School-aged singers, or youth who wish to be singers, have a place in a special choir. It has a track record for being one of the city's most active and acclaimed choral groups, and it is about to cross an important benchmark. The District 57 Tapestry Singers turns 10 years old this year.
The ensemble is conducted by Carolyn Duerksen, and the group allows anyone in Grades 4 through 12 as long as they are enrolled in a local public school or home-school program.
"The mission of Tapestry Singers is to create a joyful and beautiful sound, to strive for choral excellence, and to foster a life long love of music and music making," said Duerksen. "Singing a wide range of musical styles is a focus of our program along with the development of musical skills and understanding. As a community of singers, Tapestry strives toward a high level of artistic excellence in choral performance along with personal and social growth."
To help matters, the ages are separated into two levels. The junior choir is for Grades 4-7 and the senior choir is for Grades 7-12.
Now is the time to join, said Duerksen. There are two rehearsals ahead this month (one already held) for newcomers wishing to sit in and see the way it all works. Come out Thursday night or on Sept. 29 to watch and get a feel for it. Juniors are invited 3:30-5 p.m. and seniors are invited from
6-8 p.m. at the Quinson elementary school gym (251 Ogilvie Street South). For more information, contact the director at: [email protected].
"Both choirs are active within the Prince George community and enjoy singing at many local events, festivals, and concerts," said Duerksen. Some of the highlights include singing O Canada at UNBC Timberwolves basketball games, caroling at Simon Fraser Lodge, entering competitions like Singfest and the Prince George Music Fesitval, and many other public events. They have also travelled to represent the city like at the opening ceremonies mass choir for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and winning the Best Overall Choir award at the Worldstrides Heritage Music Festival in Seattle in 2014.
They have also been welcomed by other local ensembles to partner in joint events like the PGSO Mothers' Day Tea, the closing ceremonies version of O Canada at the 2015 Canada Winter Games, the Cantata Singers and Vancouver Chamber Choir performance of Carmina Burana with the PGSO in 2015, plus collaborations with choral groups Nove Voce and White Spruce City Chorus.
"Our most memorable performances are unplanned: singing spontaneously for the downtown crowd at a Vancouver wharf; our flashmob of Java Jazzband at a Vancouver Starbucks; a personal home performance for (a special supporter named) Joan in Edmonton - on our trips," said Duerksen.
She also pointed out to prospective youth that the group's longstanding piano accompanist is Maureen Neilson, a highly regarded musician within the region, and an equally notable choreographer in dancer Kristen Helfrich.
The 10th anniversary year will be dotted with special events - one per month - and they include a gala year-end concert, a special alumni concert where past vocalists come back to sing once again under the Tapestry banner, and workshops with B.C. (by way of Prince George) choral directing stars Sandra Meister and Kevin Zakresky.
