Eric Bunnell's People: Bringing back the gift of music
"I'm thrilled we are able to do this," says Gerald Vreman, director of music at Centre Street Baptist Church.
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“I’m thrilled we are able to do this,” says Gerald Vreman, director of music at Centre Street Baptist Church.
And thrilled, also, as apparent by their warm welcome Sunday to Gerald and musical guests, are members of an audience of three-dozen persons, treated to a program of old and new Christmastime classics.
It’s the first of two Advent recitals at the church organized by Gerald and colleague Wayne Carroll, both featured Sunday – Gerald, mainly on piano, and Wayne on organ – along with soprano Kassie DeLong and flautist Becky Thynne.
The second of the two recitals is this Sunday coming, and more about that in just a bit.
Greeting Sunday’s audience, Gerald offers an understated welcome.
“It’s been a challenging time, to say the least.
“I’m delighted you are here, and I am delighted we will be able to play some fine music.”
Challenging time? Who’s kidding who!
The pandemic pretty well has silenced our local musicians, depriving them of their voices and us of their talents. Their return, most welcome!
But the public-health emergency is far from forgotten. Sunday’s audience is screened for double vaxx. And masks, more de rigueur than church lady hats. Pews are closed to allow physical distancing and Centre Street Baptist, which normally can accommodate about 400 persons, has enough space for about one-quarter that number.
But on a warm, sunny afternoon so indicative of the unusual weather we are having this late fall – Thursday’s forecast calling for 16 C! – Gerald continues with an equally sunny greeting.
“I hope you enjoy the music.
“And more than that, I hope you will find it uplifting and encouraging.”
Fighting back on the front lines
Maybe it’s irony? Who knows in these times of almost-daily new normals?
Sunday’s program concludes with Kassie singing, unseen from the church balcony, her voice echoing dramatically overhead, O Holy Night.
It’s been a tradition for many years, on Christmas Eve at Centre Street.
“I’ve been singing it every year since I was eight,” Kassie says, “and I’m 24 now.”
But, Gerald says, Kassie may not be singing this year.
With the pandemic interrupting Kassie’s arch as a promising recitalist – she is possessed of a voice that Gerald says could take her far, if not for the pandemic – the young singer has gained a credential as a personal support worker.
And while the coronavirus has shut concert halls to her, Kassie is fighting back on the front lines, beginning work this week at St. Thomas General Hospital in its COVID-19 ward.
She may be working on Christmas Eve.
Gerald leads a salute to health-care workers.
A second recital
Next Sunday at 3 p.m. is the second Advent recital at Centre Street Baptist.
“The one-and-a-half-hour concert is set to present a variety of music with something special for everyone,” promises Wayne Carroll, who is convening.
Artists include violinist Tyson Moxley, cellist John Wolsley and Wayne on piano in a trio, operatic tenor Marcel Van Helden, a string ensemble joined by Gerald Vreman, a brass quintet under direction of Allan Weatherall, and “a finale of some just-for-fun Christmas tunes” performed by the Ukes of Hazzard.
Checking the venue last Sunday for the Railway City Brass Ensemble, Allan smiled, “It’s just great to be able to get together and play.”
And Wayne, who has been organizing concerts for six decades now in the community, says there’s more to come.
Admission is by freewill donation supporting St. Thomas-Elgin Food Bank and the church.
Another returning tradition
Meanwhile, another local Christmas tradition returns 7:30 p.m. Saturday to town.
St. Thomas Choral Connection is to offer Handel’s Messiah at Knox Presbyterian Church on Hincks Street.
“We missed last year,” says the choir’s founding director, Hugh Van Pelt, who will be on the podium.
“It’s been quite regrettable we couldn’t do anything. But with the situation we’re in, everyone has to be safe!”
The choir, which sang its first Messiah in 2005, hasn’t performed since the beginning of the pandemic. Following public-health guidelines, choristers on Saturday will be masked; soloists will take rapid tests before the performance.
“(Masking) is kind of arduous,” Hugh says. “It’s more difficult to breathe.
“At least we’re able to do something – that’s our attitude!”
The choir normally performs at Centre Street Baptist, but Knox offers more space to for an audience to distance. Proof of double vaxx and masking are both necessary.
The ensemble’s 30 voices are to be joined by soloists Chelsea Van Pelt, soprano, Carmen Specht, alto, Robert MacLaren, tenor, and Clarence Frazer, baritone.
During his musical career, Hugh has conducted or sung “over 100 Messiahs, for sure,” and led a performance last week in London.
“It was quite emotional to be back.”
Concert details and ticket info by clicking through choralconnection.ca.
Theatre AGM
Holding its annual general meeting last week, the Port Stanley Festival Theatre reported that, in spite of the pandemic, the community’s largest professional arts organization kept its head above water.
“Despite trying circumstances, a limited, 10-week summer-fall season took place in 2021 with an audience of approximately 3,600 patrons
“In addition to box office revenue and community fundraising, the theatre profited from a number of government assistance programs, was able to retain full-time staff throughout 2021, and maintained a break-even financial position at the end of the year.”
The theatre has announced a return to a full 15-week summer season in 2022, including the premieres of three new plays. Tickets are already on sale.
The meeting marked the retirements from the board of longtime members Scott Shakir and treasurer Roberto Quai. Welcomed were new members Sandi Hammond, Joy Jackson and Brian Welsh.
The theatre also bade farewell to former theatre manager Natasha Newby, recently named incoming executive director of the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation, and welcomed new manager Tony Scafani.
Board member Wendy Cowie has been named president of the organization.
Hitting the trail
Well, sometimes you just gotta get out of Dodge.
So, a column heads this week to Toronto to see performances of Jesus Christ Superstar and Come from Away.
With theatre returning, a cheering audience at both shows drowns out pre-show announcements.
And when the ensemble for Come from Away assembles on stage for a return to the boards after so many months, they are greeted by a show-stopping standing ovation that just goes on. They applaud back.
And for a brief moment, even though everyone must be double vaxxed and masked, and ushers are vigilant, it seems like there could be that life at the end of the tunnel.
But, then, the news that the Ontario government is ordering a reduction in capacity of large venues to combat the spread of Omicron. (Puzzlingly, Premier Doug Ford ranks the danger posed by gatherings in theatres, cinemas, art galleries and museums right up there with huge sportsplexes 10 and more times their size.)
And you are left wondering where things may be headed.
It’s winter on Tuesday, starting at 10:59 a.m. But with this fall’s weather – did I already mention 16 C in the forecast for Thursday? – who knew.
And can’t you just feel the days almost getting longer, already.
Stay well!
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