Lakehead University’s Vocal Ensemble and TBSO Perform Britten’s Saint Nicolas
November 12, 2013 – Thunder Bay, ON
Lakehead University’s Vocal Ensemble is partnering with the Dulcisono Women’s Choir and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra to perform Benjamin Britten’s cantata Saint Nicolas to mark the centenary of the famous composer’s birth.
“This piece is full of excitement and drama and features singers of all ages,” said Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans, Associate Professor in Lakehead’s Department of Music and one of two conductors for the performance.
“There will be tremendous community impact generated from this performance, which is typical of the larger musical works by Britten. There are also opportunities for the audience to participate by standing and singing,” Dr. Jobin-Bevans said.
Guest tenor soloist Albert Greer (singing the role of Nicolas) will be featured in the concert with three singers from the Rafiki Youth Choir and Laurel Oger as conductor. There will be 75 singers, including music students and alumni from the Department of Music.
“This music is exciting, beautiful and uplifting. Concerts with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra are an opportunity for our students to work side-by-side with professional musicians who are often their own teachers.
“Britten's fame as a composer is so renowned that our concert joins a long list of other celebratory events that have been taking place over the year throughout the world to mark his birth,” Dr. Jobin-Bevans said.
Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson said opportunities like this are extremely beneficial to the Vocal Ensemble: “Public performances such as these provide our students with invaluable experience while building in them confidence that will help them in everything they do.”
When: Friday, Nov. 22, 2013 (7:30 pm)
Where: St. Paul’s Anglican Church,
808 Ridgeway Rd., Thunder Bay
Cost: $15 for students
$20 regular admission
Tickets are available in advance by calling Lakehead’s Department of Music at 807-343-8787.
For more information about the world-wide Britten concerts, visit http://www.britten100.org/home.
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Media: To arrange an interview, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177.
Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. For more information about Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.