Notice Board

Harmonically Rich Canadian Connection to Fill new Recital Hall

The U of L Singers celebrates Canada’s rich choral tradition with a diverse program of contemporary music by British, French, and Canadian composers at 3 pm on April 12 in the The Canadian Connection at the University Recital Hall.

The University of Lethbridge Singers Spring choral concert will feature piano and guest musicians and will feature Hymns of the Rig Veda by Gustav Holst, Nancy Telfer’s Missa Brevis and a potpourri of traditional and contemporary folk songs.

“One 'cool,' factor is that this is music of our time.  It reflects not only the rich musical heritage of our vast country but is a representation of the richly layered canon of Canadian choral music that is ever-evolving, recognized and performed all over the world,” says director Joanne Collier.

“All of the music has a connection to Canada.  Most has been written by Canadian composers within the last 30 years with the exception of Holst which were published in Great Britain in 1911 and expressly written for women's chorus and show the fully beauty of Holst's compositional style.  The settings are pictorial and harmonically rich.  Holst's music is connected to Canada in that much of the choral music written in Canada has its roots in English church music, particularly music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” continues Collier.

“The fine acoustics of the new Recital Hall will be perfect for the a cappella works, and will really complement the choir's sound,” says Joanne Collier. Accompanied by John Paul Ksiazek, the U of L Singers also welcome Josh Davies on trumpet, Matt Thiessen on timpani and Graham Tag on viola.

The U of L Singers are an auditioned chamber choir that includes music majors and talented non-majors across campus. The choir was begun by Emeritus Professor George Evelyn in 1982, and has enjoyed many years of success. The group has performed as invited guests at the national conferences of the Assoc. of Canadian Choral Conductors, the Alberta Music Conference and has been a finalist in the CBC Amateur Choir competition on several occasions. Now under the direction of Dr. Janet Youngdahl, the Singers competed at the Cork International Music Festival in Cork Ireland in the spring of 2002. This year the choir has been been conducted by Dr. Sandra Stringer and Joanne Collier while Dr. Youngdahl is on study leave.

Tickets available online at uleth.ca/tickets, by phone (403-329-2616) or at the box office Monday-Friday 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 1 hour before ticketed performances. $20 regular; $15 senior/alumni; $12 student.

-30-