SURREY — So we had more rain in the first weekend of May than what would normally fall in a month. And rainfall isn't the only thing flooding our city in May. There is an outpouring of music and concerts that is matching the downpour of moisture. It's raining songs.
Find a concert or two and get in on this wave. Stephen Horning would like you to come and join the Surrey Children's Choir family in a Mother's Day concert of love songs spanning five centuries. These will include love songs from 17th to 19th centuries, traditional and modern choral works and folksongs, as well as choreographed Broadway and popular songs. There will be everything from Purcell and Handel to Bernstein and Rodgers & Hammerstein - something for everyone.
Featured are Surrey Children's Choir, Junior Training Choir, Surrey Youth Chorus and Surrey Chamber Choir. Tickets are $23 for adults and $18 for students and seniors; there's also a group rate for 10 or more seniors. The concert is this Sunday, May 11, at Surrey Arts Centre, starting at 2:30 p.m.
(scroll down to see view of Surrey Children's Choir)
So I guess I should be honouring mothers in particular, but can't pass up the opportunity to give a bouquet to Horning. He is the founder and director of the celebrated Surrey Children's Choir family of choirs since 1992. He moved here after a long stint of teaching in the Campbell River School District and has been teaching in Surrey since 1989. His enthusiasm and dedication to teaching children to sing - and giving them the opportunity - led him to create the school district's first Surrey Honour Childrens Choir in 1992. This choir collected kids from Surrey elementary schools, by audition, and, after many weekly rehearsals, they performed for an annual meeting of Greater Vancouver schools. I don't recall what the meeting is actually called, but it is a big deal, and all teachers attend while kids get a pro-D day. My daughter was part of that first choir, and I am grateful to Horning for organizing it. It was a gift. Congratulations to Horning, and many roses to your 22 years of gifting music.
Horning has represented Greater Vancouver schools on the board of the BC Coral Federation (BCCF) and is a member of the President's Advisory Council of the BCCF. In 2008, he was recognized for his contributions to the children of Surrey with a Surrey Civic Treasure award.
Elsewhere, on Saturday, May 10, starting at 7:30 p.m., White Rock Chamber Music Society has a special concert featuring Soul of the World Multicultural Choir. This is a noaudition, all-ages community choir that celebrates diversity and welcomes everyone. Songs are created through workshops on discrimination and racism. The words can be from participants, and are set to music by Heidi McCurdy. Coordinator Ellen Neal (the person who keeps me informed about these concerts - thank you!) says McCurdy "is an all-around arts person who teaches arts and music and performs herself. She is an amazing person who gets people involved." Ruth Sebastian, one of the singers, says, "It is just such an empowering feeling to sing just for the pure joy of it." Singers from other countries come in to teach their songs to the group, while some of the songs share the participant's experiences and feelings. The choir is an arts initiative that aims to spread cultural awareness through learning and sharing music from around the world.
These monthly concerts are held at Crescent Gardens Retirement Residence, 1222 King George Blvd., admission by donation (suggested $5), with proceeds going to Peninsula Arts Foundation toward music scholarships for youth of the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
Many positive things can happen to a person given the gift of music. I do not underestimate the power of teaching children to sing. It should be instilled early, and encouraged throughout life.
Surrey Youth Theatre Company (SYTCO) is staging the musical Pinkalicious! at the Wheelhouse Theatre, at Earl Marriott Secondary, on Saturday, May 31, and Sunday, June 1. This society provides children not only with musical experience, but also the gift of telling a story through song and dance. Brilliant. Tickets are available on line at www.brownpapertickets. com. This hour-long show is suitable for children three and over.
Children who grow up with musical theatre in their lives just may continue on with this activity into adulthood. Hooray for them. I saw Fraser Valley Gilbert & Sullivan Society's production of HMS Pinafore at White Rock's Coast Capital Playhouse. It was truly excellent. You must see this production before it closes this Saturday night (May 10) - terrific voices, emerging talents, competent choreography, great set, colorful costuming and a visit by Queen Victoria. Again, brilliant, and worthy of a bucket full of roses. Tickets are at the box office, 604-536-7535. If I had a rating system, I would give this production five stars out of five. Seriously. But, since I don't have a star system, I will just sing the praises for Pinafore - and for all those music and voice teachers out there who provide inspiration and opportunity.
melminty@telus.net