This Saturday, the Lady Cove Women's Choir along with a special guest composer and guest percussionists will present "RhythmSong" at Cochrane Street United Church. The concert, with choral and percussion elements, will include the premiere of Canadian composer James Rolfe's "Lullaby," for marimba and treble voices. The event will be hosted by the CBC's Angela Antle.
Performing percussionists will include St. John's musicians Bill Brennan and Rob Power, as well as Toronto-based Beverley Johnston.
Members of the Lady Cove Women's Choir, named after Lady Cove in Trinity Bay and started in 2003, have been the driving force behind the concert's development.
Choir administrator Nicole Dawe said the event has been in the works since 2008.
"This is the first time a collaboration like this has been done, especially on such a big scale," Dawe said. "It's been a long time coming. It's very exciting."
The concert, she said, has been made possible by funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
The choir applied for a grant from the Canada Council in January 2009 and learned that March they had been awarded the funding under the council's Professional Choir Program.
"Lady Cove is the first choir in Newfoundland and Labrador to receive funding from this prestigious program. Russell Kelley, head of the Canada Council's music section, will attend the concert to bring greetings and acknowledge this momentous occasion," stated further information provided on the show.
"The choir also received a commissioning grant from the Canada Council for Rolfe's piece, who will be attending the event," it said. Lady Cove Women's Choir has been on a roll since taking the top prize in the CBC Radio competition for choirs in 2008, in the contemporary music category. It received first place at the 2008 Bela Bartok New Music Competition in Debrecen, Hungary. As well, Canadian ballerina Karen Kain, has become the choir's honorary patron. Finally, as per selections made to date, the Lady Cove Women's Choir will be the only Canadian choir to perform at the World Symposium of Choral Music in Argentina in 2011.
However "RhythmSong" is also an important project for the participating percussionists.
"The St. John's percussion community is a vibrant and creative force in the musical culture of Newfoundland and Labrador" percussionist Brennan has stated. "In the past 30 years, international performers and teachers such as the late Don Wherry and late John Wyre made St. John's their home, building a tradition of excellence in percussion performance in the province. This legacy has inspired collaborations with musicians on the local, national and international scene, and has been the basis of several successful ensembles, including the Scruncheons, Fusion, The Black Auks and Spanner. The local community is highly supportive of these activities, as evidenced in the success of such events as Newfoundland's internationally renowned new music festival, Sound Symposium."
"RhythmSong" will be another feather in that musical cap. The performances of "RhythmSong" will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the concert are available from C'est Moi, Auntie Crae's or by phone (Visa holders only): 709-726-4443.
afitzpatrick@thetelegram.com
Lady Cove Women's Choir to present 'RhythmSong'
The Lady Cove Women's Choir and featured guests will present "RhythmSong" at Cochrane Street United Church Saturday. -Submitted photo
Concert made possible by the Canada Council
This Saturday, the Lady Cove Women's Choir along with a special guest composer and guest percussionists will present "RhythmSong" at Cochrane Street United Church. The concert, with choral and percussion elements, will include the premiere of Canadian composer James Rolfe's "Lullaby," for marimba and treble voices. The event will be hosted by the CBC's Angela Antle.
Performing percussionists will include St. John's musicians Bill Brennan and Rob Power, as well as Toronto-based Beverley Johnston.
- Rate
- Top of the page
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
