Friday May 10 at 6:30 p.m. AXÉ CAPOEIRA Family ShowTime Series
Axé Capoeira (pronounced AH-shay capoh-AYrah) has performed worldwide since its conception in Brazil, making its Canadian debut at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival in 1990. Featuring traditional capoeira music as well as upbeat Brazilian vocals and instrumentals, performances showcase professional capoeiristas and dancers at the height of their skill. With exciting choreographed dances, internationally acclaimed capoeira, high-flying acrobatics, invigorating music and dazzling costumes, Axé Capoeira performances have enthralled audiences of all ages and sizes in thousands of schools, festivals, and theatres across the globe.
A fictitious male stripper troupe, played by a cast of some of Canada’s best improvisational comedians, performs a sexylarious improv comedy show. These guys try to be sexy… it just comes out funny. Come and join the explosion of ridiculousness that was the smash hit of the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and has recently been selling out theaters all over Canada and the US.
Guys, you should come too. Don’t worry, their comedy bodies will make you look good.
Winner of ‘BEST LIVE PRODUCTION’ at The Canadian Comedy Awards 2016
★★★★★“Extremely funny !” – UK Fringe Review 2013
“Have not laughed this much. Ever.” CB
“One of the best nights ever! You’ll laugh until you cry!” RL
“So much laughing and smiling that my face still hurts…loved,loved,loved it!” KS
WARNING! No extreme nudity, just extreme hilarity
THE COMIC STRIPPERS A MALE STRIPPER PARODY & IMPROV COMEDY SHOW (19+ only)
Saturday May 11, 2019 – 7:30 Presented by Venables Theatre
TICKETS: $35 Groups of 10 or more $30 (please call the box office to purchase at group rate)
Musaic Vocal Ensemble presents From Here to There choral music from Scotland & Canada Friday May 10 7:30 p.m. St Saviour’s Anglican Church, Penticton Saturday May 11 2:30 p.m. St. John’s Lutheran, Summerland Sunday May 12 2:30 p.m. St. Michael’s Cathedral, Kelowna $15 Adults $5 Students
Tickets available at the Dragon’s Den (Penticton) or at the door.
Musaic Vocal Ensemble presents a concert of Canadian and Scottish music.
Have you been looking for an opportunity to wear the tartan kilt that have been gathering dust in the back of your closet? Well, here is your chance!! Join Musaic Vocal Ensemble for its spring concert, a celebration of choral music from Scotland and Canada in three performances – in Penticton, Summerland and Kelowna.
Musaic will be joined by guest conductor, Mark Hindley, and soprano soloist, Julie Harvey, who live and work in Scotland; Scottish Country Dancers from Naramata and Kelowna; and possibly even bagpipes to really get you in the mood! You’re sure to be transported all the way across Canada and over to the land of lochs and glens.
Musaic has a reputation for presenting fine choral music, interesting programming, and joy-filled performances and this program will be no exception. As well as singing folksongs from both Canada and Scotland, featured composers will include Canada’s Imant Raminsh and Allan Bevan, and Scotland’s James MacMillan.
Performances will take place on Friday, May 10th, 7:30pm at St. Saviour’s Anglican, Penticton; on Saturday, May 11th, 2:30pm at St. John’s Lutheran, Summerland; and on Sunday, May 12th, 2:30pm at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Kelowna. And what a great way to celebrate the Mother’s Day weekend than by taking your mother to a wonderful performance of choral music!
For more information about these concerts or to find out where to purchase tickets in advance , go to www.musaicvocalensemble.ca
The South Okanagan Concert Society announces the 2019 /20 concert season. Reserve your seat now to see all four concerts, and save over 20% on the regular ticket price.
Friday October 4: OFRA HARNOY, Cello
Friday November 15: BERGMANN DUO, Piano
Friday January 31: LIZZY HOYT, Celtic folk singer
Friday March 20: MONTREAL GUITAR TRIO
Early Bird (Tickets until May 31): are $19 apiece when purchasing all 4 shows. If seeing only 2 or 3 shows in the season, tickets are $21 each. A single advance ticket is $23; and a single ticket at the door is $25. Students pay a flat rate of $2.50 per show.
All shows start at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank Venables Theatre. Tickets may be purchased in person, by phone (250-498-1626) or online at www.venablestheatre.ca
Ofra Harnoy (pictured above) has established herself as one of the great cellists on the world’s concert stage. She is one of Canada’s most celebrated personalities and is a Member of the Order of Canada. By joining the international artists roster of RCA Victor Red Seal, Ms. Harnoy became the first Canadian classical instrumental soloist since Glenn Gould to gain an exclusive worldwide contract with a major record label.
