(Photo: The West Ottawa Ladies Chorus at Bridlewood Trails retirement residence.)
(press release)
They are not a gospel choir, but the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus does not shy away from singing with gusto ‘Jesus, What A Wonderful Child’. Toes will be tapping and bodies swaying.
A Christmas Kaleidoscope is a colourful concert delivering a virtual mosaic of music celebrating winter and the holiday season layered in four-part harmony. First and second sopranos lift notes gently to the rafters while first and second altos provide warm undertones.
Now five-years-old, The West Ottawa Ladies Chorus has grown from a handful of ladies gathered in director Robert Dueck’s basement to a chorus of forty that is recognized as one of the major cultural groups in West Ottawa. This group of ladies, that often practice twice weekly, perform a repertoire that ranges across all vocal styles. They engage their audience and often invite them to join in. It is not uncommon for them to swing and sway to the rhythm and beat of jazzy numbers so expertly played by pianist, well known jazz artist Peter Brown.
One of the traditions of the chorus is to take their music to senior residences to bring joy to those that may not otherwise enjoy the sounds of the season. Smiles spread across elderly faces is all the reward the singers need. There are often seniors that formerly sang in choirs in the audience and their voices are still rich as they join in to sing their favourite pieces—music has longevity too. This year The West Ottawa Ladies Chorus decked out in holiday colours performed for the Bridlewood Trails residents then the following week sang at Stillwater Creek to a packed audience.
Don’t miss this year’s concert, A Christmas Kaleidoscope, featuring Gracenote, a vocal trio, with Lynn Lane, Allison Fagan and Diane Coulterman accompanied by Andy Duffy on keyboard, and Helen Mogford as guest instrumentalist guaranteed to wow the audience. Be sure to set aside the dates: Saturday, December 3rd at 7 pm at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 20 Young Rd., Kanata; Sunday December 4th at 2:30 pm at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1817 Richardson Side Rd., Carp.
Advance tickets ($15) are available from chorus members or at: Gaia Java – 1300 Main St, Stittsville; Kanata Barbershop – 2 Beaverbrook Rd; Kanata Cleaners: – 1029 Teron Rd
At-the-door tickets are $20
For more information go to www.westottawaladieschorus.ca