by Marion Boyd

When the executive of the South Okanagan Concert Society sat down to plan for the coming season, it suddenly seemed possible to BRING HER HOME.  Here we had a fabulous new theatre and one of our own, lyric soprano Jenavieve Moore, has been studying at the prestigious Guildhall School in London and performing in the UK and Europe “sending chills through the audience with her brilliant performances”, Her “elegant soprano voice masterfully executing the coloraturas and trills in Mozart’s…” and on and on.   It was time to bring this beautifully matured young artist back to her home community and help her share her exceptional talents with the people who cared for her, supported her and encouraged her during her growing up years.

Many of us remember the little girl who loved to play both flute and piano as well as sing and who won a string of gold medals from the Royal Conservatory of Music.   When she was accepted to study at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music in London we all celebrated her success. Jenavieve is a poised and mature artist equally comfortable on the opera and concert stage.   She is regularly featured on BBC Radio, got rave reviews when she stepped in with only a few hours notice to sing the soprano solo in Verdi’s Requiem in Barbican Hall, and has upcoming engagements in Shanghai and a Mozart Oratorio to perform in Switzerland and Germany.  She is living proof that a small town girl with small town support can reach goals and dreams of the highest order.  She stands as an inspiration to every kid in town who wants to aim high.

The concert society is flying Jena home and if we sound a little sentimental, please forgive us!   She will be performing at Venables Theatre on Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m.   Tickets for only $20 are on sale now at Beyond Bliss in Oliver and Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos.

The Sage Valley Voices presents

“Favourite Songs of the Beatles”

Oliver United Church

Saturday April 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Sunday April 26 at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets $10.00 available at the door.

Price includes refreshments

Donations of non perishable food for the Oliver Food Bank greatly appreciated.

The Oliver chapter of Grandmothers for Africa (Stephen Lewis Foundation) are preparing for their Spring Bling sale on Saturday April 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Oliver United Church. Stop by for new and old jewelry, home decor, and women’s accessories. Those who attended last year will already know that exciting buys can be found as well as opportunity to run into many friends from the community.  All proceeds are donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers Campaign to support African grandmothers raising children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

African grandmothers are heroic women who meet adversity head-on as they raise their voices in song, move their bodies in rhythm and heal themselves and their communities.   We celebrate and support them.  Stephen Lewis believes we must continue to get funds directly into the hands of their grassroots organizations.   They know exactly what to do and how to do it.  They simply need the funds to make it happen.  They are the ones who make a protective embrace for the orphan children of the African continent.

One of the human rights issues that is of great concern in the developing world is that 1 in 9 girls is married before 15 years of age.   Some are only 8 or 9.   They experience dangerous early pregnancies, get little education, live in poverty and are subject to HIV infection and domestic violence.  Work with grandmothers in Africa includes programs to encourage the end of child marriage.   The theme of these programs for growing girls is “Let girls be girls and not brides.”

Grandmothers need help to see the granddaughters they are raising do not join the throng of endangered child brides.   These girls need food, shelter, good parenting, love, education.   Despite heartache and hardship, it is the grandmothers of Africa that provide the functional homes every child needs.   Their courage and resilience is inspirational.

So come to the Spring Bling, have some fun, try and get lucky with a door prize and know that the proceeds will help show African grandmothers that we are determined to be with them every step of the way!

Pictured are participants at last year’s Spring Bling. It shows Grandmothers for Africa (yellow is Oliver, white is Penticton, blue is Osoyoos) with some of the jewelry and other bling on sale. Past President Sue James (in yellow) stands at front centre between Linda Nunweiler and Heather Fink (seated) and new President Mavis Grant is also in yellow to her left.

If you need an entry form – call 250-498-0753 or email jackbennest@gmail.com

On Friday, March 27,  QuintEssence, a group of  four internationally renowned vocalists and pianist, Tina Chang, will be performing the final concert for South Okanagan Concert Society’s 2014-2015 season. They will be on stage at the Venables Theatre at 7:30 pm to showcase cherished opera repertoire and exotic musical gems by songwriters spanning from Schubert to Britten, and from Gershwin to Weill.

QuintEssence offers a fresh innovative concert experience for lovers of classical music of any style.  They are quite capable of dazzling you with vocal pyrotechnics.   They can melt your heart with beautifully sung poetry and they can stretch your musical frontier to the limit with adored music from off the beaten track.

