FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coquitlam, BC
November 21, 2017
Coastal Sound Music Academy Choirs Announce December Holiday Concerts
Nothing gets us in to the festive, winter holiday spirit like the sound of choirs singing! Coastal Sound choirs will be performing in Coquitlam, Port Moody and Burnaby this December, offering something musical for everyone.
The award-winning Coastal Sound Youth Choir performs at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church in Burnaby on Saturday, December 9th, and the annual Comfort & Joy performances take place at Evergreen Cultural Centre on Sunday, December 10th. As well, choirs will be adding joyful atmosphere at Lights at Lafarge, Holiday Cheer at the Pier, IKEA Coquitlam and Coquitlam Farmers’ Market Craft Fair.
Diana Clark, Coastal Sound’s Artistic Director, says she looks forward to the audience sing-alongs the most.
“I believe that music brings us together, lifts our spirits and gives us hope. My favourite part of every performance is when the audience joins in, and the whole place rings with the sound of diverse voices joined together as one. It’s powerful to be part of that!”
In the Tri-Cities, Comfort & Joy at Evergreen Cultural Centre will feature 2 different programs on Sunday, December 10th. The 3pm matinee features all of Coastal Sound’s younger choirs, including a cameo by the 4 and 5 year olds that will surely have you grinning. Even The Grinch would be warmed and delighted by these wee performers.
Clark says, “I’ve noticed that audiences get tremendous joy in seeing youngsters perform, even if they aren’t related to the children! Children can be artistic and poised… and there are always wonderful surprise moments of sheer spontaneity and exuberance that happen when young people sing together!”
At 7pm, accomplished Highland Piper Zhongxi Wu joins the award winning Coastal Sound Children’s Choir and adult choir DeCoro for a Scottish themed holiday program.
Clark says that she’s never sung with bagpipes before, but was inspired by the idea when she fell in love with a few Scottish pieces this season. She insists that it has nothing to do with the Outlander series, but admits that she is a fan of the show. “The music tells the story of long ago times, events and far off places. It’s just so compelling.”
Bagpipes have a limited pitch range, and sound in the key of Bb only.
“That can be a tricky range for voices, so it’s been an interesting musical experience working with Zhongxi. He also advised me that a little bagpiping goes a long way,” Clark chuckles. “When those pipes come in, we’ll all get goosebumps!”
If you like your choral music with gorgeous piano, violin and cello accompaniment, you will want to catch Coastal Sound Youth Choir on Saturday, December 9th at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church. The natural acoustics of the church enhance the sound, and wrap the audience in a musical escape from the hustle and bustle of the season.
Joel Tranquilla, conductor of Coastal Sound Youth Choir, has programmed songs by Gordon Lightfoot, Sarah McLachlan and Erin Propp to set a wintery tone. Sarah Quartel’s stunning narrated multi-movement Snow Angel is sure to be a new favourite.
“In Snow Angel, the cello stands in as the voice of the composer’s beloved father,” Clark says. “It’s an absolutely moving and riveting suite of pieces.”
Performance details, ticket pricing and purchase information for all shows at coastalsoundmusic.com/concerts-events/
VIP Season Pass Program for preferred seating available until November 30th, 2017.
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For more information, photos or to request an interview contact:
Gisele Forge
@coastalsound
ABOUT COASTAL SOUND MUSIC ACADEMY
Coastal Sound’s mission is to transform lives and build community through choral music.
The goals are to inspire each singer to develop to their fullest potential as individuals, musicians and as caring, engaged citizens. CSMA nurtures healthy developing voices and musical excellence.
Singers are grouped by age and experience. All of the choirs at Coastal Sound offer learner-centred instruction by professional choral music educators, vocal coaches and conductors. They aim to meet the unique musical, intellectual and social needs of all singers.
Coastal Sound has a national award-winning Youth Choir, a soulful non-auditioned choir for adults, a crackerjack Children’s choir and song play groups for kids as young as 4 years old. They believe in singing for one’s WHOLE life! There is even an all boys’ choir at Coastal Sound. This fast-paced and dynamic group nurtures the unique needs of young male singers, so that they can grow to be wonderful, musical men.
Over the organization’s 28 year history, singers’ lives have been transformed by memorable adventures: from studio recording sessions for TV soundtracks to singing at esteemed ceremonies like the Olympics; from formal concerts to dressing as heritage characters to entertain festival crowds; from working with Canadian composers and respected conductors, to accompanying Michael Bublé on his 2013 Holiday TV special. In February, CSMA collaborated with the Canadian Chamber Choir.
Sharing and learning about their world through the lens of choral music is very important to all of these singers, and is a founding principal of Coastal Sound Music Academy. CSMA proudly upholds these principals that the founder, Donna Otto started in 1989.
CHRISTMAS WITH COASTAL SOUND YOUTH CHOIR: I waded the snow sea to sing
Saturday, December 9, 2017 | 7:30 pm
New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 13th Ave, Burnaby
Revel in glorious sound at this favourite annual holiday concert. Arrangements of songs by Gordon Lightfoot, Sarah McLachlan and Erin Propp set a wintery tone. Musical gems by Sweelinck and Hahn. Sarah Quartel’s narrated Snow Angel is sure to be a new favourite work. And a partridge in a pear tree.
features Coastal Sound Youth Choir
Conductor: Joel Tranquilla; Assistant Conductor: Will de Sousa
Cello: Claire Dresselhuis; Violin: Alana Lopez; Piano: David Antoniuk
COMFORT & JOY: Matinee Children’s Performance
Sunday, December 10, 2017 | 3:00 pm
Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Choral music to soothe, uplift and inspire during the bustling holiday season. Grin at these adorable youngsters, sing-along exuberantly and enjoy holiday music old and new.The young choral artists in Con Brio, Con Vita, Coastal Sound Boychoir, Con Bella, and Coastal Sound Children’s Choir share the stage for this annual, family-friendly festive concert. The cute-metre goes off the scale when the 4 & 5 year old Sources take to the stage for a cameo performance!
Featured choirs: Con Brio, Con Vita, Coastal Sound Boychoir, Con Bella, Coastal Sound Children’s Choir with a special appearance by Sources!
Conductors: Deanna Gestrin, Laura Epp, Angie Lundin, Tia Turner, and Diana Clark; Piano: Kyu Min Sigerson and Elise Heard
COMFORT & JOY: with Pipers Piping!
Sunday, December 10, 2017 | 7:00 pm
Evergreen Cultural Centre, 1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam
Holiday music that will have you imagining far off places and times. There won’t quite be “eleven pipers piping” but there WILL be an oboe, tin whistle and special guest Zhongxi Wu playing traditional Highland bagpipes with the always entertaining and beautiful Coastal Sound choirs. Sing a long on a Scottish tune that will surely have you shouting “Lang may yer lum reek” before the night is through!
Featured choirs: DeCoro and Coastal Sound Children’s Choir
Conductors: Kelly Proznick and Diana Clark; Piano: Elise Heard and Barry Yamanouchi
with special guest artist Zhongxi Wu, Highland pipes