Far too often we tend to think – like the saying that an expert is anyone from out of town – that the best musicians and artists are from out of town. To disprove that, I encourage you to go to a concert by Orchestra London, and/or the Amabile choirs.
The cost is quite reasonable, you are supporing local talent, and if you have not heard them before, you might be pleasantly surprised by how good they are. The various Amabile choirs have, for example, performed around the world.
All of the Amabile choirs are performing this Sunday at Centennial Hall in a concert called “African Stories“.
On March 4th the Amabile Primus choir (mens choir) performs with the Nylons at the London City Music Theatre.
Orchestra London has concerts ranging from classical to pops to pop. Here is their March calendar. On March 11th and 12th, they perform, along with the Jeans ‘n Classics band, music by The Police and Sting.
On March 26, Violinist Annette-Barbara Vogel of the UWO Don Wright Faculty of Music, described as “one of the finest violinists of her generation”, performs the Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with Orchestra London. I must admit to not being as educated on classical music as I should be, but I’m told that this would be a performance worth hearing even if you don’t consider yourself a classical music fan.
For transparency - I’m on the Orchestra London Board of directors, and my son sings with the Amable choirs.
I normally post my Free Press articles on Monday- but because of the Free Press re-org of Biz Monday, all the columns are now bi-weekly. So today I’m going to promote some upcoming London events.
My son is in a quartet called The Starting Pitchers that is offering singing valentines on the 13th and 14th. See their Kijiji ad here for details.
The Amabile choirs have several upcoming events. Details are on their web site. (My son is in Amabile as well.)
Events include the annual Amabile Festival at Centennial Hall on February 27th entitled African Stories, featuring all of the Amabile choirs - and the Men’s Midwinter Gala fundraiser on February 12th. Also check out their Art From the Heart fundraising art show and sale on now at the Masonville Public Library.
Orchestra London has two concerts this weekend. (I’m now on the Orchestra London board.) The Red Hot Weekends series has concerts at Centennial Hall Friday and Saturday night. And on Sunday the Serenade Brunch series is at the Lamplighter.
The Amabile Boy’s & Men’s Choirs annual Christmas concert is this Saturday. (My son is in the choir.) For those not aware of Amabile: “The continuum and depth that Amabile offers is unparalleled by any other choral organization in Canada. Amabile has achieved acclaim on national and world stages for its excellence in choral performance.”
Another good concert to attend this weekend would be Orchestra London’s “Christmas at Christmas“. (I’m now on the Orchestra London board of directors.)
Male singers in the London area are being invited to attend the Amabile Men Aloud choral symposium on Jan 29 and 30. (My son is with Amabile.)
As Ken Fleet, co-conductor, said in a recent letter to the Free Press:
The Amabile Boys & Men’s Choirs are hosting a choral symposium on Jan. 29 and 30, called Men Aloud in what we believe will be the largest gathering of boys and men singing in concert ever held in the London region. This event celebrates the power and joy of male singing, and we invite boys with unchanged voices, high school youth, and men to participate in this exciting venture. No experience needed.
Rehearsals, singing workshops and activities will be held at Medway secondary school, with the final concert at 6 p.m. at First-St. Andrews United Church on Jan. 30.
Renowned guest conductors Ethan Sperry (Miami University), Linda Beaupre (Toronto), Viki Meredith, Darryl Edwards, Torin Chiles and Todd Wieczorek will provide leadership.
For further information, e-mail Andrea Emery at aemery@rogers.com by Wednesday. For concert tickets, call 519-641-6795 519-641-6795. For more information, go to www.amabile.com.
Details are on the Amabile web site.
Best wishes to all those with the Amabile choirs who have just left for the Czech Republic. (My son is in one of the choirs.) The Amabile web site says:
From June 27 to July 13, 2008, the renowned and award-winning Amabile Boys and Men’s Choirs of London, Canada are on a two-week European tour. First on the agenda: the 2nd International Boys and Men’s Choral Festival in the Czech Republic which Amabile is co-hosting with the Czech Boys Choir, Boni Pueri. Six hundred male singers, ages 9 to 79, and 100 staff from seven countries immersed in a week of rehearsals, concerts, leadership activities and friendship, culminating in a massed concert in Dvorak Hall in the Rudolfinum of Prague, broadcast live around the world by Vltava Radio in the Czech Republic.
The Amabile boys and men continue their second week with a cultural and musical tour of Austria and Germany with three additional performances. They sing at the United Nations offices in Vienna, and also perform in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna as guests of the the 2008 Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival hosted by VIA MUSICA. Amabile’s final concert is in Ulm, Germany.
Congratulations to London’s Amabile Primus and Young Men’s choirs (and my son Kyle who is in the Young Men’s choir) for both placing first in their respective classes this week in the CBC national Choral 2008 competition.
Both choirs will perform in a gala winners concert, in a live performance from Montreal broadcast on CBC Radio Two the weekend of May 16.
