On Saturday, April 6, “A Choral Musaic” will return after a five-year hiatus for a fundraising concert at St. George’s United Church (505 6th St, Courtenay).
Featuring six local choirs and two more from out-of-town, with more than 200 voices and four music directors, the concert starts at 7 p.m.
Several Comox Valley choirs will be joined at this event by the Naramata Community Choir, directed by Justin Gibbery, and the Vancouver Island Chamber Choir directed by Brian Tate.
The local choirs include the Just In Time Choirs’ Jems & Vocal Minority ensembles and the Canadian Military Wives Choirs- Comox, directed by Wendy Nixon Stothert.
The concert will also feature the Comox Valley Children’s Choir—Youth ensemble, directed by Sophie Simard, and the Celebration Singers and Quarantones, directed by Denise Marquette.
“This evening will be an epic jubilee of choral music in a wide variety of styles,” said Nixon Stothert. “We are so privileged to have the out-of-town guest choirs joining us. Both Justin Glibbery and Brian Tate have been teacher-mentors of mine over the past 25-plus years, and I’m thrilled that they expressed interest in returning to the Valley with their choirs to sing.”
The finale, when all the choirs combine to sing as an ensemble of more than 200 singers, is sure to move the hearts and souls of audience members.”
Tickets are $20 in advance at Eventbrite and at the church office; they are $25 at the door. Children under 12 are free. The Eventbrite link is bit.ly/3TTUm4N
Music Heals and St. George’s United Church will benefit from some of the ticket sales. Since 2012, Music Heals is a registered charity that raises awareness of the healing powers of music. Funds raised increase access to music therapy for vulnerable Canadians including patients in children’s hospitals, and seniors’ centres; individuals in palliative care, AIDS and HIV programs; at-risk youth; and those in habilitation and bereavement support programs. To date, Music Heals has funded over $3 million in music therapy programs for Canadians in need.
St. George’s raises funds through a variety of events during the year to benefit local non-profits. In 2023, the church donated more than $40,000 to community groups, including Habitat for Humanity, LUSH, the Comox Valley Food Bank, the Coldest Night of the Year, the Comox Valley Child Development Association, the Transition Society, and many others.