The Sopranos & Co., our community youth choir, will be singing their last songs to Grand Forks audiences at the Grand Forks Choral Society’s All You Need is Love spring concerts scheduled April 28 and 29 at Grand Forks Secondary School auditorium.
As its finale also marks its 10th anniversary, expect to hear The Sopranos & Co. recapitulate some of its favourite concert numbers from those years – the South African Siyahamba, the Appalachian Down to the River to Pray, and a dynamic medley of songs from the musical Les Miserables.
Special guests will be choir alumni, who have been invited to participate in the performance.
Founding and current director, Joan Thompson, who has had a 35-year career directing youth choirs, looks back with pride at the work and accomplishments of the 100 young singers that have contributed to the team efforts of The Sopranos & Co. over the past decade.
Founded in 2002 to give musically-minded youth an opportunity to explore a broad range of music, gain knowledge and confidence as a singer and enjoy the endorphin-releasing activity of making music with ones’ peers, the group quickly won enthusiastic fans in the Boundary and Kootenay region.
Their sold out performances (Under the Boardwalk, Sister My Sister, Celtic Christmas with The Irish Dancers) attested to the popularity of the choir and the quality of its presentations, as did the critical acclaim they won at the Provincial Music Festival in 2005.
The Sopranos & Co. have contributed to a wide number of community functions and events; providing the musical entertainment for Christmas dinner/dances at Christina Lake, the Boundary Artisan Association’s annual Christmas Faire, the Boundary Music Educator’s Canada music week, the Grand Forks Art Council Spring Gala and Canada Day celebrations.
As well, it shared the stage with the choral society in 15 of its concerts, performed frequently for Perley Elementary School audiences and were honoured to share a concert with the University of Victoria Chamber Choir during its visit in 2006 and perform at the Olympic Torch Relay reception in the winter or 2010.
“Perhaps the most rewarding part of working with The Sopranos & Co. is to know how much it has heightened students’ love and interest in singing, particularly in a choral context,” said Thompson.
Many students have carried that interest on into post-secondary studies, and have made outstanding contributions to university music vocal and choral programs.
Others have just continued to stoke their passion for harmonizing, as was demonstrated by four Soprano & Co. alumni in their concert as Con Fuore in the summer of 2010.
“And what a group I have this year,” raved Thompson. “They know the deal with The Sopranos is that it is entirely a volunteer commitment – both by director and singers – and they can be counted upon to be there each week for rehearsal. They are a wildly dedicated, enthusiastic, and talented group and I know they will make the fireworks fly in the finale.”
Tickets will be available soon at Thistle Pot and Gallery 2; it is recommended you reserve them early.
– Submitted