Dozens of singers who rose to the challenge of perfecting tough melodies are showing off their chops in a concert this weekend.
Sixteen-year-old Hailey Mayer, who knew only musical theatre before starting with the Foothills Philharmonic Chorus, is becoming well versed in Simeonov and Mozart classics in a musical challenge unlike any she’s experienced.
“I’ve been learning musical theatre style since I was nine, learning how to portray a character through my solo performances, but this is working with others to create that same feeling and songs I’ve never really tried before,” she said. “Through the Foothills Philharmonic Chorus I’ve learned so many things I never would have learned had I just stuck with my one style of singing. It was really pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.”
The chorus celebrates five years of existence in a concert called This is Us, in collaboration with the Foothills Philharmonic chamber chorus, vocal jazz group and orchestra at High River United Church on May 10 and Okotoks United Church May 11 at 7 p.m.
This concert is Mayer’s third with the chorus. She joined after watching a moving performance two winters ago.
“There was as moment in the concert where for one of their songs they all got off the risers and stood in a circle around the audience and it was fascinating the way the sound changed because of that position,” she said. “They did new things with old songs. The way that they play with dynamics and tempo is unique.”
Among the songs on the list for this weekend is No Time, which Mayer describes as a building of excitement and emotion.
“There are a lot of points where it goes up the scale and there’s this big climax to the song where the sopranos are holding this note right at the top of that scale,” she said. “We sing the words on that note for a while and there’s so much excitement and energy there.”
The chorus also sings songs with complex runs, where each time they go through the run it’s slightly different, explained Mayer.
“There are so many songs that are a whole lot of fun to sing and also a lot of fun to listen to,” she said. “There are a lot of classical pieces with only a few contemporary songs mixed in. We do so many older pieces that we try to bring out what the composer imagined for them, as well as adding our own spin to them because no two choirs are going to have the same idea about one song.”
Helen Ashton, a Foothills Philharmonic Chorus veteran, joined the group five years ago for the challenge.
Ashton has been singing solo and in groups while living in the United Kingdom since age eight, but when she immigrated to Okotoks she struggled to find a group that challenged her.
“I looked around and tried loads of groups in south Calgary and Okotoks and nothing was what I really wanted,” she said. “A lot of the groups I went to did great music, but I could sing it straight away. There has to be a musical challenge for me.”
While attending Tim Korthuis’ celebration after he completed his master’s degree in conducting at the University of Alberta, Ashton heard discussions about starting a chorus under his leadership.
“Some of the pieces that they were going to do were pieces I’d sung before,” she said. “I knew it would be the kind of thing I would be interested in.”
When the chamber choir and jazz choirs were formed, Ashton joined them as well and even played the saxophone for one of the orchestra’s concerts.
Ashton said she’s eager to share with the public what the groups have prepared for this weekend’s spring concert.
“There’s a fantastic variety of music,” she said. “Some of the chamber and main choir pieces are so haunting. They’re just fantastic pieces to sing. Some of pieces are insanely fast, so trying to sing insanely fast and keep your part is hard. How do you keep track of where you are when it’s going so crazy fast?”
Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and children ages 12 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at foothills.com or at the door.
