INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / APRIL 3, 1990

 

 

Chorfest’90 welcomes singing groups from

around B.C.

horfest ‘90, which will be held

this spring at Douglas College
in New Westminster, is offering
unique singing and learning op-
portunities to community choirs
throughout the province.

Slated for Friday, May 25
through Sunday, May 27, this
weekend choral festival is co-
hosted by the Amabilis Singers
and the Douglas College Choral
Society, in conjunction with the
B.C. Choral Federation. Shell
Canada Limited is the official
sponsor.

It’s a conference that wel-

comes the entire family, says
Cindy Donatelli, a member of the
Amabilis Singers and Chorfest ’90
committee chairman. This musical
conference provides singing oppor-
tunities for adults and children.
About 300 kids and 300 — 400
adults are expected to take part.

The theme of this year’s Chor-
fest is opera, and the participating
singing groups will be singing
from popular operas, accom-
panied by a 40-piece professional
orchestra.

"We're calling it Operatunity
because it really is an exceptional

 

Letter to the Editor, reprinted
from The News, March 21, 1990

Editor, The News

I realize there are a great
many men and women in this
area who, for a variety of
reasons, never completed their
education on a formal level.

I am a classic example.

After dropping out of high
school, I worked a variety of
low-paying jobs while raising
my family.

One day I was fed up.

I enrolled at Douglas Col-
lege, in the upgrading program
and, much to my amazement,
there was not only full-funding
available but after a basic assess-
ment of my skills, a course out-
line was developed for me,
tailor-made to suit my needs
and goals.

 

Ode to college

The instructors have en-
couraged me from the outset
and treated me with a respect I
never encountered when apply-
ing for a minimum wage job.

The only requirement for
anyone to return to school is a
desire to learn. The rest is truly a
pleasurable experience shared
with other adults of ‘various
ages, but all at the same level.

I highly recommend the in-
vestment in yourself and your
family.

Take this opportunity to get
in touch with Sherry or Wilma at
the office and watch your life
take a direction you never knew
was possible.

Deborah Andrade-Brown

 

 

opportunity,” says Donatelli.
"Operas require an orchestra and a
very large number of singers,
neither of which are usually avail-
able to community choral groups."

Another bonus for the singers
is that they will be working with
guest clinicians. French Tickner,
director of the University of
British Columbia Opera Theatre,
will be conducting the adults’ con-
ference, and Bruce Pullen, director
of the Vancouver Bach Choir and
Vancouver Bach Children’s Choir,
will be conducting the children’s
conference.

There will be three or four re-
hearsals during the first two days
of the conference, culminating in a
concert on Sunday, May 27 that
brings the singers and orchestra
together. Members of the general
public will be welcome to attend
the concert, which will include
four opera pieces presented by the
adults, one by the children, and
one more presented by the adults
and children together.

Chorfest 90 welcomes the par-
ticipation of all community choral
groups from throughout British
Columbia. "This is an opportunity
of a lifetime," says Donatelli.

To register and for more infor-
mation about Chorfest ’90, contact
Gill Bartholomew, at 270-1961. @