April 2008

NEW MUSIC! NEW FRIENDS!
NEW CHALLENGES!

Preparing four separate concerts and one tour really got our season off to an exciting start with new music, new friends and new challenges! Each choir had a camp in which they worked on theory, sight-reading and good fellowship. As over thirty different schools are represented in the choirs, a good portion of time was spent in get-acquainted activities.

Then the concerts began. What extraordinary music was performed by each group. Vivace opened with a concert in October, which they shared with the
Chautauqua Children’s Chorale. In November Bravo toured Kitchener, Ontario where they performed on their own, and then joined forces with five other choirs, two of which were college level, to perform Schubert’s Mass in G - accompanied by full orchestra! The bus ride back was accompanied by singing, sleeping and lots of eating!

Presto joined Bravo and Vivace in the Sigma Alpha Iota Concert. Congratulations to ABC’s accompanist, Alison Altre-Kerber, who was featured in a beautiful piano duet!

Bravo & Vivace were the guests of the men’s chorus, The Royal Serenaders for the last concert of the semester. Their combined voices resounded in the wonderful acoustics of the beautiful old First Presbyterian Church.

Caroling at two nursing homes served to get many of the choristers in the spirit of the season, and warmed the hearts of the residents there. The welcome was warm, the singing spirited, and the joy of song filled the hearts of all.

Second semester started with a marvelous Pancake Breakfast. Then Vivace headed off to the Mississauga tour, to work under the guest director, Stephen Hatfield. All of the choristers were billeted overnight, and reports differ as to how much sleep resulted!

Our annual March Treats Concert featured all three choirs, and was held for the first time at Kenmore Presbyterian Church. The acoustics were marvelous, the audience huge, and the standing ovation well deserved.

Presto was featured at St Paul’s Cathedral in the Recital Series on Friday, March 28. They enjoyed the beautiful surroundings in that historic location.

COMING UP! Check the calendar for the exact times and dates:
Vivace will host the ACDA Children’s Choir Festival May 3rd and the following week all three choirs will join in our final Mother’s Day Concert on
Sunday, May 11.

Then the auditions begin! Be sure to have your chorister bring at least one other friend with them. Many of our best choristers have been recruited by our members!

- Sue Fay Allen, Director