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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, July 20, 2012 · 28 Oakville choirs win top honours at World Games By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF With the World Choir Games happening in North America for the first time in its seven years, the Oakville Children's Choir (OCC) was quick to send its young musicians to the event to compete. It was good thinking as the group returned home with some good results. The OCC's Senior Choir and Chamber Choir earned gold in their categories after achieving high scores in their competitions. The group's Indigo Voices choir also performed in a non-competitive concert at the games, which are considered the Olympics of choral music. "It's very exciting for myself, the whole artistic staff and the children," said artistic director Sarah Morrison. "We're honoured to be doing this well at the international level. It confirms the excellent music education programs here in Canada." The OCC went down to the games with 44 of its choristers in the Senior Choir, which won gold in the Open Competition: Category 3, Youth Choirs of Equal Voices. Eighteen of those choristers also competed in the Open Competition: Category 13, Musica Sacra (sacred music) as part of the Chamber Choir, which also earned gold standing. The choir games ran July 4-14. The OCC competed July 5 and was back home by July 8, after spending a week in Cincinnati. As enjoyable as performing and competing was, Morrison said the young musicians had lots of fun elsewhere as well. "The coolest part for them was when they were meeting other choirs from around the world," she said. The students interacted with members of other choirs, talked about music and learned from each other and even sang together outside of competition. "I've never seen anything like it in my life. It was very amazing how they interacted and just sang together in the streets," Morrison said. Spotting other choirs wasn't difficult. Some 360 choirs from around the world were in Cincinnati for the event, with each group wearing its own colours. Morrison said the students got a first hand glimpse of just how uniting music can be. "Singing has a strangely great power to sort of heal and bring people together," she said. Morrison added the competition provided the choristers with a learning experience. "The kids learned so much this whole week from watching other choirs from around the world," she said. "We see a choir from Namibia, not having travelled there, and we can see how they approach music, how they sing, what techniques they're using, what movement they do with the music. It's totally different than what we're used to." Morrison said her choristers witnessed the various music traditions from around the world, seeing differences and similarities. "Other young people around the world are doing what they're doing, they're singing in a choir, maybe singing traditional or folk music of their country. There are differences and a lot of similarities too and we can all learn from them," Morrison said. · · · · · Artscene SUBMITTED PHOTOS Senior Choir (at left) performs Mulligatawny Macbeth for shoppers at the Kenwood Towne Centre in Cincinnati, Ohio where the group took part in the World Choir Games, earlier this month. The Tempus Choral Society (above) visit the Great American Ball Park, in Cincinnati. Tempus won a bronze medal at the World Games. medal at the 2012 World Choir Games. The chorus group was awarded the honour in the Champions Jazz category at the games, which were in Cincinnati, Ohio from July 4-14. "It's a giant event -- truly the Olympics of choir music," said Brian Turnbull, Tempus director. "This year about 350 amateur choirs from 48 countries competed. I'm extremely proud our choristers did so well." To win a medal, choirs must achieve a certain number of points during a juried competition. According to a press release, Tempus competed against choirs that audition each of its members and practise 12 hours a week year-round. "We're somewhat more relaxed," Turnbull said. "The choir formally practices two hours a week and we usually take the summer off. We do have section parts with audio on our website so members can do extra practice at home." While Tempus competed in the jazz category at the World Choir Games, it typically performs an eclectic program that also includes pop, classical, Broadway, ballads and gospel, according to the release. The Tempus Choral Society's next major performance will be its annual Christmas concert in Oakville. For more information, visit www. tempuschoralsociety.com. Singing their hearts out: The Oakville Children's Choir's The Tempus Choral Society has won a bronze Oakville NissanFamily Series Fairies theme at Bronte art exhibit Fairies will gather once again at Sovereign House in Bronte on Saturday for the annual Midsummer Magic arts exhibit. The event includes the exhibition of fairy paintings, books, prints and cards all from the Illustrated Fairy Gazette, created by Oakville artist Frances Tyrrell and author Avril Tyrrell. Running from 1-4 p.m., the exhibit begins Saturday (July 21) and will continue on the follow- ing dates: Sunday, July 22; Wednesday, July 25; Saturday, July 28; Sunday, July 29; and Wednesday, Aug. 1. Children and `fairies' are welcome -- wings may be worn. The Sovereign House is located at 7 West River St. For more information, call 905-844-8846, e-mail ftyrrell.artist@yahoo.com or avriljoyce@ cogeco.ca, or visit www.francestyrrell.com. PINKALICIOUS (ages 2 to 10) October 21 CANADIAN OPERA CO: HANSEL & GRETEL (ages 6 to 12) November 25 OUTERBRIDGE: THE TIME CAPSULE (ages 8+) December 22 PETER & THE WOLF (ages 6 to 10) January 27 TALES OF THE GARDEN (ages 5 to 10) March 12 & 13 BOO! (ages 4 to 12) April 7 Local comedian producing comedy show Local comedian Pat McDonald will be one of several performers at Saturday's Debra DiGiovanni and The Superstars of Comedy Show. As an Oakvillian, McDonald continues to build a following throughout Canada with his unique and well-crafted jokes. He has appeared at Yuk Yuk's clubs all over Ontario, is a regular at Absolute Comedy in Toronto, and has made several appearances on comedy TV shows. The comedy show takes place at Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St. W.) in Toronto and starts at 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the comedy show are $15 at the door, or can be purchased in advance for $12 by phone at 416-551-6540 or online at www.ticketweb. ca/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelection Data&eventId=4695375. THE OAKVILLE CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS To order tickets call: 905-815-2021 or go to All performances are at www.oakvillecentre.ca