A Coquitlam-based youth choir came off a music fest this month on a high note after taking first place.
The Coastal Sound Youth Choir and director Carrie Tennant clinched the top spot in the National Music Festival, a competition sponsored by the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals for community youth choirs that had qualified after winning their respective provincial contests.
It was the first time Coast Sound Youth Choir had entered the contest; it won based on their performance of Josef Gabriel Rheinberger's Abendlied and a piece dedicated to the mothers of Brazil called Salve Regina by Lars Jansson and arranged by Gunnar Eriksson.
Coastal Sound junior choir director Annette Coffin was presented with the prize at the Grand Award Concert on Aug. 13 in Antigonish, N.S.
"These singers have had years of phenomenal vocal and choral training in Coastal Sound," Tennant said in a news release. "Some singers in this choir have been working through the choir levels for more than 10 years and it shows in their music skills."
Meanwhile, the Coastal Sound Music Academy is accepting new singers (aged four to adult) for its next season, which runs September to June.
For more information, visit online at www.coastalsoundmusic.com.
WEARABLE
Artists wanting to enter next year's Wearable Art Awards competition in Port Moody will be able to submit their applications as of Sept. 1.
The Port Moody Arts Centre, which is hosting the annual performance on Feb. 18 and 19, 2012, with the exhibit running March 1 to April 8, has set a deadline of Dec. 2 for participants to enter.
To download a form, visit wearableartawards.com.
The event, which is sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, sees dozens of wearable artworks from around the world; this year's People's Choice accolade was presented to Chinese native Shaelyn Zhu, a Gleneagle secondary graduate from Coquitlam, who next month will start her post-secondary studies at Pratt's School of Art and Design in New York.
INDIAN STYLE
Learn how to dance like Bollywood actors in new classes in Port Coquitlam this fall.
Starting Sept. 9, the Confidance Studio (107-1320 Kingsway Ave.) will offer Shiamak Davar International Bollywood jazz dance sessions to pre-teens and adults.
The classes, which run on Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will end with a student recital in December.
To sign up, call 604-924-9104.
SCOTTISH
Registration for the Glenayre Scottish Country Dance Club is being taken next month.
The group, which teaches all levels on Tuesdays, is signing up participants on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. at the Burquest Jewish Centre (2860 Dewdney Trunk Rd., Coquitlam), where the classes are held.
For more information, call 604-464-8103.
MAPLE LEAF
A six-part harmony show chorus is looking for new members from the Tri-Cities.
The Maple Leaf Singers is holding private auditions for vocalists wanting to be part of the choir, which has singers from across the Metro Vancouver region.
Weekly practice sessions are held in Burnaby.
To book an audition time or to learn more, call 604-922-9827 or email information@maple-leaf-singers.com.
