The voices rise.
One voice after another joins the chorus to become a harmony that reaches out into the audience.
Under the guidance of choral director Patricia Plumley the words begin to dance with their partner, musicians from Vancouver Island Symphony.
The genesis of the song is joy. Plumley said the state of joy naturally opens up a person’s palate and body, which helps deliver the notes.
“The best place to go is to joy,” she said. “Let your body go and just be part of the dance of the whole thing.”
Initially Plumley equally pursued ballet and piano, but the world of music became her passion in the end. She teaches music at Vancouver Community College, commuting to the mainland from her home in Nanoose Bay where she also teaches voice and choir.
“Working with voices – it’s like peeling back layers of an onion until the potential of the voices emerge,” she said.
Plumley leads the chorus in the symphony’s presentation of The Best of Elton John, Saturday (Jan. 19) at the Port Theatre.
People can enjoy favourites such as Goodbye Yellow brick Road, Rocket Man, Circle of Life and Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Me.
Last year the symphony put out the call for applications for people interested in singing in the performance. The result is a mix of new and professional singers belting out the hits of Elton John.
“What I love about this project is it opens doors for people,” said Plumley.
Her favourite song of the performance is Tiny Dancer.
“I love the words. I love the images. It’s like good movie music – it’s like the chorus comes in at the right time to make the heart strings move,” said Plumley. “It’s a celestial comment on profound text.”
The symphony hosts two shows on Saturday, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The performances include guest artists John Meilleur, John Regan and the Jeans’n Classics band.
People are also encouraged to wear jeans and enter the jeans photo contest held in the lobby.
Tickets range in price from $18 to $84 and are available by calling 250-754-8550, at the Port Theatre box office, located at 125 Front St., or www.porttheatre.com.
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