Blog: Choral & Current: PROMYS

PROMYS 2009 Feedback: Guys, Blog Here Please

November 12, 2009 | 10:46 AM

We're glad you're with us for PROMYS 2009. Let us know how you're doing with the music, your thoughts on the whole experience, and what we can do to make PROMYS even more interesting than it is. Just submit a comment to this post!

PROMYS 2009

Posted by bruce | Comment (1) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link

Portrait of a Singer As a (Somewhat) Young Man

October 28, 2009 | 10:35 AM

Let me start by saying that I was at one time the youngest member of CL. I am now 24, and...well...not the youngest member. You may have noticed the fresh faces that have been joining the choir in the last few years. CL has some awesome young talent to complement the experience and wisdom of the ‘Geritones’.

As you faithful readers are aware, we have a PROMYS program that brings high school-aged guys into the choir. We have had the pleasure this year of accepting fourteen fantastic young men into our intensive fall program that involves singing some of the music in the Remembrance concerts. I am actually worried that the Metropolitan Opera might snatch a couple of them before we get to perform with them on November 11th. We have a couple returns from previous PROMYS events, and even a brother of a current CL member. I only wonder if I was nearly as talented, fun, and polite at their age. Mum, don’t answer that one.

Helping to organize this program is a great honour...most of the time. It has also put me in the position of potentially being referred to by this wonderful bunch as the well meaning, but dreaded Mister Cripps. Until now, I have avoided this, partly by having an older brother (Russell, also in the choir) who is a teacher. I figure he has double the right to be given this title. Even worse is being asked how many children I have of my own by the six year olds in the brilliant Zing! Children’s Choir; but I digress.

I would simply like to thank our city’s music educators for laying the foundation for these young men to flourish, to the young men for your dedication and musicality, and to Diane and the men of CL for your willingness to mentor and spread the ‘gospel’ of male singing.

Spencer Cripps, Baritone

ps. Who knew that the fear of ageing is called ‘gerascophobia’? Not that I have it or anything…

(Ed: We'd like to point out that the author remains one of the fresher-faced members of the ensemble, despite his stated concerns.)

Posted by Spencer Cripps, baritone | Comments (0) | File in: inside Chor Leoni, PROMYS | Permanent Link

Young 'lions' add their voices to choir's tribute

November 8, 2007 | 12:03 PM

For the average young man, choral singing doesn't even make it onto the coolness scale. Problem is, there are lots of guys out there who like to sing. Chor Leoni, Vancouver's award-winning all-male choir, is well aware of this fact -- and decided to do something about it. Chor Leoni founder Diane Loomer came up with Promys (PROgram for Mentoring Young Singers). She asked a number of colleagues teaching high school if there were any budding tenors, baritones and basses who would like a chance to rehearse and sing with "the lions."

Members of PROMY '07 with Diane Loomer, C.M. (left to right): Buddy Bailey, Jason Costa, Diane Loomer, Edmund Natividad, Sky Kao, Keith Sinclair, Robert Mackin-Lang, Harry Ahn. Photo by William Ting.

For this third year of the program, seven singers from the Lower Mainland, all between the ages of 15 and 19, have attended rehearsals and will take part in Chor Leoni's extremely popular Remembrance Day shows. Buddy Bailey is a typical participant. A Grade 12 student at Windermere secondary in Vancouver's east side, he sings with no less than four groups. But working with "the lions" is something extra special -- being able to let loose with sound has been particularly liberating. Then there are the high quality rehearsals, plus the unusual repertoire.

Loomer described the program as a pragmatic, grassroots project. It may recruit new singers for her choir; it may not. Several past Promys grads have become members of Chor Leoni; some sing with other groups. Some have gone on to advanced musical training; for others, singing remains a hobby.
It's all good, a way to enrich the community by helping young singers at a particularly vulnerable moment in their development. There is no charge to join; the organization underwrites the music and concert-related transportation costs and meals. And the results have been splendid.
Hope, Chor Leoni's 15th annual Remembrance Day concert, runs Saturday and Sunday. As is customary, there's an eclectic mix of repertoire. Loomer is particularly enthusiastic about a new work from Bob Chilcott, a co-commission with a Swedish men's choir. Loomer specifically wanted a piece to showcase the sound and the sensibility of men's choirs; Chilcott's setting of poet Edwin Brock's Five Ways to Kill a Man is a work with a decided social consciousness -- just the sort of piece that's become traditional for a Chor Leoni Remembrance Day program.
There will also be classic repertoire by Beethoven and Bruckner, and, as a particularly appropriate finale, When the Day is Over by Canadian poet and composer Susan Crowe.
Recognizing that demand for tickets always outstrips the available seats, the choir will make 150 chancel seats behind the choir available at Christ Church on a rush ticket basis.
- - -
AT A GLANCE
Hope
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral (Burrard and Georgia) Vancouver
Sunday, 3 p.m., West Vancouver United Church (2062 Esquimalt Street) West Vancouver

