Musaic Vocal Ensemble joins OCAC

PC130020Musaic Vocal Ensemble has been bringing the joy of choral music to the South / Central Okanagan for fifteen years.  Now under the direction of Tracy Stuchbery, the choir began in 1995 under the baton of Ken Gray of Summerland. In the spring of 2004, Noreen Morrow, music director of Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Kelowna, B.C., and member of the choir became the new director.  Tom Klassen, a former Summerlander,  returned from a choral music career in Texas, joined the choir, and was appointed director in January of 2008. He dedicated his time into developing a fine choir of over 40 singers. Each new director, with their support, enthusiasm and technical expertise, is committed to developing the choir’s musical excellence.

_MG_0881Current director Tracy Stuchbery is a native of Montreal, Tracy began studying piano and voice and singing in choirs at the age of six. Her music studies culiminated in a bachelor of music in piano performance earned with distinction from McGill University.  As a university student she sang with the McGill Concert Choir, McGill Chamber Singers and L’Ensemble Vocal de l’OSM all under the direction of the incomparable Iwan Edwards. Upon moving to Vancouver in 1997, she joined the Gallery Singers Early Music Chamber Choir . Tracy spent a year as the director of the boys’ chorus and prep choir for the Vancouver Children’s Choir before moving to Squamish where she founded and directed the St.John’s Children’s Chorus and the Squamish Ecumenical Choir. Tracy teaches piano at the Penticton Academy of Music where she is also one of two part-time administrators. She is in demand as an accompanist for vocalists and instrumentalists throughout the Okanagan.

PeterHere is an excerpt from choir president Peter O’Flynn’s message on their website:

In this my tenth year with Musaic, I cannot say enough about the joy of choral singing. It is a great night out; an opportunity to gain relief from the tensions of the week as we let go the world and concentrate on music; deep breathing fills the system with oxygen; a well tuned and well sung chord brings pleasure as it tingles your spine and lifts your spirits; it is a joy to lift the hearts of others in the community through a well sung performance; its an opportunity to work with and come to know a variety of people.

Musaic is an auditioned choir. If you like to sing and can read a little music make an appointment with Tracy Stuchbery for an audition and put your name on the list to wait for an opening. You will find her contact information below. In the meantime keep singing, in the shower, as you go about your day, in the good times, in the painful times. As one of the Saints has said, “When you sing you pray twice.” If you can’t be with us as a choir member, come, be with us as we sing to you and let you spirit soar in the joy of choral music.

At least one of the choir members is a local from Oliver: tenor Brian Mapplebeck.

Watch for details of a Musaic concert here in Oliver in late May! It is wonderful to see them spreading their musical joy further south in the valley. This impeccable choir is not to be missed! Check out their website at http://musaic.webs.com/