Tri-City music lovers wanting to sing songs spanning the Renaissance period to modern day can join a new adult choir that will swing into action next week.
Michael Grice, a charter member of the Chor Leoni Men's Choir and a former music director of the Coquitlam-based Coastal Sound adult choir, will start rehearsals for Choral Connections on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Riverside secondary in Port Coquitlam.
And, best of all, there are no try-outs. "Doing an audition scares a lot of people away," Grice said. "They think, 'We're not good enough to be in a choir.'"
Rather, Grice said the choir is aimed at offering quality musical training to novice and experienced singers in a positive, social setting.
"The Tri-Cities has a tradition of providing good arts opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels," he said. "We're just wanting to fill one here in PoCo."
Grice said the group will explore all genres. "If it's good music and at a level that this group can master then we'll do it," he said. "I don't restrict the repertoire choices at all. I listen to what the singers are interested in."
Still, the Sunshine Coast resident expects participants to commit once they've signed up - and that means no drop-ins, please.
"What I want is people who want to grow [musically]," he said. "It's about seeing how good we can be as a choir and how much we can learn.
"We want people who want to have a journey."
Choral Connections will be accompanied by pianist Vincent Lo, an award-winning composer and publisher who studies under Henry Waack.
Meanwhile, the choir's first public performance is already scheduled: Sunday, Dec. 8 at St. Laurence Anglican Church in Coquitlam, with the women's a capella ensemble Harmony.
For more information about Choral Connections, email [email protected] or [email protected].
