The Kamala Youth Choir, under the direction of Dianne Gryba and Joanne Kasper, will be flying to Ottawa at the end of June to participate as Saskatchewan's representative in the Unisong Canadian Choir Festival.
Twenty five singers from the Battlefords area, ranging in age from 10 to 18, will be performing at venues in Ottawa over the five-day festival.
Two of the venues they will be singing at are the rotunda of the Parliament Buildings, and in a massed choir concert at the National Arts Centre on July 1. The July 1 Arts Centre concert will be under the direction of world renowned violinist and conductor, Pinchas Zukerman.
Zukerman, who has over 100 recordings to his credit, has been the music director of the NAC orchestra since 1998, and is credited with raising the playing calibre and reputation of one of Canada's leading orchestras.
Kamala will also have the opportunity of singing under the baton of the well respected Canadian choral conductor, Scott Lighthead, who is from Edmonton. One of the works being sung in Ottawa by the massed choir, is a collection of African music, arranged by Lighthead.
In preparing the choral pieces the choir will be singing in Ottawa, Kamala Youth Choir, along with both the preparatory choir and thejunior choir, will perform May 29 at 7 p.m. at Battlefords United Church.
The May 29 concert will feature not only the works the choir will be singing in Ottawa, but also other music they have been rehearsing all winter. The Ottawa music focuses on Canadian songwriters, including a piece by Stan Rogers. The Sunday concert will also feature a work by Bach, so a wide range of music will be featured.
Kamala has forged a fine reputation over the years, appearing regularly at the Remembrance Day ceremony in North Battleford, and in 2010 members sang for the Olympic Torch run. In Ottawa, the choir is looking forward to singing with the massed choir composed of choirs from all of the other provinces. One of the special guests for the massed choir's performance will be Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton.
Tickets for the May 29 concert are available from Kamala choir members, and at the door.
- Submitted by Donald MacKinnon
