Local Vocals (Dec'06): Carollers' medley
This is the inaugural issue of Victoria Chorale's newsletter and we've even managed to get it out in the first half of December! The idea started out as an easy and convenient way to keep members past and present abreast of news, but we thought, why not expand it to reach out to non Victorians as well. And so now we have included other snippets and information to whet your appetites.
With a bit of luck and support from you, we hope this humble effort will grow to be even more informative and dare we say it, maybe a little entertaining. We'd love to hear from you, whether about upcoming concerts, workshops, auditions or other movements in the local choral scene.
Meanwhile, we wish you an exciting season filled with much merriment, mirth and music.
VChatter
The last few months have been relatively quiet following the choir's success at the World Choir Games in July in Xiamen, China. We are immensely proud of our achievement not only as Gold medal winners in contemporary music but as champion choir in the a cappella sacred music category. Our contemporary pieces were Kodomo by Ko Matsushita, Exercitus grandis (Goh Toh Chai), Reminiscence of Hainan (Goh Toh Chai) and Pamugun (Francisco Feliciano) while our winning sacred pieces were Jerusalem surge (Heinrich Isaac), Tu es petrus (Giovanni Palestrina), Tenebrae factae sunt (Vytautas Myskinis) and Stabat mater (Alberto Grau). If you're still interested, photos and other anecdotes can be found at our online forum.
Victoria Chorale is now ranked overall 19th in the world -- with 1060 points -- in Musica Mundi's list of top 1000 choirs. We are also ranked 5th in the sacred music category. Other local choirs have also fared well, including Victoria Junior College Choir (9th), Anderson Junior College Choir (134th), Raffles Voices (204th) and Hwa Chong Choir (280th).
In mid November, the choir performed as part of a combined chorus with the National University of Singapore Society, Singapore Pools Choir and Yu Ying Secondary School Choir to welcome and entertain delegates of the World Lottery Association Convention and Trade Show. Supported by Singapore Pools and held for the first time in Asia, the opening and ceremonies were lavish and spectacular, complete with excerpts from local musicals, pyrotechnics and a theme song specially composed by Iskandar Ismail and Babes Conde.
Events
Victoria Chorale performs as guests in a showcase of choral and instrumental works by celebrated local composer Goh Toh Chai. The evening also features talents like Shane Thio, Gabriel Phophilat, Khor Aiming, William Lim and the Amadeus Choral Society. Catch favorites like Reminiscence of Hainan,
Goh Toh Chai in Concert 2006
21 December 8pm
Victoria Concert Hall
Tickets at $15 and $20. Email tix@amadeus.org.sg for bookings.
The choir continues its long-standing tradition of Christmas carolling this year at the Grand Hyatt, every evening from Dec 22 until Christmas Day. We will also be singing at the Biopolis next week. "Tell us":localvocals@victoria-chorale.org which carols you would like to hear...
Victoria Chorale -- Carols at Christmas
15 December 6.50pm
Biopolis, Epicenter
22-24 December 7.30pm
25 December 12.30pm
Grand Hyatt
The Victoria Junior College choir will also be carolling at the following times and venues. All Victorians are invited for the reunion carolling session at Raffles Hotel at 3.30pm on Christmas Day.
VJC Choir -- Christmas Carolling
12, 17 December 1pm
13, 19 December 7pm
Marina Square
21 - 24 December 6.30pm
25 December 12pm
Raffles Hotel
21 - 24 December 6.45pm
25 December 11.45 am
Ritz Carlton Millenia
Other jingles this month
Toh Chai also features as conductor in the Singapore Lyric Opera's All That Jazz-- an evening of jazz-inspired operas by greats like George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein. Also catch local composer Kelly Tang's 'Yuletide Rhapsody'.
All That Jazz
8-9 December 8pm
UCC Hall
Tickets: $20 - $60 from Sistic.
The King's College Choir makes its debut in Singapore with British folk tunes, classical pieces and Christmas carols. Led by music director Stephen Cleobury, the choir is steeped in tradition and is recognised as the one of the best in performing British choral music.
King's College Choir, Cambridge
18-19 December, 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
Tickets: $40- $105 from Sistic.
Enjoy more jazz this Christmas with Jeremy Monteiro and friends in Noel Asiana. Concert blurbs tout a blend of Asian instruments and rhythms with jazz harmony and improvisation.
A Jazzy Christmas - Noel Asiana
22 December 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
Tickets: $20-$80 from Sistic.