The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir Opens its 30th Season
The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir is 30 years young combining experience with new energy and initiative each year.
Their 30th season features 13 local concerts as well as an ambitious concert tour of northern British Columbia. In addition, they plan to release two new CDs and record material for at least two more.
Once again, they will partner with the Vancouver Orpheus Male Choir and outstanding Welsh tenor, Eifion Thomas (October 30), Winter Harp at Massey Theatre (December 5) and members of the UBC Opera Ensemble (March 25 and 26) and introduce some new guest talent to their audiences.
Their first new CD, entitled Let There be Peace on Earth is particularly fitting for a choir celebrating its 30th anniversary.
It presents some of the best performances by the VWMC conducted by three different music directors – Robin Thomas, John Trepp and, current director, Jonathan Quick.
The second CD, You Raise Me Up features an entertaining mix of hymns, spirituals, opera choruses and show tunes as well as solos by some of the newest choir members.
For the first time (April 15 and 16) they will share the stage with the Kallisto Trio. This all female a cappella trio brings music from the Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic periods to life and then shifts effortlessly to jazz standards, pop hits, world music and gospel.
In early June 2011 the choir will embark on the first ever tour to Northern British Columbia. Concerts are scheduled in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat and Prince George with workshops for secondary school students in communities along the way. They are very excited to be partnering with Rotary International to bring our music to northern audiences.
Looking ahead to 2012, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir was one of four choirs chosen to represent North America in the Cultural Olympiad in July 2012. They will join a 1,000 voice choir organized by the London Welsh Male Choir to coincide with the Summer Olympic games.
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