25 Friday , D ecem ber 10, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m Artscene By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF For 50 years an Oakville group, which formed as a grassroots proj- ect, has brought together a collec- tion of performers for the pure enjoyment of singing and to enter- tain local music lovers. The Oakville Choral Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year and its 70 or so members will entertain audiences with a pair of concerts. For the choristers, its the music that brings them together but the lasting bonds have been forged through friendships. Over the years many friend- ships have been made with people who have come and even with peo- ple who leave, you still keep in touch with them, said long-time member Penny Johnstone. Some people go jogging and some people go to the gym and we go and sing. Its a great exercise for your breathing. This is Johnstones 36th year singing with the choir. Shes also its treasurer and over the years has held various office roles including president. The choir is non-auditioned and members do not need to be able to read sheet music. What we really stress is the love of music and the commitment to be there every week because thats very important. More than being able to read wonderfully or being a trained singer, we really want you to have a good time, she said. For Johnstone its the good time she has that keeps her return- ing each season. The one thing about it is you can be in a really bad mood or youve had a bad day and youre feeling kind of down and you go to choir practice and you come home whistling. It really is a stress reliev- er and it takes your mind off any- thing that may be bothering you. Its always uplifting. To celebrate the milestone the choir will do something a little dif- ferent at one of its concerts this year. The society received a nearly $25,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for its cele- bration, which will be used for its second of two seasonal concerts, which will take place in the spring. The 50th Anniversary Opera Gala Concert will take place in May at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. The Trillium money will be used to pay for the venue, an orchestra, vocal soloists and other production costs. Normally the choir performs at area churches and not at the Centre. Were very grateful we can cel- ebrate in such an extravagant way, said the choirs music director David Bowser. For us its a treat to have a full orchestra and well have some very talented, young, up- and-coming soloists. Though the official anniversary celebration is still some time away, the choirs sooner concert dates are tonight and tomorrow (Dec. 10, 11). Though the pair of Christmas concerts is not an offi- cial anniversary celebration, Bowser said the choir has kept its 50-year heritage in mind. We have tried to put together a program that really celebrates our community and is inclusive and theres portions of the concert where the audience is invited to sing with us, he said. The concerts will feature music by J. S. Bach, including his Magnificat, but will also have Christmas music and carols that people will be able to sing along with the choir, backed by an orchestra as well. Were celebrating the music of Bach. Hes one of the most univer- sal composers so we just thought that might be something to draw people to join in on the concert, Bowser said. Bowser has been conducting for about 20 years but is in his second season with the Oakville Choral Society. He said because of the choirs history, he doesnt have to worry about finding a musical direction for the choir because it already has one. I think theres something to be said about the momentum that a 50 year history gives an organiza- tion, he said. Instead he can focus on something else. I can focus on quality and that is my greatest responsibility: mak- ing the choir learn and improve and grow through repertoire that is pedagogically instructive and sound and healthy, but also that can expand their experience and their motivation to sing and sing as an ensemble, he said. It was that learning experience that led him to choose Bach music for the upcoming concert. Its fun and interesting for an audience but its a great education to sing Bach because it does take a lot of unexpected twists and turns in the voice lines and you have to use your ear and really tune in with other people and get into a groove rhythmically. Its a matter of getting the choir to learn and Choir celebrates 50th anniversary with music FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: The Oakville Choral Society is pictured rehearsing last month for its upcoming con- certs this weekend. This is the choirs 50th anniversary season. GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Choir page 26