Kallisto – Voices to make you float on air

by Marion Boyd, South Okanagan Concert Society

Three beautiful women have joined their voices and spirits to create Kallisto – an incomparable a cappella trio experience on stage Friday, November 25th in Oliver.

Presented by the South Okanagan Concert Society, the performance will be at the new time of 7:30 pm. As a result of the fire which destroyed the Venables Auditorium, the temporary venue for this concert season is the Oliver Alliance Church, 36853 99th Street, just off Highway 97 at the northern ‘Welcome to Oliver’ sign.

Kallisto draws inspiration and brings music to life from the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic periods and then shifts effortlessly to jazz standards, pop hits, world music and gospel. The varied programme November 25th will include a few musical Christmas treats as well.

Fabiana Katz, Karen Mang and Catherine Laub let their personalities play off each other on stage. They captivate audiences with their flawlessly tuned voices and their passion for creativity and showmanship. Their trio, named after a lovely girl in a Greek myth, leaves room to explore through words and music a world of gods and goddesses, love and pathos, all served with a dollup of humour.

Argentian-Canadian mezzo-soprano, Fabiana, has a Masters degree in Choral Conducting and sings with the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Her expertise is in Baroque music as well as Spanish and Latin American music. Catherine, the lead soprano, has a Masters degree in Voice Performance and was on stage in New York before moving to Vancouver in 2006. She sings with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and is a published composer, author, voice teacher and yoga teacher. Karen Mang delights in theatre, entertaining and excellent musicianship. A soprano, she is the assistant conductor of the Vancouver Children’s Choir and is active as a soloist in the Vancouver area.

Tickets are on sale at Beyond Bliss Esthetics in Oliver, Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and at the door. The best buy is a flexible pass for four admissions for only $60. The admissions can be used separately or in combination. Single admission is $20 and young people age 17 and under are welcome to attend concerts free.

If you are feeling tired by the time Friday rolls around and wondering if you can gather the energy to appear at the concert, think of our SOCS President, Janet Marcotte. She often feels exhausted at the end of a demanding week of teaching. She also notes that by the end of a concert of fine music, she is rejuvenated and floating on air. Try it. It just might work for you too!!

“Mainly for Women” Trade Show is for Everyone

The Women of Oliver for Women (W.O.W.) Society is hosting their annual “Mainly for Women” Trade Show on the third weekend in February.  The event is held on the weekend following Valentine’s Day every year.

Mainly for Women Trade Show
Saturday February 19, 2011
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Oliver Community Centre
(350th Ave/79th Street)

 

“The title Mainly for Women,” explains Sally Franks (WOW’s rep to the arts council), “refers to the women and children of Oliver this trade show is designed to help.”  The WOW Society donates regularly to address the needs of women and children in Oliver. The trade show itself, however, is intended for everyone’s interests.  

Trade show booths feature products and services appealing to all members of the family: woodworking, fibre arts, personal health and hygiene products, preserves, ceramics, gardenware,  glassware, housewares, and countless gift ideas.  Small businesses and societies will also be promoting their services, with door prizes and coupons to appeal to visitors. It’s a great opportunity to pick up some information, educate yourself about their services, and maybe win a gift!

The Oliver Community Arts Council will be hosting a table. Member groups and businesses  are invited to provide brochures, flyers, coupons, tickets, posters, business cards, and even a door prize for the table. We will promote you and your upcoming events!  Drop them off at Handworks Gallery on Main Street (phone first at 250-498-6388)

The table will feature some small arts items for sale, a promotional video, membership forms, and some very nice people telling you all about what’s “jamming in the arts” in Oliver.

Volunteers are welcome to pick a shift from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (or both!) to staff the table and help promote the activities of the arts council. It’s a fun, social time. Want to join us there? olivercac@gmail.com

Want a booth at the show? They cost only $40. Contact  olivercac@gmail.com and we’ll put you in touch with the WOW Society.

Fiddling, Strumming, and Dancing Up a Storm

by Marion Boyd

High excitement reigns as Daniel Gervais and Clinton Pelletier, soon to be performing in Oliver, received top honours for the Instrumental Album of the year at the recent Western Canadian Music Awards.

An eclectic program with a taste of classical, folk and gypsy jazz music will showcase the versatility and talents of these superb musicians on

Friday, November 19th
8 pm
Frank Venables (SOSS) Auditorium, Oliver BC
Single Ticket $20
4-way Flex Pass $60
17 and under FREE
Tickets at:
Beyond Bliss, Oliver
Imperial Office Pro, Osoyoos
and at the door

Joining forces with Daniel (fiddle and violin) and Clinton (guitar), will be Aline Dupuis. She is a skilled step dancer and choreographer. The performance is sponsored by the South Okanagan Concert Society and promises a lively evening and great fun.

Tickets are on sale at Beyond Bliss in Oliver, Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos and at the door.Single admissions are $20 and those 17 and under are welcomed to attend concerts free. The popular four-admission “flex pass” ($60)  allows one person to attend 4 concerts, two people to attend two concerts, or four people to attend one concert for maximum flexibility. The venue is wheelchair accessible and those in the Oliver/Osoyoos area requiring transportation can call Maureen at 250 495 7978.

Daniel’s ability as a classical violinist was broadly recognized in 2002 when he attained the highest mark in Canada from the Royal Conservatory for his Gr. 8 Strings exam. A little older, he is now a 3rd year student in the B. Mus program of the University of Alberta and plays with the University Symphony Orchestra. Daniel’s talents are not one dimensional though. He also represented Alberta at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship and was awarded a first place in the Traditional category of the Grand North American Old Time Fiddle Championships! He loves to compose and entertain. His debut CD “Flying Fiddle” was released in 2003 and his second, “Endless Possibilities” in 2005. He has toured North America and France.

Daniel has also appeared on countless television and radio programs such as Good Morning Canada and various CBC broadcasts. In November 2002, he travelled to London, Ontario to receive the Conservatory Canada Speake Medal of Excellence for Grade 8 Strings for having attained the highest mark in Canada. Daniel was honoured to have competed at the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Championship in August of 2003, representing Alberta. In 2004, Daniel returned to this competition and was a top eleven finalist. He was recently nominated for “Young Performer of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Aline has fifteen years training at the Edmonton School of Ballet and is an accomplished step dancer and choreographer. She is the artistic director of Zephyr, a French Canadian dance group. She loves the challenge of choreographing and teaching intricate and complex dance routines.

Clinton is a Performance Jazz Guitar graduate of Grant MacEwan College. He is the producer and performer of Hot Club Edmonton and eclecTrip and he owns and operates the recording studio, Reel Time Studios. Creativity and high energy are Clint’s hallmarks. He has released six albums, toured France with Zephyr and performed in Scotland, England and the Shetland Islands. Check out www.tradbadour.ca, www.hotclubedmontonl.com and www.electrip.com for a glimpse into the style and versatility of Daniel and Clinton as they perform together. Then come out with friends and family to hear them live on stage in Oliver.

The B.C. Arts Council, Music Fest Vancouver, Windsor Plywood Spectacular Music B.C. and the Oliver Community Arts Council provide steady and much appreciated financial support for this concert series. Dwight and Amy Brown at the Adobe Rose B&B offer Okanagan hospitality to the musicians. FortisBC, Burrowing Owl Winery, Interior Savings OK Falls, the Kiwanis Club of Oliver and Maria Gonzales-Richer, denturist, are the local sponsors who make it possible to bring high quality, live music to our community. We cannot thank them enough.