Guelph Chamber Choir

Guelph Chamber Choir presents “Resurfacing Through Song”

featuring John Rutter’s Requiem and other works

The Guelph Chamber Choir, with conductor Charlene Pauls, is presenting “Resurfacing Through Song”, featuring John Rutter’s Requiem and other works with two presentations at 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM, on Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 at Knox Church in Guelph, ON.

The Guelph Chamber Choir (all fully vaccinated and performing with masks) is inviting a socially distanced, reduced audience to join us as we return to our first live concert since the pandemic, in a program that explores themes of loss and mourning, hope and comfort. The timeless beauty of Mozart’s Ave Verum and Laudate Dominum will be juxtaposed with the primal sounds of Canadian composer Katarina Gimon’s beneath/sound. This will be followed by the gentle poignancy of Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds’ Only in Sleep, which draws the listener into memories of childhood past. Finally, the choir will present a full performance of John Rutter’s moving Requiem, music that combines liturgy from the funeral mass for the dead with lush harmonies and moving melodies to stir and restore the soul.

The concert will feature the exquisite voice of Belle Cao as our Soprano Soloist, and a superb instrumental ensemble of Sharlene Wallace on harp, David Vanbiesbrouck on oboe, Ben Bolt-Martin on cello, Jef ten Kortenaar on violin, Richard Burrows on percussion, and Christopher Dawes on organ, all under the direction of Conductor Charlene Pauls.

Conductor Charlene Pauls notes, “As we “resurface” out of this pandemic, we hope to create a concert experience like none other. Because the audience will be distanced in the upper balcony, they will view the choir and chamber ensemble spread out below on the sanctuary floor, and as such, there will not be a bad seat in the house. The warm, resonant acoustics of Knox Church will fill the space with sound as listeners experience the timbres of our instrumental soloists combined with the warmth of voices in harmony. The Guelph Chamber Choir will take the listener through an hour-long musical journey that will uplift and restore the soul through the power of live music.”

The concert will run under an hour, without intermission, with two starting times of 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Tickets for “Resurfacing Through Song” featuring Rutter’s Requiem on Saturday, October 2, 2021 must be purchased in advanced and are limited to 60 per performance. The audience will be seated in the balcony, accessed by stairs; there is very limited accessible seating – email info@guelphchamberchoir.ca for more information and to book accessible seating.

Confirmation of full vaccination is required and will be checked at the door (masked attendees must bring their Health Card and 2^nd dose vaccine receipt).

GCC Fourth Friday concert at the Museum – SOLD OUT!

The GCC’s Fourth Friday concerts at the Guelph Civic Museum on August 27 are officially sold out. The concert will be streamed live on the Museum Facebook page at 7pm.

Check back after Labour Day for information about our next concert on October 2nd!