Without A Song Concert Sunday Evening May 24th

The Weather was perfect.  There was a good turnout of our faithful patrons and many new ones.

This Train, Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Brighten My Soul with Sunshine, Keep in the Middle of the Road.

Guest Artist: Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Piano

Beat Mortui, Make Me An Instrument of Thy Peace, Bless the Lord O my Soul, Steal Away.

Guest Artists: Emily Davis -  Tenor Trombone, Gabrielle Paul-McKenzie - Horn, Kathy Davis - Accompanist

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, Frobisher Bay, The Two Roses, Summertime.

Guest Artist: Kathy Davis - piano.

The Policeman's Song, Java Jive, Bye Bye Blackbird, Without a Song.

The concert from our perspective went very well.  I have chatted with several people at the CO-OP Store today that said they really enjoyed it.

The Male Chorus performs a variety of musical styles from classical to contemporary.  The members of the Chorus boast a wide variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds and all share the love of music.  Chorus director Bob Gibson provides a wide variety of musical styles and levels of vocal challenges that accentuates the unique quality of blended male voice harmony.

Although Charles Dent has been struggling with health issues recently, we still included his name on the program and we were pleased to see that he and Irene were able to sit at the entrance table and receive the free will donations.  We wish him a speedy recovery.

Prince Albert Men's Chorus Spring Concert

Without a Song

W ithout a song, the day would never end.

Without a song the road would never bend.

When things go wrong, a man ain't got a friend - without a song.

Prince Albert Men's Chorus

Spring Concert

24th May 2009 7:30 PM

Calvary United Church

114 25th Street East, Prince Albert

Free Will Offering

In Concert! Anna Bekolay, Riane LaPaire, Diane Bestvater

Tonight I attended this Concert featuring Anna Bekolay, soprano, violin

                                                                         Riane LaPaire, soprano, violin

                                                                         Diane Bestvater, piano

The Benefit concert for the Honey Bee Music and Dance Camp was held at Mahon Auditorium, John M. Cuelenaere library, Prince Albert, Sk.

I have known Anna for many years and her mother for many more than that.  I went to hear her play her violin, but was also treated to her superb soprano singing as well.  Normally, I am not an opera fan, but listening to her mature, clear, voice with an incredible range of dynamics was refreshing.  I also enjoyed listening and watching her play her violin.    

I purchased her CD (Bare Bones) of mostly her own compositions and one song composed by her mother on the mandolin.  I will be listening to the CD in my Jimmy for quite some time.  I have fond memories of playing my baritone ukelele and singing in a Praise Group many years ago with her mother Diane floating around with her flute in what ever key we were playing in.  

It was not a large crowd, but definitely an appreciative crowd for all 3 musicians.  I am sure that whatever moneys were raised will be put to good use at the Music/Dance Camp this summer.

Thank you, Anna for coming and performing for us in Prince Albert.  I will continue to follow your music career with special interest.

The Concert that didn't happen

I left at 7:00 pm to attend a concert of an East Indian Canadian Musician who plays the Sitar.  When I arrived across from Wesley United Church, I was met by Ken Torbert, who informed me the concert was cancelled because the star of the evening could not make it through a winter storm... not sure where, but I believe it was in Manitoba. I had hoped to take a picture of him and his sitar with my cell phone and post it on the blog... Maybe another time soon.

FUNDS FOR THE FURNACE

A Concert of Sacred and Secular Songs featuring Men of the Way and Guests.

Director: Ken Lyons

Accompanist: Gillian Lyons

St. Alban' Cathedral

Sunday, March 29, 7:99 pm

All proceeds for the St. Alban's Furnace Fund.

