[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   You can tell winter is on its way because it’s dark and cold when I set off for choir each week.   photo by Todd Shaffer   It w...

The Grande Prairie Boys’ choir is celebrating its seventeenth season, providing audiences at home and away with the gift of song from the hearts of 135 boys between the ages of 7 and 20. Along side intensive voice training, drama instruction, theory and ...  moreThe Grande Prairie Boys’ choir is celebrating its seventeenth season, providing audiences at home and away with the gift of song from the hearts of 135 boys between the ages of 7 and 20. Along side intensive voice training, drama instruction, theory and sight reading in several smaller ensembles for several age categories, the choir produces 6 sold out concerts per year. Their most recent ambitions include producing a Symphony and Singing in the City concert with professional orchestral musicians mentoring local professional and semiprofessional performers from Grande Prairie. The Senior and Men of Note choirs hAve trAvelled Nationally to BC, and ON and internationally to Phoenix, Arizona. In 2014, they entered and won second place in the Canadian National Music Festival and in 2016 were chosen out of 45 choirs to perform at the National Choral Conference in Edmonton where they premiered a choral piece Magnificat Anima Mea to huge acceptance. They won first place in Provincials in 2017 and trAveled to Irelan...    less

We're an exciting, fun female choir, with a competitive edge. We sing everything from modern pop to choral and barbershop. On our first birthday, we won the Acappella/barbershop class at the 2011 International Eisteddfod in Wales, and we hAve earned ...  moreWe're an exciting, fun female choir, with a competitive edge. We sing everything from modern pop to choral and barbershop. On our first birthday, we won the Acappella/barbershop class at the 2011 International Eisteddfod in Wales, and we hAve earned many awards and recognitions to date in varous competitions. Under the direction of the exceptionally talented Mr Andrew Walker and his music team of award winning vocalists Affinity embraces educational aims, and encourages personal development in singing and performance. Affinity are always happy to hear from potential bookings, and welcome new members to audition for the choir, we are a fun loving group of women who share the joys of singing, we employ strong values of team work, friendship and support. We love to sing in competitions, special events and shows locally and afar, we’ve been known to hop on a plane or a boat to trAvel abroad to take part in other countries fantastic music festivals , its a wonderful way to connect us and share this amazing ...    less

Ψαλμός

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the choir]   It is always difficult to find suitable venues for choir performances.   photo by Ben Dodson   Churches are usually very welcoming (and oft...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir]   Joining a new choir is a bit like going to big school: it’s exciting, but a bit scary and it will take a while to learn the ropes.   p...

Colloque Sentimental English version by S N Solomons after the poem by Paul Verlaine music for three altos a cappella, composed and performed by David W Solomons Colloque Sentimental - (translation by S N Solomons after Paul Verlaine) In the age-...  moreColloque Sentimental English version by S N Solomons after the poem by Paul Verlaine music for three altos a cappella, composed and performed by David W Solomons Colloque Sentimental - (translation by S N Solomons after Paul Verlaine) In the age-old park, treading the icy grass Two lone forms ere a while went past. Their eyes are dead, their lips are soft and moist, Almost inaudible their voice. In the cold lonely park, pacing the grass, Twin lonely spectres hAve evoked the past. "Dost thou recall our ecstasy of old?" "Why would you think I should recall?" "And at my name does thy heart pulse and grow? And in thy dreams seest thou my soul?" "No!" "Those lovely days of unheard bliss and free ... We fused our lips as one!" "Ah, that might be." "How blue the heAvens and our hope how high!" "Hope has fled vanquished to the sombre sky." And so they wandered in the unkempt grass, And night alone heard all the words that passed.  less

choir’S PROFILE: DIVINE CHORALE-GHANA Divine Chorale-Ghana, a non-profit choir, was established as the main performing choir under the Pat-Darko Divine Music Chamber now EmmRac INNOVATIONS in the Kumasi city in June 2010 and has raised the standard of ch...  morechoir’S PROFILE: DIVINE CHORALE-GHANA Divine Chorale-Ghana, a non-profit choir, was established as the main performing choir under the Pat-Darko Divine Music Chamber now EmmRac INNOVATIONS in the Kumasi city in June 2010 and has raised the standard of choral music performance since its existence. It was officially inaugurated in September 2011 and was widely attended by thousands of choral music lovers across the country. The group has performed at numerous high profile functions like the international leadership awards night (tuzoya oungozi), national peace makers rally at the national theater among others. The group also embarked on a nationwide peace campaign tour which was dubbed "11.11.12 - Sing Ghana 4 peace". The choir is noted for music evangelism and charity projects in Ghana. Notable is the annual Community Music Evangelism Project (Com-MEP) which won the best humanitarian concert of the year in 2016. Type of Ensemble: Mixed Voice choir Membership: 66 Chief P...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the choir] When you think you’re not singing well, you’ll often blame yourself. But what if it’s something else, something outside yourself that you ca...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the choir]   We are lucky that singing is a very social activity. Whether we are a choir leader or singer, we are amongst friends each week.     I'm diffe...