{"id":19822,"date":"2014-07-22T05:45:51","date_gmt":"2014-07-22T09:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=19822"},"modified":"2014-07-22T08:00:21","modified_gmt":"2014-07-22T12:00:21","slug":"oakville-childrens-choir-wins-big-at-the-world-choir-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2014\/07\/22\/oakville-childrens-choir-wins-big-at-the-world-choir-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakville Children\u2019s Choir wins big at the World Choir Games"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Oakville<\/a>
Oakville Children’s Choir performing in Riga, Latvia. Photo: Connie Miller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While most of us have been spending the summer lounging around basking in the sun, the Oakville Children\u2019s Choir<\/a> have been hard at work at the 8th international World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, which concluded July 19th<\/span>.<\/p>\n

The Oakville based choir have won Silver and Gold medals, which is no easy feat considering the event includes 27,000 singers from 73 countries, making up 460 choirs, competing in 29 categories.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were thrilled!\u201d stated the choir\u2019s Artistic Director Sarah Morrison. \u201cCoincidentally, this past year was the 20th anniversary season of the OCC. And our gold and silver medal wins were exactly ten years after we did this at the Choir Olympics – full circle!\u201d<\/p>\n

The OCC are no strangers to competition, first competing under the leadership of founding artistic director, Glenda Crawford in the 2004 World Choir Games in Bremen, Germany. There they won a gold medal in the children’s choir category, and a silver medal in the Folksong category. In 2012, the choir received gold standings in the Youth of Equal Voices and Musica Sacra categories in Cincinnati, Ohio.<\/p>\n

For this year\u2019s competition, the Senior Choir competed in the Youth Choir category and sang four songs including Mulligatawny Macbeth<\/em> by the late Canadian composer John Govedas. They were conducted by Sarah Morrison and with pianist Cheryl Duvall<\/a> accompanying.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only compete once (one shot!),\u201d said Sarah Morrison. \u201cBut we had the opportunity to perform in [other] concerts during our time in Latvia, Estonia and Finland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Events such as these are incredibly important for the OCC, who definitely thrive under the pressure and relish in the excitement of competition.<\/p>\n

Their favourite parts of the tour were meeting other choirs and choristers, and singing informally with them – especially the Leticia Choir of Finland, who they have just made a\u00a0new sister choir.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are honoured to travel and represent Canada at a high level, but the human connections through singing are the best part,\u201d Morrison said.<\/p>\n

With the historic \u201csinging revolution<\/a>,\u201d Latvia has made choral music part of its national psyche.\u00a0In the 1980s and early 1990s, mass-singing events lead to its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. These events were peaceful, utilising the power of song to mobilise the population towards political change.<\/p>\n

While in the region, the choir participated in the tradition of social engagement by performing in an outreach concert in Estonia to raise money for the Day Care Centre K\u00e4o (www.kaokeskus.ee<\/a>) at St. Olaf’s Church in Tallinn. They also performed a full concert at the Temppeliaukio Church (Church of the Rock) in Helsinki, Finland with the Leticia Choir, who came to hear them along with a few other Canadians from Prairie Voices (a choir from Winnipeg who were also competing at the World Choir Games).<\/p>\n

\u201cTours are very worthwhile as they allow choristers to develop leadership skills, work at a high musical level, share music-making with others around the world, experience new cultures, and meet other choristers from around the world,” Morrison said. \u201cWe also, of course, grow closer as a choir both musically and personally.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the OCC enters its 21st season, they will be continuing community partnerships in Oakville with ensembles such as the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and programs such as Access Music Therapy of Erinoak Kids Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation, and the LightHouse Foundation.\u00a0 They will also be launching a new CD celebrating their 20th anniversary season as well as shooting a number of music video projects this fall.<\/p>\n

The group has just released their first music video featuring their boys and young men’s choir (“A Few Good Men” last week on their OCC facebook site<\/a>). \u00a0They are also excited to be the host choir for the 2015 Senior Treble Festival in March, which will involve up to 10 choirs from across Ontario.<\/p>\n

Morrison adds, \u201cWe are also commissioning a new Canadian choral piece which will be premiered at our December 6, 2014 concert by our Cherub and Intermediate Choirs.\u00a0 It’s always busy!\u201d<\/p>\n

The choir will be holding auditions for new members in August and September for people between the ages of 4 right up to 24. For more details – www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org<\/a><\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n