Ofra Harnoy was born in Israel and immigrated to Canada at age 6. She studied with William Pleeth, Vladimir Orloff, Mstislav Rostropovich and participated in master classes with Janos Starker, Pierre Fournier, and Jacqueline du Pré. She has given concerts on five continents and has played at the request of Prince Charles, President Bill Clinton, three Canadian Prime Ministers, and several times for the Imperial Japanese family.
Ms. Harnoy has won numerous music competitions and was the youngest first prize winner of the Concert Artists Guild Award which led to her Carnegie Hall debut.
Ofra Harnoy is a gifted interpreter who wins critical raves for her performances all over the world. She has toured extensively in Europe, the Far East, Australia, and the Americas, and has performed with many of the top orchestras and most noteworthy conductors of our time. Her recording catalog spans many musical styles and genres and she has won numerous awards and distinctions for her recordings, including 5 JUNO Awards (Canada), the Grand Prix du Disque, and Critics Choice Awards from a number of international magazines. Ofra Harnoy was once named by Maclean’s (Canada’s national weekly magazine) as one of the 12 Canadian’s in all fields who bring most credit to their country.
The Bergmann Piano Duo’s dynamic and energetic performances of uniquely eclectic programmes have inspired audiences for more than two decades. Their recitals and concerts with orchestra have taken them to many parts of the world, including the United States, Italy, Germany, Holland, Greece and Canada. They garnered many awards such as first prize at the International Chamber Music Competition in Caltanissetta, Italy and at The 4th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition and have appeared at
international festivals.
The duo’s CD productions include recordings for the Arktos, KochInternational, Brilliant Classics and Naxos labels. Their extensive repertoire ranges from the baroque to the contemporary and incorporates numerous own arrangements and compositions. In addition to their performing careers they enjoy teaching and working in other capacities of the music industry. They are Directors at the Langley Community Music School and were recently named Associate Artistic Directors of White Rock Concerts. From 2009-2013 Marcel was Professor of Music at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. They have been on faculty at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary, have been involved in various musical projects at The Banff Centre for the Arts and have served as Artistic Directors of The Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition and Foundation in Miami. For a decade they were members of the Calgary-based Land’s End Chamber Ensemble, winners of the 2005 and 2006 Western Canadian Music Award for Outstanding Classical Recording. Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann became a piano duo while studying with Arie Vardi at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover and later with Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt at the Université de Montréal.
Acclaimed songwriter, Lizzy Hoyt is one of Canada’s most powerful Celtic-folk artists. Known for bringing Canadian history to life with music, she was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Governor General of Canada for her outstanding contribution to commemorating Canadian veterans and Vimy Ridge history through music. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Lizzy toured for ten years as a side musician before pursuing her own projects. She has been praised for her mastery of the fiddle, guitar and harp while her voice has been described as “otherworldly”, “angelic” and “pure”.
Throughout her career, she has released four independent albums and two music videos. Lizzy’s fourth album New Lady on the Prairie (produced by John Reischman and Lizzy Hoyt) demonstrates a mature and refined ‘trans-Atlantic’ sound that blends influences from Celtic, bluegrass and folk traditions. The title track, inspired by Lizzy’s great aunt immigrating to Canada from Ireland in the early 1900s, demonstrates her interest in historical songwriting and her ability to craft songs that are touching, poignant, and lyrically rich. The album was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award, Western Canadian Award and three Independent Music Awards. It was also named one of the Best Albums of 2014 by the Indie Acoustic Project.
Lizzy is a full-time musician who travels and tours throughout Canada during the year with her trio. She has performed at renowned folk festivals (Edmonton Folk Festival, Montreal Folk Festival, Goderich Celtic Roots Festivals), folk clubs (Calgary Folk Club, Nickelodeon Folk Club, Northern Lights Folk Club) and through performing arts networks across the country.
Described by the CBC as the “hottest” guitar ensemble in Canada, the Montreal Guitar Trio (MG3) has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with, as well as an interactive force in various musical forms. For over 20 years, the trio’s virtuosity, rigour, creativity and impressive stage presence – where humour and interacting with the public go hand in hand – have been winning over audiences around the world. The trio, composed of guitarists Sébastien Dufour, Glenn Lévesque and Marc Morin, has given hundreds of concerts in some of the most prestigious venues across North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia, including the legendary Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Rundetårnet in Copenhagen and the BB King Blues Club in New York City.
