Blog: Choral & Current: visiting choirs

Thank You, Hirvo & Revalia!

November 22, 2009 | 9:58 AM

The Bridge of Song Chor Leoni shared with Revalia this past Saturday was an amazing experience. The choirs met that afternoon to rehearse together, sing through some music together, and to sing for each other. It was an amazing experience to hear Revalia sing. Their inspiring conductor, Hirvo Surva, was also a joy to work with as he rehearsed us on the combined repertoire the two choirs would present that evening.

We opened the concert with both choirs singing Ave Maris Stella, an old Chor Leoni favourite arranged by Diane Loomer. For this performance of it we were conducted by baritone, Les Nerling. The following video on YouTube shows us rehearsing the piece, as well as Revalia singing a piece for the appreciative lions.

p.s. By the end of the evening's concert many of us were convinced that, though they are from Estonia, they are also from "Astoundia!"

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKGWQsMy1xM

Revalia Male Chamber Choir

Bruce Hoffman, second tenor

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Olympic Torch Road Trip

November 16, 2009 | 10:25 AM

I went on a great choral road-trip with a few Chor Leoni singers on Sunday November 1! We drove to Vancouver Island to sing with Timbre! Choir for the Olympic torch ceremonies in Port Alberni and Tofino. Because of commitments on the 31st and the 2nd, Nic Bermudez, Ryan Cho, Sky Kao, and I had to get on and off the island that day. What an adventure that turned out to be!

The warm-up for the first performance was at 9 a..m, so we caught the 6:30 ferry. I developed a great appreciation for Daylight Savings Time, which gave us an extra hour to sleep after Halloween! After only a few false turns on our way through Port Alberni, we found the stadium, and joined the choir. Timbre! sang two songs very familiar to us: O Canada arranged by Diane Loomer, and We Rise Again arranged by Stephen Smith. We also learned a new piece composed for the torch ceremonies entitled Cette Flame/ There's A Light. The ceremony is such a celebration of community: we saw athletes, school groups, community leaders, and dancers all take their turn! I hope you get a chance to take part in your home town.

After lunch and a quick nap for this tired driver, it was time to hit the road again, as we headed to Tofino. I'd forgotten how far it really was across the island! We had a bit of free time before the next performance. Nic and I had sung with Timbre! before, so it was nice to visit with them again. They're such warm people, and Patricia Miller gets such a beautiful sound out of them. The patches of light rain didn't dampen the enthusiastic crowd's spirits at all.

I was hoping to get my carpool home in good time, so we thanked our new friends for a great day and drove quickly (and safely!) back to Nanaimo, hoping to catch a 9:30 ferry. Unfortunately, the 9:30 was a figment of my imagination, so all that rushing was for nothing. (Well, that did leave time for a quick drink and nachos at the Modern Cafe, in our best imitation of George's) We caught the 10:45 Tsawassen ferry, and all of us slept well that night when we arrived home 20 hours after we left!

Russell Cripps, baritone

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