Volume 26 Issue 1 - September 2020

Titled “Inti Ukana: A Latin American Tapestry” it includes
guests Laura Fernandez, Antonio Mata and Bernardo Padrón.
“We just couldn’t give up! And have been working intently
over the summer through Zoom practice sessions,” says
conductor Fraser. “And we expect this October performance
to be every bit as exciting as if we were all in one place.” The
main highlight is Misa Criolla by the Argentine composer
Ariel Ramírez, and Cantemos will perform Apamuy
Shungo, a traditional yumbo from Ecuador – a style named
after the Yumbo people who came to live in the Sacred Valley
of Tulipe around 800 B.C.E. It is sung in Quichua, one of
the indigenous languages spoken in Ecuador. As well, the
ensemble offers the Venezuelan number Mare-Mare, which,
while not indigenous, tells about the nomadic Kariña
tribe that travelled through what is now Venezuela and the
Caribbean. “Digital Performance, free, donations welcome”
the announcement says. Definitely a sign of the times.
.
Reaching Out
Reaching Out Through Music (ROTM) executive director Virginia
Gallop Evoy provided some thoughts by email to me about the adaptations
the music program has made over the last few months. ROTM
is an accessible music program run out of St. James Town, in Toronto’s
downtown core. Normally, this super-dense neighbourhood full of
high-rises brings kids together to learn out of The Church of St Peter
and St Simon-the-Apostle. The pandemic shutdown didn’t mean a
shutdown of their programming. “Our private instrumental lessons
carried on with minimal interruption,” she shares. The St. James Town
Children’s Choir and ukulele group followed with online rehearsals
starting in May. “Our overriding goal was to keep our children and
families engaged, musically and socially.” Using technology and video,
the talented teachers of the program have kept the music going. And
there’s more to come with new connections and collaborations.
Early in July, ROTM was able to put together a virtual recital. “With
some coaching and guidance, our choristers and music students
learned how to record themselves, and the various pieces were
synchronized and assembled by a fabulous video editor,” shares
Gallop Evoy. The charming visual of a group of kids strumming away
on their ukuleles on video makes it hard not to smile. The added
advantage to more performances moving to a digital sphere is that
they are recorded and available for enjoyment time and time again
and can even reach audiences not usually accessible.
ROTM is also reaching out into their local community to collaborate
with visual arts programs in St. James Town. Gallop Evoy says, “The
plan is for the sounds of our choir to be combined with their children’s
related artwork to create an arresting video performance. We
hope this initial collaboration will be the beginning of many fruitful
collaborative endeavours in the community.”
For a taste of how ROTM is accomplishing this, catch the Reaching
Out Through Music virtual recital on YouTube. The St. James Town
Choir, ukulele students, vocal students and piano students perform with
appearances by special guests including tenor Asitha Tennekoon, ukulele
teacher Tom Collins, pianist Jean-Luc Therrien, jazz performer and
choir conductor Jacqueline Teh, pianist John Sheard and much more!
The collaborative effort has been really important to Upper Canada
Choristers as well. “The biggest challenge for us in preparing for this
new format is technological,” Evan Fraser said. “We are blessed by
our longtime affiliation with Grace Church on-the-Hill. They too are
committed to community service and have agreed to be our partners
moving forward to provide a place for us to connect to community
venues through Zoom and share pre-recorded performances as well
as do live, interactive sing-alongs.” The upcoming digital performance
that UCC has planned will incorporate pre-recorded video and some
livestreaming. UCC even plans to have some singers and instrumentalists
in person, masked and socially distant at the church.
Creating Community
More choirs may turn to this hybrid model in the coming season.
Shawn Grenke, artistic director of the Achill Choral Society, shares
a bit about what he has planned for Christmas: “We are going to be
Reaching Out Through Music's virtual recital, in early July - which you can still enjoy online!
doing an online concert with past archival repertoire. We will have
a number of choir members do video introductions to the pieces
from their home, and as well, if allowed, record a few pieces in small
groups, wearing masks and socially distant.”
The loss of the community element of music is a reminder that
these organizations aren’t just internally focused, every performing
arts organization exists to create community. “The singers in Achill
desperately miss the community of music making,” shares Grenke,
“and as well, the social element that is such a huge part of being in a
choir and sharing the love of choral music.”
But between now and the next set of digital/hybrid performances
they will be figuring a way back into the communal sharing,
rehearsals and creation of music. “I’m also deeply aware of the loneliness
COVID-19 has caused our Achill Choir community,” says Grenke.
“It was a major part of the singers’ weekly routine – and it still will be
in September… it will just look different.”
Achill and every other choir across the region is having to grapple
with these same concerns in order to forge ahead.
“We have to be creative and willing to try new things if we are to
survive” Evan Fraser says. “We don’t have the option of putting our
operations on hold until the situation improves,” states Gallop Evoy.
“The community needs us now more than ever… the prospects for the
future of our organization seem bright.”
So off we go to the start of the 2020/2021 season … just a bit different.
Follow Brian on Twitter @bjchang.
Send info/media/tips to choralscene@thewholenote.com.
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Tallis Choir,
Normally at this time of year we would be gearing
up for our new season and sharing the details of
our concert series with you. As we all know, things
are different this year. However, we want you to
know that we, the Tallis Choir, are looking forward
to getting back to singing and sharing our music
with all of you.
Until that time, we offer you, and also our friends at
The WholeNote Magazine, our very best wishes for
your continued safety and good health. Stay well.
Peter Mahon
Artistic Director
22 | September 2020 thewholenote.com