Winner of the 2011 Opus Award for “concert of the year” in the Jazz & World Music category, MG3 has released six albums, including Der Prinz on Analekta label, which earned him a nomination at ADISQ 2014 for the “Instrumental Album” of the year. In January 2017, the trio launched its 7th album « Danzas » at the Théâtre Outremont in Montreal, which pays tribute to the great composers of Spanish music in the likes of Paco de Lucia and Manuel de Falla. This CD was also nominated for the album of the year at the ADISQ Gala 2017.
Throughout the years, the trio has collaborated and shared the stage with world-renowned ensembles and artists, such as the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Jorane, Solorazaf and Don Ross. Their most memorable collaboration to date was, without a doubt, with the California Guitar Trio (CGT), when both ensembles joined forces to give an unforgettable concert, brilliantly performing some of the greatest rock classics from The Beatles, Radiohead, David Bowie, a few “spaghetti western” themes by Ennio Morricone, as well as some of their original compositions. Starting in the fall of 2010, the sextet has toured across Canada and the United States, performing in over 100 cities.
Come join the fun and help the lovable cast of the Louisiana Hayride Show celebrate 10 years of touring this show across western Canada!
Monday April 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Venables Theatre. Tickets $45
You’ll hear the best country and rockabilly hits from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s as they pay tribute to the historic radio program, “The Louisiana Hayride” with past favourites and new classics! Original “Hayride” performers will be honoured in this tribute show: Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline, Crystal Gayle, Lefty Frizzell, Loretta Lynn and Willie Nelson step on stage to perform for you! Also featured in this amazing show is a tribute to Shania Twain. Audiences are loving the connection from ‘old’ to ‘new’ country! In addition to the tributes to these legends, you’ll also enjoy music by the greats: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Conway Twitty, Charley Pride and more.
If you choose just one tribute show to attend, this should be the one!
The Sage Valley Voices present ABBA Forever Saturday April 27 7:00 p.m. Sunday April 28 2:30 p.m. Oliver United Church $12 Admission 12 & under FREE Refreshments to follow Food bank donations welcome
Oliver Handbell Ringers and Musaic Vocal Ensemble present SPRING – RING – SING a concert of music for voices and bells Saturday May 4 7:30 p.m. Oliver Alliance Church Adults $15 Students $5 Tickets at Oliver Shoes & Fashions and Oliver Pharmacy Remedys Rx or at the Door Sponsored by the Oliver Community Arts Council
For the first time, the Oliver Handbell Ringers and Musaic Vocal Ensemble will join forces to present a spring concert to celebrate the joy of music and the beauty of song. Audiences will recognize both local groups for their history in our communities of high quality, enjoyable, and uplifting music.
The program will include some selections played by the handbells, some sung by the Musaic singers on their own, and several pieces for handbells and voices together. The music ranges from international folk songs, French Canadian, Tanzanian, Irish, and Scottish, to contemporary Canadian works, secular and sacred, traditional to modern. From gentle and profound to fun and joyful, the brilliance and clarity of the bells and the depth and colour of almost forty voices will entertain, enchant and inspire you.
Oliver Handbells director Helen Wollf and Musaic director Frances Chiasson expressed their excitement at having the two groups work together… “We are so looking forward to sharing this unique evening of music with the communities of Oliver and Osoyoos.”
One performance only – don’t miss it! Saturday, May 4th, 7:30 p.m. at the Oliver Alliance Church. Visit www.musaicvocalensemble.ca for more information.
Easter Monday at the Museum Spring has arrived and Easter is around the corner! So, put on your brightest spring-coloured clothing and come celebrate with us at the Museum on Monday, April 22 from 1 – 4 pm (bunny ears not required but highly recommended). This is a free, kid-friendly event celebrating spring and Easter with an egg hunt in the Museum, Fairview Jail, and Heritage Garden where kids can find eggs and turn them in for candy and prizes. Don’t want to hunt for eggs? Then show us your creative side with some crafts and colouring pages.
The Museum itself will be open to the public on Monday, April 22 from 1 – 4 pm, so be sure to explore our new permanent exhibit gallery while you’re here. Take a selfie with your family and friends in the selfie booth, visit the prisoner in the Fairview Jail, and if we’re lucky the Heritage Garden will be starting to grow again. So, come out and celebrate Easter Monday with the Museum staff, have some fun, and enjoy the spring weather!
