Songs Strings & Steps 12 - Hits from Broadway

Songs Strings and Steps 12
Hits from Broadway
Friday, April 13, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 14, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Abbotsford Arts Centre, 2329 Crescent Way Abbotsford, BC
Reserved Seating
Tickets: Adults $25; Seniors $22; Students $12
From Kings Music 604-853-5996

Why go to the ‘City that Never Sleeps’ when it can come to you in Abbotsford? On April 13 and 14 the Abbotsford Arts Centre transforms into the theatre district of New York as the highly successful Songs Strings & Steps collaborative production team shoots for the stars with the greatest and most loved Hits from Broadway.

“It’s such beautiful music,” says director Calvin Dyck. “It’s a program that everybody can relate to. When we mention Broadway, everyone has their favourite musical!”

But it’s not just about the music (here featuring the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra accompanied by some of BC’s brilliant professional musicians, and the return of Canadian Idol finalist Shane Wiebe), it’s about stories. “It’s important to have the right type of costumes, not just for the characters but also the orchestra. So for this production we have hired professional costume designers!”

Show designer Sylvia Friesen is pulling out all the stops – with visuals, sets and props to accompany the stories of Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Mary Poppins (featuring Chelsea Hiebert), Sound of Music, Swing, Lion King, Footloose (with iSing), Oliver, West Side Story, Tarzan and Les Misérables.

“The string players are doing their usual dancing while playing,” adds Dyck. “And we have choreographer Janelle Stauffer teaching them to do the Charleston. Members of the Fraser Valley Academy of Dance will be doing the West Side Story Medley - in dance. And we have auditioned kids from the Pacific Mennonites Children’s Choir for Food Glorious Food from Oliver.”

It’s music full of heart and emotion that connects with people. This is a production that includes thrilling song and dance, and as with every Songs Strings & Steps production, fantastic surprises for the audience. That’s Hits from Broadway - a blockbuster hit all on its own!

To book your reserved seating ticket (adults $25, seniors $22, students $12, plus HST) call Kings Music at 604-853-5996 – and make haste before they sell out! You’ll be so glad you did!

 For more information visit www.calvindyck.com or call Calvin Dyck at 604-855-9696.

For an article about Calvin Dyck visit www.quillsquotesandnotes.com/ws-dyck.htm.
For an article about Sylvia Friesen visit www.quillsquotesandnotes.com/ws-friesen.htm.
Both articles have video examples of Songs Strings and Steps past performances.

WAVE with the Vancouver Island Symphony

The Vancouver Island Symphony presents

Wave

Saturday, March 17, 7:30 p.m.

Guest Artists: Martin Chalifour, Violin; Dirk Heydemann, Photography

Conductor: Pierre Simard

The Port Theatre

Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com

(Pre-Concert Talk 6:30 p.m.)

Catch the Wave – an experience for all the senses 

What a musical party it will be! On Saturday, March 17, the VI Symphony presents Wave, the sixth concert of the VI Symphony’s 2011-2012 Season – Music for your Heart and Soul. It is a concert that will literally satisfy six senses – hearing, touch, sight, smell, taste and balance – as Maestro Pierre Simard leads the musicians and technicians in a sensory experience that honours our waterfront community – and much more!

Hear, Touch and Smell - the Music

“We are linking the symphony to this community where we depend so much on water,” explains Simard. “So, we are book-ending this performance with two water-related pieces of music.”

Book-ending? The concert opens with ‘Chant of Water and Sky’ mentally impressing the sound, sight, touch and smell of the ocean. “This is a very evocative piece by Canadian composer Glenn Buhr,” explains Simard. “In the second half of the concert we are performing the entire ‘Water Music’ as composed by George Frideric Handel for King George I, and initially performed on a barge on the River Thames.” Between the two water pieces, the audience will be hearing a brilliant performance of Mozart’s technically challenging ‘Violin Concerto No. 4’ played by Martin Chalifour. “Martin is the concertmaster with the Los Angeles Philharmonic,” adds Simard, “and he is an incredible virtuoso.”

See - the Visuals

To accompany and complement the magnificent ‘Water Music’, its themes, movements and transitions,  local photographer Dirk Heydemann of Heydemann Art of Photography, will be presenting a stunning visual backdrop of original and historic images about water and how it affects lives on the Island.

Taste - the Cake

And linking ‘Water Music’ to royalty, the VI Symphony will be honouring the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a special cake in the lobby for everyone to enjoy.

Experience - the Balance

Like the perfect wave that requires balance from a skilled surfer to be ridden successfully to shore, Wave, the concert, is impeccably programmed, from the magnificent music and mastery of musicianship through to the astounding photographic images and the delicious cake, to make a perfectly balanced evening in which to celebrate the Port City and all who live on Vancouver Island.

To catch the Wave, tickets are available by calling 250-754-8550.

For more information visit www.vancouverislandsymphony.com. Keeping Music LIVE!