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: CL in the press, performances, PROMYS | Permanent Link

PROMYS Makes the Vancouver Sun

November 8, 2007 | 6:05 PM

Young 'lions' add their voices to choir's tribute

Founder's mentoring program gives teens a chance to expand horizons
David Gordon Duke, Special to The Sun - Posted thanks to the kind permission of David Duke.
Published: Thursday, November 08, 2007

For the average young man, choral singing doesn't even make it onto the coolness scale. Problem is, there are lots of guys out there who like to sing.

Chor Leoni, Vancouver's award-winning all-male choir, is well aware of this fact -- and decided to do something about it. Chor Leoni founder Diane Loomer came up with Promys (PROgram for Mentoring Young Singers). She asked a number of colleagues teaching high school if there were any budding tenors, baritones and basses who would like a chance to rehearse and sing with "the lions."

 

Members of Chor Leoni's PROgram for Mentoring Young Singers flank choir founder Diane Loomer, including Buddy Bailey (from left), Jason Costa, Edmund Natividad, Sky Kao, Keith Sinclair, Rober Mackin-Lang and Harry Ahn, who will join the Remembrance Day weekend performances.

For this third year of the program, seven singers from the Lower Mainland, all between the ages of 15 and 19, have attended rehearsals and will take part in Chor Leoni's extremely popular Remembrance Day shows.

Buddy Bailey is a typical participant. A Grade 12 student at Windermere secondary in Vancouver's east side, he sings with no less than four groups. But working with "the lions" is something extra special -- being able to let loose with sound has been particularly liberating. Then there are the high quality rehearsals, plus the unusual repertoire.

Loomer described the program as a pragmatic, grassroots project. It may recruit new singers for her choir; it may not. Several past Promys grads have become members of Chor Leoni; some sing with other groups.

Some have gone on to advanced musical training; for others, singing remains a hobby.

It's all good, a way to enrich the community by helping young singers at a particularly vulnerable moment in their development. There is no charge to join; the organization underwrites the music and concert-related transportation costs and meals. And the results have been splendid.

Hope, Chor Leoni's 15th annual Remembrance Day concert, runs Saturday and Sunday. As is customary, there's an eclectic mix of repertoire. Loomer is particularly enthusiastic about a new work from Bob Chilcott, a co-commission with a Swedish men's choir. Loomer specifically wanted a piece to showcase the sound and the sensibility of men's choirs; Chilcott's setting of poet Edwin Brock's Five Ways to Kill a Man is a work with a decided social consciousness -- just the sort of piece that's become traditional for a Chor Leoni Remembrance Day program.

There will also be classic repertoire by Beethoven and Bruckner, and, as a particularly appropriate finale, When the Day is Over by Canadian poet and composer Susan Crowe.

Recognizing that demand for tickets always outstrips the available seats, the choir will make 150 chancel seats behind the choir available at Christ Church on a rush ticket basis.

- - -

AT A GLANCE
Hope
Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Christ Church Cathedral (Burrard and Georgia) Vancouver
Sunday, 3 p.m., West Vancouver United Church (2062 Esquimalt Street) West Vancouver

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: CL in the press, performances, PROMYS | Permanent Link

A Choral Director's Thoughts on PROMYS '07

October 14, 2007 | 4:58 PM

As a new teacher full of passion for my career, I am always looking for truly genuine and exciting opportunities for my students. I am always thrilled when an opportunity like the PROMYS program comes along because it means a chance for some of my  singers to have a new and challenging choral experience.  What I love about singing in a semi-professional choir myself is the ability to sing through brand new pieces and experience them musically right from the start. 

I love that my keen singers have the opportunity to take part in a similar experience and have a chance to sing with men from all over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland who also have a passion for choral music.

Though I have sent students to a variety of these types of programs this year (some of the younger boys to BC Boys Honour choir, and a mixed group to BC Youth Choir  and BCMEA Honour Choirs each year), what I love about PROMYS is that it is FREE to young men who may not be able to afford the other opportunities out there in the community.  

PROMYS is one of the best experiences available.  The boys get to sing under the direction of a world class choral director, rehearse amongst men who have talent and passion for their art, and perform in two concerts with Chor Leoni. My girls are all jealous that there isn't a similar opportunity available to them!

