The Quadra Island Singers in-person concert
Cortes Currents
English - December 16, 2021 13:37 - 13 minutes - 30.6 MBNews cortes island discovery islands quadra food security energy indigenous nations Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Roy L Hales/ Cortes Currents - The Quadra Singers first in-person concert since the beginning of the pandemic was at the Quadra Community Centre on December 10th and 11th.
“We had almost sold out concerts, both nights. Our tickets went on sale and in Quathiaski Cove’s ‘Inspirations.’ We had pretty well sold out both nights,” said Valerie van Veen.
The theme was Christmas, but the choir’s interim conductor, Dr John Hooper, had a surprise for the audience.
Prior to his retirement, Dr. Hooper Director of the School of Music at the Concordia University of Edmonton. Based in Courtenay, he is currently the Music Director for Island Voices – an auditioned chamber choir with singers from throughout an area stretching from Denman to Quadra Islands, as well as Vancouver Island. Hooper is an accomplished musician, composer and wrote a piece of music called ‘the COVID Corona Caras.’
“it is wonderful piece of music about about about COVID and really a lot of fun to sing, but he expressed a little bit of concern that maybe some people wouldn't find it appropriate to sing about COVID,” explained van Vleen.
The performance seemed to end with ‘Deck the Halls.” Only, as the audience prepared to go home, they noticed the choir was not moving. People realized something else was coming. Then a soprano started singing the Gaelic blessing.
“The choir had trouble getting through it, because there were a few tears. It is such an exquisite piece of music and so sensitive,” said van Vleen.
This was followed by the COVID Corona Caras.
Dr Hooper warned the choir the audience would react one of three ways and the most profound reaction will be that they will be stunned.
That was happened both nights: “We had dead silence and it was so sober and mourning that, all that beautiful music to be capped by that beautiful blessing was rewarded with that emotional reaction.”
Van Vleen said the choir subsequently received a number of emails, thanking them for the amazing experience.
The Quadra Singers is a non-auditioned choir, open to anyone from the age 16 and up who wishes to join. They have been presenting two concerts every year for about 30 years.
Photo credit: Robin Beaton on Flute at the Dec 10/11 concerts - Photo courtesy Valerie van Vleen