Shhh! Keep ‘er hush hush, there’s an underground cocktail party coming up at the Firehall Speakeasy. Guys Suit Up! Dolls Dress to Kill! It’s $25 to get past the Big Mutt at the door. That price also gets you your first Dubh Glas Distillery cocktail, and a seat for the show: The Jazz Cafe Trio! Don’t spill the beans, we don’t want our Prohibition Bash to get busted!
Prohibition Bash! Speakeasy Cocktail Party w/ the Jazz Cafe Trio Saturday, April 27 7 p.m. Firehall Brewery 6077 Main Street, Oliver Tickets $25
Experience Montreal’s vibrant dance scene first-hand when RUBBERBANDance Group presents Vic’s Mix at Oliver’s Venables Theatre on Saturday April 13. Reflecting the freedom and openness of the ebullient Quebec dance scene, this one-of-a kind dance troupe will bring their unique style and choreographic method to BC this spring.
Founded in Montreal in 2002 by artistic director Victor Quijada, RUBBERBAND was immediately recognized for its complex, physically demanding choreography which brings together breakdancing, classical ballet and dance theatre.
Since then, RUBBERBAND has become a touring sensation, representing Canada at the Expo is Japan and presenting many hundreds of performances throughout Quebec and Canada along with frequent tours to Holland, Belgium, the United States, Mexico and England.
In 2016, the company brought Vic’s Mix to the stage with both humorous and serious moments, Vic’s Mix is a kind of “best of” the company’s work and orchestrating the creative clash between urban pop and classical composition. The performance spans the immense territory explored by RUBBERBAND, extracting jewels from their creative repertoire.
Choreographer and artistic director Victor Quijada was born in California in 1976 to Mexican parents. Over the past dozen years, he has developed a unique style of choreography that extols the various artistic influences that stimulated him as a dancer – the power and spontaneity of hip hop, the rigour and virtuosity of ballet, along with the evocative power of contemporary dance. Vic’s Mix also features the lighting design of Yan Lee Chan, original music by Jasper Gahunia along with the “mix” of various classical composers and costume design by Camille Thibault-Bédard.
RUBBERBANDance Group is presented by Venables Theatre with the support of the Community Presenters Assistance program (of the BC Arts Council and BC Touring Council) along with the Coast Oliver Hotel.
Don’t miss RUBBERBANDance on Saturday April 13th at 7:30pm at the Venables Theatre, 6100 Gala Street, Oliver. Tickets are only $29 (students $15) and are available online at www.venablestheatre.ca
SOAP Theatre’s finale for the 2018-19 season is Lawrence & Holloman by Canadian playwright Morris Panych, staged at the Venables Theatre April 26 – May 4. It is also their entry into the Okanagan Zone (:”O-Zone”) Festival (May 17 – 25, in Salmon Arm).
Lawrence & Holloman is the dark and twisted story of a cynical and suicidal accounting clerk (Holloman) who gets taken under the wing of a happy-go-lucky, ever-optimistic suit salesman (Lawrence).
Lawrence the optimist tries to teach Holloman the pessimist how to live happily and remain positive, until his own good luck starts to turn… Lawrence’s fiance dumps him, his car is demolished, his dog goes missing, he loses his job, and his apartment is burned to the ground… and that’s just the beginning!
Cast & Characters
Vance Potter plays LAWRENCE, the overly-optimistic, self-absorbed suit salesman who is simply blind to or in denial of anything that can go wrong.
Jim Dinwoodie plays HOLLOMAN, the cynical accounting clerk that can only take so much of Lawrence’s cheery optimism before taking matters into his own hands.
Lisa GLudovatz plays AN, who precedes D in name only. She is a Jill-of-all-trades, and has a talent with crayons and noise-making devices.
Diane Gludovatz plays D, who has a knack for showing up unexpectedly and making strange, thought-provoking sounds.
Is happiness determined by our outlook on life? Or can our destiny be changed… by another? ”The dramatic universe of… Morris Panych is an exquisitely well ordered place. Genuinely funny… smart… carefully crafted… and neatly delivered.” — Globe & Mail
The Ô-CELLI concert Friday evening, March 29th in the Venables, was the perfect endpiece to this season’s South Okanagan Concert Society’s series of concerts. Excellent choice, and it enchanted the sold-out audience! The eight cellists come from major European orchestras and chamber groups, and have toured much of the world since their formation in Belgium in 2010.
