Skip to content

Choral premiere in Surrey

Trinity Western University choirs present pre-Easter concert.
21441surreyKathleenAllan
Kathleen Allan

On the heels of a successful tour to Ottawa and New York City, the choirs of Trinity Western University (TWU) present the concert Sacred Space in Surrey this week.

The university choir's will perform with the student and community orchestra of TWU’s School of the Arts, Media + Culture (SAMC). The program was conceived as a meditative and meaningful preparation for Easter.

“The music is diverse and inclusive, as sacred space conjures up different images for different people,” says conductor Joel Tranquilla, director of choral activities at SAMC. “Some pieces evoke the grandeur of a cathedral; others capture the intimacy of prayer and reflection. The evening culminates in a major work with the orchestra, an oratorio narrating the Passion of Christ.”

Other highlights include Healey Willan’s meditative “Behold the Tabernacle of God,” a peaceful German setting of Psalm 84 by Brahms, and a bright and celebratory setting of Psalm 150 by William Byrd, the foremost composer of the English Renaissance.

A conductor noted for his creative programming, arts advocacy, and collaboration with Canadian composers, Tranquilla also chose to premiere new by Lower Mainland composers. He commissioned Kathleen Allan, a musician based in Metro Vancouver, to write a piece called “The Singing Shepherd” for the TWU choirs.

“Kathleen is in demand as a conductor and performer, and her compositions have been performed and recorded around the world,” says Tranquilla. “It’s been an honour to collaborate with her.

Sacred Space takes place March 18 at Fleetwood Christian Reformed Church in Surrey and March 19 at Bakerview Church in Abbotsford. Both concerts start at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit twu.ca/samc or phone 604-513-2173.