maclean’s said, “Burgess is an affecting Valjean: a solid masculine presence whose soaring spirit is captured by a pulsing tenor” (27 Mar 1989). Burgess holds the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. and recently was presented with the Order of Ontario.

Burgess performed last summer in Penticton, with 3000 in attendance. Tickets to another concert scheduled for this summer have already sold out — within days,, and at much higher prices. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear the glorious tenor which is … Michael Burgess.

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

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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

Brr-Ring your ears and a donation to hear the bells

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OHRl Time to RingTune in for a lovely spring concert with the Oliver Handbell Ringers. Whether it’s the youth bell choir or the adults, you’ll love their sweet sound. Remember your freewill donation so they can purchase more music and instruments so they can continue to entertain you in the furture!

Come Swing!

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Another great night of music at Medici’s in Oliver!

On Saturday October 6th, one of the hottest Okanagan Swing bands, Jazz Out West plays. David Esler will come up from Vancouver to join them with his virtuoso trumpet playing.Come listen, come sing, COME SWING.Tickets $20 at Medici’s and Beyond Bliss in Oliver and at Dolce’s in Osoyoos

Concert season opens with lyric soprano

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Submitted by Marion Boyd, SOCS

Last year at this time the South Okanagan Concert Society was reassuring citizens they could look forward to world class concerts despite the massive fire that consumed the local high school and auditorium. Switching to the temporary venue of the Oliver Alliance Church, a concert series was specifically designed to take advantage of the acoustics in a smaller, more intimate setting. It was a huge success.

This year, while construction of the new auditorium is underway, the concert society has again shaped a series to bring delight to a community rising above its grievous loss. Flex pass tickets are on sale now at Beyond Bliss (Oliver) and at Imperial Office Pro (Osoyoos). The four admission pass costs only $60. The four admissions are entirely flexible and can be used together or in any combination. Single admission is $20. Young people 17 and under are welcome to attend the concerts free. All the concerts will begin at the new start time of 7:30 pm.

Here’s what we have in store for you! On Friday, November 2 the stunning soprano, Tracy Fehr (pictured above), will offer a programme to showcase her classically trained lyric voice. Expect operatic arias, German lieder, arrangements of African-American spirituals and musical theatre hits. Dennis Nordlund will provide the piano accompaniment.

Friday, November 30th a complete change of pace will occur when the 2011 Canadian Grand Master Fiddle champion, Daniel Gervais, performs. He has been playing violin since age 5 and moves comfortably from fiddle styles to classical violin. No wonder one of his CDs has the title “Endless Possibilities”.

 

 

Some familiar faces appear for the Friday, February 8th concert, Duo Rendezvous. Jasper Wood, violinist, has enthralled the audience before and when he joins with the charismatic Daniel Bolshoy on classical guitar the outcome will undoubtedly be musical magic. Last year Daniel’s virtuosity and his charming ability to communicate with the audience created a coterie of new local fans.

 

 

 

The series will conclude on Thursday, March 7th , when the Concert Society takes a firm step out onto a limb. This concert is like no other. Woody Holler and his Orchestra are purveyors of western swing. They love to explore the crossover between jazz and western and produce “gypsy jazz from the saddle”. Raised on cowboy songs and later trained in classical voice and opera, Woody’s voice plus violin, guitar and bass create arrangements rich with virtuosity and style.

This is a series guaranteed to chase away any winter blues with music, music, music!

Oliver Handbell Ringers to perform at Medici’s Gelateria

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The Oliver Handbell Ringers present

Spring Ring 

Friday, May 11
2 p.m.
Medici’s Gelateria and Coffee House

FREE Admission

Delicious desserts and steaming coffees at charge. Medici’s is located on Fairview Road across from the Post Office in Oliver.

Both the youth and the adult group will be ringing.  Please come and enjoy the music of bells.

Oliver Handbell Ringers to perform at Medici's Gelateria

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The Oliver Handbell Ringers present

Spring Ring 

Friday, May 11
2 p.m.
Medici’s Gelateria and Coffee House

FREE Admission

Delicious desserts and steaming coffees at charge. Medici’s is located on Fairview Road across from the Post Office in Oliver.

Both the youth and the adult group will be ringing.  Please come and enjoy the music of bells.

Sage Valley Voices celebrate the 70s

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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

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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!

Catch the artistic spirit in Arts and Culture Week

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BC celebrates Arts and Culture Week April 22 -28. Oliver’s arts council members are going all out to join in the art-y party! Come celebrate with us  and support the arts.

So, what’s up?