These young men are thrilled to be a part of the program and I'm excited for them to bring what they have learned back into the school choral program, to inspire other students and to find the passion of choral music that many of us involved in the choral community consider more a lifestyle than anything else!

I hope to send many more boys to take part in this program in the coming years so that they may experience the exciting and rich choral community that Vancouver and the Lower Mainland has to offer.  I know that this program and others like it continue to inspire young singers and encourage them to continue singing after high school and well into their adult lives.

Taylor Collishaw
(Choral Director - Windermere Secondary School)
(member of Elektra Women's Choir and Sarabande - Bach Choirs organization with Bruce Pullan)

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link

PROMYS Members: Blog Here!

October 14, 2007 | 10:08 AM

Welcome, PROMYS members! This blog is for you. Tell us about your experience, what you liked and didn't like about PROMYS.

Posted by bruce | Comments (4) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link

Join Us For PROMYS 2007!

June 30, 2007 | 9:42 AM

Welcome!

PROMYS '07 is sure to be a great experience, and, if you're a young male singer of high school age, we'd love to have you join us as part of our HOPE performances this November.

1. Check out the schedule below to make sure you can fit it into your school year. PROMYS members are expected to attend all listed rehearsals. (The schedule is also on the application form itself.)
   
2. Download the PROMYS Invitation letter  and give it to your high school music teacher and your parents.
3. Download the application, fill it in and mail it.
   

It's as simple as that!

Fall 2007 PROMYS rehearsal & performance schedule

Wed, Sept 26    7:00 pm     Ryerson United Church        Orientation/rehearsal 7:00-8:30
Wed, Oct 10     7:30 pm      Ryerson United Church        PROMYS Rehearsal 7:30-8:30
Wed, Oct 24     7:30 pm      Ryerson United Church        PROMYS Rehearsal 7:30-8:30
Wed, Nov 7      7:30 pm      Ryerson United Church        PROMYS Rehearsal 7:30-9:00
Fri, Nov 9         7-10 pm      Christ Church Cathedral       DRESS Rehearsal
Sat, Nov 10      6 pm call     Christ Church Cathedral       7:30 concert
Sun, Nov 11     1 pm call     West Van United Church      3:00 concert

FAQs:

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link

Oak Bay Men's Choir Strikes Gold

May 25, 2007 | 9:56 AM

The lions would like to congratulate the Oak Bay Secondary School's Men's Choir for their Gold-winning performance in the recent Vancouver MusicFest. Conductor Sally Murphy writes:

 Dear lions,

 I thought you'd like to know that Senior Concert Choir and  Men's Choir were invited to MusicFest in Vancouver and both groups received Gold.  The Men's Choir was the only male ensemble in the whole choral section and they really sang well.  They performed a simple arrangement of "Vive la Compagnie", "Hush, Somebody's Calling My Name", "For the Fallen",and "Russian Hammer Song".  "For the Fallen" is a piece they sing particularly well.  They have the great sound of Chor Leoni in their head and it moves me to tears everytime they sing it. Needless to say, the work we have done with you and the Lions has been formative in the accomplishments of these young men.

 In gratitude,

Sally B. Murphy
Oak Bay Secondary
 Victoria BC

Well done, guys! Keep on singing!

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link

Definition of Heaven

October 29, 2006 | 9:44 AM

Definition of Heaven:  Sitting in the Chor Leoni PROMYS workshop and watching thirteen young men from the Oak Bay Men's Choir rehearse with one of the finest male choirs in the world. 

On October 28, 2006 Chor Leoni worked their magic on thirteen young men from Oak Bay Secondary.   Some of these young were part of the first PROMYS experience in November 2005 when they sang with Chor Leoni at the Remembrance Day Concert in Victoria.  That first performance was an epiphany -  the students suddenly understood the power and beauty of the male voice and that they could be part of that experience. The 2005 concert was pivotal in making choir a "cool" place to be for a guy.  From twelve men in the choir in 2005-06 there are now twenty participating with new ones expressing interest each week.

There are no words to express my gratitude to Diane Loomer and the wonderful singers in Chor Leoni. Through your willingness to take time out of your busy lives to share your love of singing with these young men you have changed their image of themselves forever. Your generosity at inviting them to perform with you is a tremendous gift. At a formative time in the life of a young man, you have given them a wonderful vision of who they can be in the world. 

The PROMYS program is a brilliant idea and has had a tremendous impact on the young men from Oak Bay who have participated. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Posted by bruce | Comments (0) | File in: PROMYS | Permanent Link