MEN OF THE WAY

Morris Anderson, Roger Cochrane, Harold Collins, John Hareuther, Andrew Lyons, Ken Lyons, Michael Lyons, Fred Payton, Art Pederson, Doug Porcina, Ed Stephens

ARIOSO

Ruth McIvor, Eunice Mooney, Linda Jensen

ARIOSO ACCOMPANIST

Michael Langlois

ST. ALBAN'S CHOIR

DIRECTOR

Karen Langlois

ACCOMPANIST

Margaret Zulkoskey

TWYLA GANGE (my daughter) FLUTIST

GILLIAN LYONS  (Ken's daughter) PIANIST

The weather was great today.  So was the turnout.  Chris Lyons counted 222 people.  It was a great Concert.  Even the DVD machine co-operated for Twyla's solos. (except for a remote control number button - quickly remedied).   With that many people seated in the Cathedral, the inside temperature definitely rose and some doors & windows had to be opened up during the intermission.  The atmosphere was great.  The reception that followed hosted by the St. Alban's Parish Life committee was a happy noisy crowd of enthusiastic supporters.  If was fun to mingle and talk to so many people.  Diane offered to drive Mary Essel home and look after the cat if I stayed and helped in the kitchen.  Did I have a choice? :)  I am hoping to track down some digital pictures of the evening which I will post with this report later.  A report needs to be submitted to the Diocesan Web page and the Saskatchewan Anglican Newsletter.

Music Festival

I helped with the numbers board and adjudicator stand for the morning session of the Music Festival Instrumental Section.  Twyla gave me the CD for the background music for the Men of the Way Concert, so that I could try it out at the church later.  I accidently left it locked in Messiah Church  with no afternoon session scheduled.  I followed Kevin Hrycay to the Bed and Breakfast, then picked him up to go out for lunch.  We opted for a no rush relaxed meal at Rickys Restaurant. We didn't get out of there until 2:00 pm.  I went home, tested Peaches, then phoned Messiah Church.  Their secretary had gone in for the afternoon and had noticed the CD.  She said she would take it to the Church Office and I went right down to pick it up.  I went to St. Alban's and figured out how to find and play the two cuts on the CD that Twyla will be using.  It wasn't too difficult once I found the remote.  I will have the first song cued up.  Then load the second song with the line to the amplifier disconnected until it is cued.   Twyla will come down to St. Alban's Thursday after school to test out audio levels.

Sunday in Shellbrook

Sunday, October 28th, I left Prince Albert at 4:30pm to drive to Shellbrook. I arrived around 5:00 pm. With just a short wait, I was seated at a table at Knox United Church for a roast beef supper. It was a good supper and very friendly atmosphere. After supper, I drove over to the Shellbrook Pentecostal Assembly in preparation for our Men's Chorus Concert at 7:30 pm. I arrived there just before 6:00 pm and groups were already rehearsing. The local men's quartet comprising of 2 members of the Parkland 4 and Shellbrook members of the Men's Chorus were the first up. Then a trio of Lyndon, Murray, and Jack (without Jack because he was still helping at the United Church Supper) rehearsed their bluegrass gospel numbers, then the Men's Chorus Quartet rehearsed and then the Men's Chorus. There were people arriving for the concert over an hour before the start time.

The Concert began at 7:30 pm to a full house. Lyndon was the MC and did a great job. It was a great Concert and well received by the Shellbrook crowd. The pastor before closing the concert in prayer (grace for the coffee and cookies) announced that there was approximately 225 people in attendance and the free will offering had raised close to $2,000 towards the Shellbrook Hospital Building Fund.

The Shellbrook Pentecostal Church is a very attractive, comfortable church to sing in. The pews are padded and comfortable. I found the accoustics lively for singing. The fellowship hall at the back of the sanctuary is wide open to the sanctuary, so is perfect for accommodating overflow crowds.

Many stayed for the fellowship time after the concert. The selection of cookies was great. I sat with a couple from Canwood, that had a family connection with the Andrews family, and with another couple who was related to the other Art Peterson VE5IP.

I started for home at 10:00 pm and realized just east of Shellbrook, that I had forgotten my music binder. I drove back and found it and headed back home, making it home by 10:45 pm., still glowing inside from a wonderful evening of music and fellowship.