For anyone who fancies the choral tradition, Calgary’s first professional chamber choir, Luminous Voices, will be performing at the Cochrane RancheHouse Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. in honour of Remembrance Day.
Artistic director and founder, Timothy Shantz, is thrilled for the second program season for his choir, as much as he is for the chance to create new opportunities for professional singers in and around Calgary.
“There has never been a professional choir in Calgary before…there are professional choirs in all major cities across Canada, but Calgary has not yet had one,” explained Shantz, adding that although there have been high-calibre singers performing in various choral arrangements across Alberta, creating paid opportunities for singers opens up new doors.
For Shantz, who is also the chorus master for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as artistic director of Spiritus Chamber Choir, Luminous Voices allows him to explore the individual voice, rather than the big picture.
“Luminous Voices is really about featuring the fine, detailed qualities about the voices,” said Shantz, adding that with a maximum of 24 choir members, the inflections in every single voice can be heard, from “the first downbeat”.
The chamber choir performs three concert series each season (fall through spring). The upcoming Remembrance Day concert in Cochrane, ‘Mass for Troubled Times’ will feature composer Timothy Corlis’s “Missa Pax” (Mass for Peace), with guest accompaniment by Krishan Power (clarinet) and Cheryl Emery (piano).
There will also be a second performance at Knox United Church in Calgary Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m., with orchestral accompaniment.
Other songs that the Cochrane audience can anticipate include Eric Whitacre’s “When David Heard” and Frank Tichell’s “There Will Be Rest”.
“I love the choral art and helping to grow the choral art in the community,” said Shantz, who added he’s hoping to connect with other musical ensembles and work toward collaborative projects throughout Southern Alberta, as well build on musical education programs – eventually putting Luminous Voices on the map as a leading choral arts organization in Canada.
The chamber choir recently received charitable status but is heavily reliant on individual support and donations.
“We’re about spreading the word and getting our voices heard.”
Learn more about Calgary’s premier professional chamber choir at luminousvoices.ca. Tickets to the RancheHouse concert are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors, available at brownpapertickets.com or at the door.
