The coming fall/winter season will be a very special one for the North Island Choral Society, who are presenting two different concert series.
The first concert series is on Friday and Saturday Nov. 3 and 4 and is built around the theme of ‘remembrance of war’ and featuring Gabriel Fauré’s elegant and timely Requiem. It will also include short readings from poets of the First World War, such as Dr. John McCrae’s In Flanders Fields and a selection of songs suited to this important time of year.
In the work by Fauré, the choir will be joined by the Cantiamo Chamber Ensemble (under the direction of Jennifer Riley and Denise Marquette). It will make the production all the more memorable. Enriched by the youthful voices of the Cantiamo Chamber Ensemble, the two November concerts promise a choral presence of almost 100 voices.
These are truly special and timely Comox Valley performances dedicated to reminding us of sacrifice and suffering during wartime.
The soloists will be Carol Anne Parkinson (soprano) and Christopher Bellamy (bass) with accompaniment by the NICS Orchestra.
For our regular December concert series on Dec. 1 and 2, the North Island Choral Society will present a sing-along version of Handel’s ever-popular Messiah. Soloists will be Megan Skidmore (soprano), Lisa Stephens-Deith (contralto), David Brown (tenor) and Christopher Bellamy (bass).
The 70-strong North Island Choral Society is a community choir specialising in classical and traditional choral repertoire. Joining the choir does not require an audition, just a love of music and a desire to sing. Reading music, while desirable, is not essential.
Under the baton of long-time artistic director Paul Colthorpe, the choir, with accompanist Elvera Penner and the NICS Orchestra, has been performing before Comox Valley audiences for more than 34 years.
The North Island Choral Society rehearsals for their fall/winter concerts start Sept. 5 in Comox United Church, 250 Beach Dr., Comox at 6:30 p.m. This earlier start time allows for business and registration. The rehearsal will end by no later than 9 p.m.
Regular rehearsals, starting Sept. 12 and until the time of dress rehearsals, which are just before each pair of concerts, are at Mark Isfeld Secondary School, 1551 Lerwick Road, Courtenay. Rehearsals start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.
Membership is $50 (Students - $30) for the semester. The first rehearsal is free.
For more information, visit northislandchoral.ca.