‘seek new by Betty Barton The Northwest Singers are tuning: up for another - full. season of - music. - Choir director Marilyn, Brodie explains that the goals of the Singers are to expose the com- munity to the wonders of choral music with pieces they already . recognize, to ‘stretch’ the experi- ences of both the audience and the . choir with new and challenging . pieces, and to get better and better as a choir. The Northwest Singers were founded in 1982. Two of their founding members, Liz and Gisela Williamson, are still active mem- bers of the Northwest Singers. At the time,they were called "Mon- day’s Hope" because they practised in the Neville Hope family living room on Monday nights. Caledonia music teacher Geoff Parr was their first director. Andy Brodie took over as director for 1983-84. Father Tim Coonon directed for a year. And the Singers’ current director Marilyn Brodie went from accompanist to director in 1986. Marilyn has been singing in choirs since age eight, when she joined the church children’s choir. She has directed the church choir ~ at Knox United Church since 1972. In May of this year, Marilyn final- ly completed her Bachelors of Music at UBC, after almost 25. years away from it. To achieve some of her final year’s music credits, Marilyn had to video tape Northwest Singers rehearsals for a one-year period. She sent them in for assessment and comments and also examined them herself, as part of the learning process. She obtained her arts credits through courses at Northwest Community College. The Singers still practise once a “Northwest Singers — voices week on Monday evenings from 7:30—9:30. Marilyn feels they’re ‘fresher at the beginning of the week. There is some homework required, as well. Marilyn and an informal music committee made up _ of a number of Northwest Singers gather regularly to share ideas on music that can be adapted to a small choir and have audience appeal. One final consideration is whether they like the piece well enough to practise it for six months! Marilyn says, "The choir feels a tremendous sense of owner- ship. Everyone helps with the organizing. I just happen to be the person doing the arm-waving." The Northwest Singers have always participated in the Pacific Northwest Music Festival. Marilyn explains that it’s good for disci- pline of the choir, stretches their abilities, and is a good way to get a chance to perform for the local public. The Singers have been recommended to the provincial levels many times. In 1989, they entered the Provincials for the first time and sent a tape back to the Nationals. "The adjudication was Tuthless. We were deflated for about a week. Then (Vancouver Bach choir director) John Wash- burn gave us a workshop. to start improvements based on the cri- tique from the national adjudicator. We spent most of last year work- ing on that." The Northwest Singers came second in the provin- cials in the spring of 1990. In 1985 the Singers travelled to Prince George for Chorfest. Last year the Singers did a concert in Hazelion and Smithers with the Terrace Community Band. They travelled to Kemano on a chartered » fishboat to perform for the com- munity there. The whole town came out. Marilyn calls it a "real The Northwest Singers are tuning up for a fresh concert season, preparing new repertoire and looking for new members. They will be holding auditions tonight and Sunday. ‘ participatory" concert. This spring, they sang in the Rotary Choir’s concert. The 13-member Northwest Singers would like to enlarge their group. They have a number of female vocalists who would like to join. But, first they need to attract more male singers so that they can maintain a balanced sound. Choral music is defined as group singing. It is the job of the director to meld the voices into a blended, unified sound; the members have to sub- due their individual voices to bring out the collective voice of the group. Marilyn Brodie will be conduct- ing auditions at their home tonight, Sept. 5, at 7:30, and on Sunday, Sept. 9 at 2 p.m. Interested people should be able to read music, be The Terrace inn on piano Brazil. Northwest Arts and Entertainment Calendar R.E.M. Lee Theatre “Sept. 17, 8 p.m. — RCMP Concert Band (all proceeds to the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation CAT scanner fund) *Gigi’s — Blondie "B" and The Wage Slaves Day-time dancer — Blondie Butler - Augie’s — Karin Ljungh and Glen Fossum Northern Motor inn *George’s Pub — Harvest Moon, until Sept. 22nd Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 13 “Sept. 8th — September Special Steak night with "Rocky Tops" & Glen Fossum Kitimat Centennial Museum *Until Sept. 9 — the museum features the most recent works by local artists. Landscapes, portraits, wildlife, native design, abstract and social commentary in water colours, oils, ink, clay and photography. K’san Exhibition Centre, Old Hazelton *For the month of September —- etchings and engravings: by Lida Watson of Ro cartes Rta oe oe dedicated to the group and be committed to attending every prac- tise “unless you’re on your death bed", jokes Marilyn. Call her at 635-5312 for further information or to arrange an appointment. The purpose of the audition is to see how well the prospective mem- ber reads music by sight reading a new piece. To determine if the singer has a voice that can blend in with the rest of the group, Marilyn will have the applicants sing some scales-(to hear their range) and she will sing something with them in paris. Then, she will have them sing the piece they most love to sing, to determine their potential for solo material. They can do their own accompaniment on guitar or piano, if they so wish. - Marilyn commends the commun- ity and the Terrace and District Aris Council for their moral and financial support of the Northwest Singers. To cover additional expenses of new choir garb and sheet music the Northwest Singers will hold a garage sale on Sept. 8 at 5242 Mountain Vista Blvd. Their first big concert this fall will be an always-popular dessert concert on November 24, spon- sored by the local Lion’s Club. The concert will include a variety of choral and solo pieces. The Northwest Singers’ spring concert will be held February 21. It is hoped that they can take their spring concert "on the road", Keep a tuneful ear open for more infor- mation on these stimulating cul- tural events, hatever you wear e clean with care laundered. 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