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Saturday concert Appleby College's Willis Hall will host a concert Saturday (Dec. 21) commemorating celebrated British composer Benjamin Britten's 100th anniversary. Canadian opera singers Vanessa Chartrand and Michael Taylor will perform Christmas carols and folksongs starting at 4 p.m. at the 540 Lakeshore Rd. W. school, along with pianist Christopher Bagan. Britten began composting British folksongs while living in the U.S. Countertenor Taylor began singing as a treble at St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto. He has since performed in operatic leading roles, such as Oberon in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (England) and Goffredo in Handel's Rinaldo (Germany). In 2012, he sang in his Lincoln Center debut with the Grammynominated Trinity Choir as a soloist in Handel's Messiah. Chartrand, a mezzo-soprano, moved to Europe to pursue a career in opera after studying classical voice and viola da gamba in Montreal. She has performed with companies in France, Spain and Germany, both in femme fatale roles Carmen, Hermia and Dorabella, as well as pants roles (appearing in men's clothing) as Cherubino, Hansel and Julius Caesar. She is also the co-founder of the baroque ensemble The Dansant. Based in Toronto, Bagan has performed with companies such as the Toronto Masque Theatre, and Pacific Baroque and Britten-Pears Baroque orchestras. Tickets for Saturday's concert are $15 for adults and $5 for students, with free admission for children under age 12, and can be purchased at the door or reserved in advance by emailing dansant@me.com. Oakville actor lands role in Joseph by Dennis Smith Special to the Beaver Artscene 21 | Friday, December 20, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" When he and fellow performers list their schools, the discussion circle takes a sharp turn with Christopher Vergara. "When I say that I went to McMaster (University) for a science degree, everyone is really impressed," he said. "They go, `This is the smartest guy in the cast.'" Vergara declines that title, but the Oakville product has been a quick study as a professional actor. He's rehearsing for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which opened yesterday (Dec. 19) in Toronto. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical will be his fourth show in about a year with Lower Ossington Theatre (The LOT). "Halfway through university, I thought that performing was what I wanted to pursue fully," said Vergara. "So after graduation, I decided to give it a shot." Mix of arts and science At McMaster, he earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Sciences. But besides hitting the books, Vergara hit the boards with McMaster's thespian company and musical theatre group. "I loved it right away," he said. "We had shows every year." Also in Hamilton, Vergara performed with Hammer Entertainment and in Theatre Aquarius' version of High School Musical. In Toronto, he was in the new musical comedy The Beaver Den, which led to roles with Lower Ossington Theatre. He was a fan of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and other musicals when growing up in Oakville. Oakville's Christopher Vergara plays the role of brother Judah in Toronto's Lower Ossignton Theatre's (The LOT) production of Joseph and the Amazing Technocolour Dreamcoat. This will be his fourth show with The LOT. | submitted photo story about Joseph's coat of many colours. "It the story of the underdog and it really resonates with people," said Vergara. "People love it at Christmas time." He said at The LOT, there has been a good focus on teaching. "I'm learning so much, and such different things from each part," said Vergara. His other roles were in The Mousetrap, a classic murder mystery; Shrek The Musical, a song, dance and comedy production; and Dora's Pirate Adventure, a show for children based on the television show Dora the Explorer. "I didn't go to school for acting," said Vergara. "It was a little daunting, but everyone was happy to teach and share in this environment." A fairy tale start He recalled enjoying performing since he was a little kid. His first show was doing fairy tales at St. Luke's Elementary School in Oakville. "There were vocal auditions in the library at lunch," said Vergara. "I went to support a friend who was auditioning. I got the part and he didn't." He remembers being in murder mysteries and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown while at St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School. His mother Belen and father Cipriano are Phillipines natives and the family enjoys the culture of open entertainment and karaoke singing. "It's in my blood," said Vergara. "I've always liked to sing, I got it from my dad. He sings at the top of his lungs. My family loves to entertain and perform." Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be on stage Dec. 20-22, 27-30 and Jan. 2-5, 2014. Evening and matinee shows will be held at the Al Green Theatre, 750 Spadina Ave. (at Bloor Street) in Toronto. For tickets, visit www.lowerossingtontheatre. com or call 416-915-6747. "I love it. It's such a fun musical," said Vergara. "I remember watching the video version starring Donny Osmond." The local actor plays Joseph's brother Judah, singing backup and ensemble tunes, plus one solo number, Benjamin Calypso. "There's a lot of fun with the audience," said Vergara. "There's a good musical mix. It's different, with country and western, French inspired and calypso music with steel drums." The popular musical is based on the Bible Finding your next used car is as easy as pie. The best way to find your next used car. The Car Buyers' Network SO LD ! 1. 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