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By Lailani Mendoza
WHEN artistic director and conductor Leroy Wiens was asked to assemble 40
additional singers to help perform at a gala performance in 1986, little did he
know that this music-loving group would take on a life of its own.
Named the Okanagan Festival Singers, the group would move on to become one of
the Interior’s most renowned choral acts.
The choir is best known for their spectacular renditions of Handel’s Messiah. Although the Okanagan Festival Singers have performed the piece 16 times since
the group’s inception, they never fail to elicit an enthusiastic response.
Granted, the composition itself is a classic, whose notes have filled many a
performance hall; it continues to beguile audiences, thanks to Handel’s musical genius. But to deliver a performance that truly resonates with an
audience, Wiens mixes in a little variety.
“Every time we perform this work, I find new and creative ways of making the text
come alive through different musical interpretations,” explained Wiens. “Also, we have worked very hard at developing a genuine sense of Baroque styling
and this has also breathed new life into this music. Our goal is to perform it
as closely as possible to the musical sound in the period that it was composed.”
Capturing audience interest also lies in proper song selection for each
performance.
“One of the keys to success is making each concert relevant to the moment that it
is performed in,” said Wiens.
“An example would be the performance of Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms in the spring of 2009. The text is one of hope in the midst of strife and
difficulties, and this performance seemed to have special meaning in light of
the difficult financial days that we have been living in over the last year.
One audience member told me that this concert restored his faith in humanity.
“This is a very rewarding experience for me as I work with this choir – those magical moments in rehearsal where everything comes together and the
music practically sings itself; the opportunity I have to lead and guide and
free the singers to express themselves in performance; and to receive those
sincere, heartfelt responses from individuals in the audience.”
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Wiens added: “All the time and effort and work that I have to put in to lead this choir become
totally worth it when I know that I have made an impact in someone else’s life experience.”
The group is familiar with effects of the recession, as they have lost grants
because of the government’s belt-tightening policy.
Even as Wiens admits that this could affect the choir’s future, the ensemble continues to prove its resilience despite the
circumstance.
They recently released a CD featuring a collaborative effort with Ed Henderson
and the Worldfest Band in Vancouver. Considered one of the group’s milestones, the recording is a testament to the choir’s commitment to high performing standards.
Wiens notes: “The CD was recorded live in concert, which meant that we had to be thoroughly
prepared. There were no second takes!”
This year, fans will see the Okanagan Festival Singers do a choir exchange with
a Vancouver choir in late April.
Contact: ofsingers.com.
January 2010
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