Founded in 1980 by a handful of expatriate Welshmen, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir has grown into Canada’s largest male choir with a membership from more than 20 ethnic backgrounds. Offering an entertaining repertoire of traditional Welsh hymns, spirituals, opera choruses, show tunes and much more, the choir tours extensively throughout British Columbia and internationally.
In June 2011 the choir will head to northern British Columbia for concerts from Prince Rupert to Prince George and points in between. July 2012 will take them to the U.K. for concerts in Scotland, Wales and England, capped by their participation in a 1,000 voice male choir in London’s Cultural Olympiad.
The choir is enjoying its seventh season under the leadership of its dynamic music director Jonathan Quick, a UBC graduate in voice, composition and conducting. Jonathan is well known as a soloist with many groups: musica intima, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, Festival Vancouver Opera, Vancouver New and Early Music, jazz quartet Voca Java, and, of course, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir.
For their Clarke Theatre performance on Saturday, April 16, the VWMC will be joined by Kallisto, an incomparable ‘a cappella’ trio. Meshing the quirky approach of Bobby McFerrin with the stylish jazz harmonies of Manhattan Transfer into classical, Canadiana, folk and even rock ‘n roll, gives them a warm and inviting sound. They draws inspiration from every era of music history from the Renaissance through to modern era jazz standards, pop hits, world music and gospel.
Fabiana Katz, Karen Mang and Catherine Laub combine their talents to give their performances a depth and breadth witnessed in few ensembles. On stage their personalities play off one another perfectly, while their flawlessly-tuned voices blend effortlessly into one. The trio spice up their performances with a variety of instruments, including guitar, accordion, electric bass, clarinet, recorders, djembe, claves, drums, shakers, tambourines, and a host of other percussion instruments.
Vancouver Welshmen’s Choir concert at the Clarke Theatre in Mission is on Saturday, April 16, 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at www.vwmc.ca