QuintEssence concerts encourage audience participation with their “a la carte” programme set out like a first class menu.  Would you like an appetizer from  Tales of Hoffman and something from Romeo and Juliet?   Your main course might be a selection from Bizet’s Carmen and perhaps a quartet from Verdi’s Rigoletto.   When it is time for dessert, the audience chooses three.   No diets here!   Do you fancy “Ain’t It a Pretty Night” from Susanna, a lyric and lovely quartet from Puccini’s La Boheme, a father’s plea from La Traviata, maybe Lonely House from Weill’s Street Scene.   It all sounds delicious!  When it is time for liqueurs and cognac, the menu includes Somewhere from Bernstein’s West Side Story and the Log Driver’s Waltz arranged by John Greer.  This musical meal promises to be a real treat.

QuintEssence features  soprano Robyn Driedger-Klassen, mezzo Barb Towell, tenor Frederik Robert and baritone Peter Alexander.  All have collected individual rave reviews for their performances on the world stage.

Pianist and coach Tina Chang was born in Taiwan and immigrated to Vancouver as a child.   She did her undergraduate degree in music at UBC and her Masters at the University of Minnesota.   She is currently on staff at Vancouver Opera.

Tickets for the QuintEssence concert are on sale at Beyond Bliss in Oliver, Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and at the door.   Single tickets are $20.  For those with season flex passes, this is the time to invite a friend and use up any extra admissions.   Don’t forget to bring your cheque book and get a flex pass for next season at Early Bird prices.

There will also be tickets on sale for the April 10^th performance of one of our own.  Soprano Jenavieve Moore will be flying home from Europe to entertain us.

Anyone in need of transportation to the Venables Theatre can call Maureen at 495 7978 to make arrangements to come by the bus.

It’s fun, it’s social, it’s playful. It’s a great way to relieve stress. It’s the Oliver Community Drum Circle with instructor Barb Seiler.

No previous musical or drumming experience necessary. A variety of drums and other percussion instruments provided. Come and connect with your own rhythm!

Friday March 6

7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

or 

Sunday March 8

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Oliver United Church 

511 Church Avenue, Oliver BC

Adults $10

Seniors (65+) $8

Children (9 – 15 years) $5

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

Drop by the Desert Sage Spinners and Weavers during their weekend Spin-In at Walnut Beach Resort. Although the spinning workshop is sold out, participants will be holding an open house on the afternoon of Saturday March 28 from 1 – 4 p.m. Admission is FREE. Six vendors will be on site offering fleece, yarn, and fibre for sale. Pick up some luxurious material for your next project!  Location : 4200 Lakeshore Drive, Osoyoos.

Women of Oliver for Women host

Bridge Social

Sunday March 22

1 – 4 pm

Quail’s Nest Art Centre

5840 Airport Street, Oliver
Cost: $10 per person
Tea/coffee and delicious fancy cupcakes will be served at the break.
To register contact either
Cathy Gushulak ph 250-485-2559
or
Shirley Polk (after March 4) ph 250-498-6033

On Wednesday February 11, the arts council membership oversaw the installation of the new OCAC Board. All officers have returned for another term:  president Penelope Johnson, vice president Jack Bennest, tTreasurer Arleyene Farnworth, and secretary Nathan Linders. A number of diretors are returning: Bernice Myllyniemi, Brian Mapplebeck, Janice Goodman, Jennifer Mapplebeck. New directors are Enid Baker, Maxyne Lockhart, and Terry Irvine.

For minutes and year-end financial review, contact olivercac @ gmail.com

Photo by Norberto Rodriguez de la Vega

The Board of the Oliver Community Theatre Society is pleased to announce the hiring of Bettyanne Hampton as the new manager of Oliver’s new Frank Venables Theatre.

Bettyanne, who spent her teenage years as a student in Osoyoos, has worked extensively in the field of arts management, presentation, and education for many years in various centres on Vancouver Island and more recently in Fort St John where she has been the Executive Director of the North Peace Cultural Centre since 2010.

“The Board is very excited to have attracted such a strong leader within BC’s lively art scene. Bettyanne is bringing a wealth of energy and expertise in facility management and equally importantly, in collaborative programming and community and professional presentations” says Wendy Newman President of the Board of Directors of the theatre’s operating society.

Bettyanne also has an impressive work history with arts education having managed the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre for seven years where she worked with music and theatre educators from across the province.

Bettyanne will be joining the theatre on March 30th, just in time to represent Oliver’s new Frank Venables Theatre at the mid-April province-wide arts touring conference in Vancouver where BC community theatre managers and presenters work together to plan many of the tours for professional artist which will be presented over the next 2 – 3 years.

Bettyanne will be working in the theatre office at 6100 Gala Street and after March 30 can be reached at manager @ venablestheatre.ca or by telephone at 250-498-1626. For further information on Frank Venables Theatre, visit www.venablestheatre.ca or use the link under “Member Businesses” at right.