The District 57 Tapestry Singers are getting tuned up for their year-end choral concert.
“Circle of Friends” will welcome audiences to two shows – at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. – on Saturday, June 1 at St. Michael’s Anglican Church. The performances will feature the Junior Tapestry Singers and Senior Tapestry Singers alongside special guests Barb Parker, Curtis Abriel, Jose Delgado-Guevara, Flora Camuzet and Rob Hannigan.
Song selections during the shows will range from traditional to contemporary. Familiar melodies on the slate include The Garton Mother’s Lullaby, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Will the Circle Be Unbroken, By the Rivers of Babylon, A Thousand Years and Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive. Lesser-known songs such as Windy Nights, Ban, Ban, Caliban, Banjo Pickin’ Girl and Circle of Friends will also be given the spotlight.
Several selections feature choreography by Senior Tapestry Singer Ellie Prendergast and are complemented by the talents of local dancer/educator Kristen Helfrich.
The District 57 Tapestry Singers are led by Founder and Artistic Director Carolyn Duerksen and are backed by Maureen Nielsen on piano.
The Junior Tapestry Singers range from Grades 4-7 and are formed by 24 students from School District No. 57. The Senior Tapestry Singers – 26 of them – are in Grades 8-12. As a program, the juniors are celebrating their sixth season, while the seniors are in their 12th.
During the past dozen years, the Senior Tapestry Singers have collaborated four times with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. Both the junior and senior choral groups were recognized for their excellence at the recent Prince George Music Festival, where they were recommended to the provincial level of competition. The Senior Tapestry Singers also received a provincial recommendation at the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival.
When the Senior Tapestry Singers travel to spring festivals, they routinely achieve gold standing. Their destinations have included Vancouver, Whistler, Sun Peaks, Banff, Edmonton and Seattle. The Seattle trip was in 2014 and saw the group soar to impressive heights at the Worldstrides Heritage Music Festival. At the end of the festival, the Senior Tapestry Singers were selected as best overall choir and received an invitation to participate in the National Youth Choir Festival at world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Tickets for “Circle of Friends” are $15 and available at Studio 2880 (2880 15th Avenue). Kids aged five and under can watch and listen for free.
St. Michael’s Anglican Church is located at 1505 Fifth Avenue.