Ô-CELLI are superb musicians, and the program they put together featured much joyful music. Each piece was given a brief, relaxed introduction with a few helpful words to set the mood for a musical journey through sunny Italy, Spain, Argentina and Mexico (with hints of Cuba). The music was arranged for cello octet to highlight all the wondrous sonorities of that beloved instrument. The tonal, rhythmic and percussive possibilities were fully explored by musicians who know what they’re doing, love what they’re doing, and know how to delight, move and entertain their audience. And really, that’s why we go to concerts, isn’t it? And maybe also to hear something or someone new, a fresh interpretation, or a work or artist that touches deeply. In the case of this concert, it was all of the above, much to the joy of the listeners.
The first piece, the overture to Verdi’s opera, The Forces of Destiny, is a dramatic piece predicting the treachery and doom in the opera it introduces, so if not exactly setting the mood for a joyous evening, it did provide the octet with the opportunity to display their ensemble playing—which was precise and sensitive. And there was no doom in the wondrous music which followed.
The next three pieces brought to life the essential rhythms, melodies, and warmth and passion that is the essence of Spanish music—you could nearly smell the olives and the Mediterranean air. How the composers (de Falla and Turina, and the Frenchman Chabrier) captured this essence in their delightful compositions is part of the magic of music, but equally impressive is how Ô-CELLI gave it life.
The program continued after the intermission with Nina Rota’s famous and touching “La Strada” from Fellini’s 1954 film of the same name, followed by three pieces composed by the king of tangos, Argentina’s Astor Piazzolla. The second of those, “Milonga del Angel,” was for me a personal highlight of the evening, so soulful and beautiful, played exquisitely by the octet.
The contemporary Barcelona composer, Oriol Cruxient’s modern piece, “Fa Do,” featured some fascinating drumming on the cello itself to accompany the melodies shifting about through the various players.
The last piece, “Danzon #2” (1994) by the Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez, was performed spectacularly bringing its Cuban dance rhythms to life. Simply charming.
And yes, the standing ovation required an encore. And what a surprise! Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” to cap off an absolutely unforgettable musical evening.
What a wonderful concert. Thank you, Ô-CELLI! And thanks to the members of SOCS who spend many volunteer hours to enhance life in our community, and special thanks to the sponsors who make it all so affordable. Concerts such as this truly enrich our lives.
Ed.: The 2019 -20 SOCS season has just been announced: famed cellist Ofra Harnoy opens the series on Friday October 4. Season subscriptions are available now for the early bird subscribers at $76 per season pass until May 31. Call the theatre Tuesdays – Thursdays 10 – 3 p.m. at 250-498-1626 for details
The Oliver Community Arts Council will be presenting its Showcase of Talent on Wednesday May 1 (TENTATIVE) at 7 p.m. at the Venables Theatre Atrium, 6100 Gala Street, Oliver. Deserving local music students will perform their best pieces before an audience, preferably one they have prepared for a recital, the Kiwanis Festival or a conservatory exam. This is not a competition; this is simply an evening of delightful performance. Students will also be issued with a modest cheque, usually between $50 – $100 to assist them with their music studies.
We are accepting student names to fill a short evening’s programme, roughly an hour long. A grand piano is available, as is a small sound system for announcements, solo voices or instruments. Students are expected to provide their own music stand.
Preference will be given to students living in the Oliver region and / or taking lessons from an Oliver area music teacher. The teacher must be accredited with a music teaching association, have a degree in music, and / or completed an approved conservatory of music program.
Teachers are requested to supply the names of students they believe are the most deserving. We suggest teachers choose based on two or more of the following criteria:
Most advanced
Most skilled
Most improved
Students performing at a Kiwanis Festival
Students demonstrating the most financial need
When submitting a student’s name, please include their physical address (town), their instrument, their grade level, and a brief explanation of the criteria met. If time permits, students may be able to play two pieces. Please list pieces the student will be able to play. In the case of overlap, this gives us the opportunity to select pieces unique to the student, and fill the programme.
Students will be expected to perform a competition level piece in front of a crowd, as well as introduce themselves, and give a short introduction to their piece. Backing tracks for vocalists may be accommodated. Students are expected to remain for the full concert in order to receive their bursary during the “curtain call” at the conclusion.
Please contact OliverCAC @ gmail.comwith any questions or with names of students. All responses will be forwarded to our Showcase of Talent co-ordinator, Sally Franks.
