The bees have certainly been buzzing around the Magee Choral and Orchestral department this spring! After an incredible December filled with concerts with the Vancouver Welsh Men, St. Stephen’s United Church, Dr. Eileen Phillips’ Retirement, the re-opening of the Woodwards Food Floor downtown, and our own Christmas Concerts, just to name a few, we jumped right back into it in January, getting ready for our Annual Market Fair – at which the organization of the students and parents made the event not only special, but also very successful.
Parts of our String Orchestra were invited and specially chosen to play on the recording of International Recording Artist K’Naan’s new rendition of “Wavin’ Flag” for the Young Artists for Haiti project produced by legendary rock producer, Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd’s The Wall album, U2, Green Day etc.). This song and video can now be seen everywhere and was even featured on a half hour TV special of ETalk Canada where scenes of our Magee Strings can be seen playing and posing with K’Naan.
Following that, Members of our Chamber Choir were invited to sing 2 performances down in Robson Square for the 2010 Winter Olympics on February 24th. The vibe was incredible as we had full, appreciative audiences as well as people screaming on a zip line overhead (and, unfortunately, fire trucks blaring in the background on our second set).
Then the Chamber Choir was involved in the Massed 2000 voice “secret” Choir that performed at the Opening Ceremonies of the Paralympics on March 12th. They sang a very inspiring “We Rise Again” with Nikki Yanofsky at what has been hailed as one of the best Opening Ceremonies for the Paralympics ever.
On March 19th and 20th, we welcome our good friend Richard Nace from Tacoma Washington to work with the Chamber Choir. Mr. Nace is one of the most sought after clinicians in the world as he has the uncanny ability to bring out the best in students with his gentleness and spiritual way of educating. On the Saturday afternoon we will be putting on a free clinic for choral teachers in the Vancouver School Board for them to sharpen their skills.
Following our senior tour to Williams Lake, 100 Mile House, and Kamloops, the choirs will be having a concert in the auditorium on Thursday April 1st, at which we welcome Osler
Elementary School and Eric Hamber Chamber Choir. The concert begins at 7pm and admission will be by donation.
Then on April 30th, we welcome the Capilano Singers, Capilano University’s premire chamber
choir under the direction of Mr. Lars Kaario for an afternoon of sharing music in the choir room
with our Magee Chamber Choir.
And following that, on May 1st, we will be having a combined concert with the St. Patrick’s Chamber Choir, under the direction of Mr. Tony Araujo at St. Patricks Church on 12th and
Main St. This annual event has become a wonderful addition to our year as we have the opportunity to bring 2 of Vancouver’s Finest High School Chamber Choirs together to make some musical magic. The concert will begin at 7:30pm.
We certainly hope you have a wonderful spring and that we see you at some or all of our upcoming concerts. Thank you for your continued support!
Greg Quan
Director of Choirs and Orchestra
Next Magee Music Society Meeting Monday April 12th @ 7pm in Magee Staff Room