The Oliver Community Arts Council as a whole presents two signature events. One will kick off  the week, and the other will close the celebration. The “opening fanfare” is Love Notes from the  Penticton Concert Band on Sunday April 22 at Oliver Aklliance Church.  Tickets are $10, while students 17 and under are FREE.  The concert features some lush romantic numbers from the musicals Miss Saigon, Les Miserables, and Moulin Rouge, big band ballads by Jerome Kern, and some of your favourite Frank Sinatra.  Lovely young soprano Madison Johnson sings O Mio Babbino Caro by Puccini, as well as some romantic musical numbers.  Several members of the band are from Oliver and the South Okanagan area. Proceeds are split between the Band and the arts council — it’s a great way to support both groups!

The Oliver Sagebrushers‘ exhibit  “Art at the Owl” shows at the guest house of Burrowing Owl Estate Winery  from April 14 – 27.  While the opening reception is Saturday April 14 from 1 – 3 p.m., much of the exhibit and sale falls within Arts and Culture Week. This is always a lovely display at a lovely venue. Winery hours.

The Double O Quilters Guild hosts an “Mini Art Show” at their Open House on Wednesday April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oliver Community Centre Hall. Oliver has some of the finest fabric artists around, including some national award winners.  You will definitely be wowed! (Note: Opens at 10 a.m., not 9 as listed in the poster.)

Another fsbulous fibre arts group, the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers Guild celebrate their 35th Anniversary with a Tea and Open House on Thursday April 26. Educational demonstrations and colourful displays will delight you. Light refreshments will be served. In a great artistic collaboration, the Oliver Handbell Ringers will perform during the event. What a delightful pairing of visual and performance arts!

The Oliver Community Arts Council winds up the week with a Spring Arts Faire on Sunday April 29 at the Oliver Seniors Centre. Displays, demonstrations, sales of art and craft in all media , information booths, … and lots more!  Sell, teach, demonstrate, exhibit, perform, sign up new members, — it’s up to you! All your sales are commission-free!  Entry forms are available here: OCAC Spring Arts Faire Entry Form (click once again on the file name on the new page to open file) or by emailing OliverCAC @ gmail.com Non-members of the arts council are also welcome. Deadline for all entry forms is April 13.

Arts and Culture Week is an event co-ordinated by the Oliver Community Arts Council for the promotion of its member artists and in celebration of local arts in general.  We are thankful for the generous sponsorship of Arts BC (Assembly of BC Arts Councils) and its affiliated partners: the Province of BC, the BC Arts Council, Art Starts, and the Community Newspapers Association. We are also grateful for our major local financial sponsors: the Town of Oliver, RDOS, and Oliver Parks and Recreation, for general programming and operating funds.

Penderecki Strings Captivate

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by Stuart Culver

From first to last note, the Penderecki String Quartet held the audience in their spell in the last concert of the year, Feb 24, for the South Okanagan Concert Society. Opening with Beethoven’s String Quartet in G major, they performed the sprightly dance-like introduction with a delicate formality, in keeping with its nickname, ‘The Compliments Quartet’, portraying the exaggerated courtesy of an 18th century drawing salon. The second movement features a languorous melody leading to bursts of song, cut by expectant silences. The galloping rhythms of the Scherzo moved to a faster tempo in the final movement where each instrument in turn picked up the melody, ending with the fierce energy we associate with Beethoven.

The second composition, De Profundis, by young Canadian composer Norbert Palej, was commissioned and premiered by PSQ. Jerzy Kaplanek, 2nd violin, spoke of the composer’s impetus, drawing inspiration from Psalm 130 and Oscar Wilde’s ‘De Profundis” written in Reading Gaol. Violent percussive and staccato effects built on dissonances and the sheer physicality of the violinists drew enthusiastic applause from the Oliver audience; the musicians told us that not all audiences are as accepting of innovative styles. The piece started on a shattering unison note and ended on a single dying note, after high bird-like trills, reinforcing the notion of rising from the depths of despair. Perhaps appropriate as Oliver prepares to welcome a prison.

Debussy’s String Quartet, his only one, offered a contrast to the first half. The violinists switched positions and 2nd Jeremy Bell told about the influence of the Javanese gamelon which Debussy heard at the 1889 Paris Exposition. A simple melody recurred in different ways: the dream-like quality quickly moved from soft to strident, with ever changing rhythms and harmonies. The soft, sad and slow intro of the cello in the final movement built to a crescendo of excitement and ended with a whisper.

But the audience wanted more and the musicians obliged with an unbelievably fast little piece, with bow percussion by Erwin Schulhoff, a Czech composer. Truly, the Penderecki musicians demonstrate “a remarkable range of technical excellence and emotional sweep” Globe & Mail).

Another successful year has ended for the South Okanagan Concert Society. The 2012-13 season is planned, with the AGM on April 10 at Quail’s Nest Arts Centre. Early-bird discount tickets (bargain prices, free for students) are available now at Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and Beyond Bliss in Oliver.