The Orillia Vocal Ensemble is a full voice (SATB) community choir that raises money for local charities through its concerts. In the last fifteen years, the ensemble has raised more than $150,000. Some of our charities are the Mariposa Hospice, Orillia Community Foundation, Jubilee House, the Sharing Place food bank, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Hillcrest Lodge, Greenhaven Women's Shelter, and Information Orillia. We also sing at retirement homes at Christmas, and we participate in concerts with other Orillia performing arts groups all year round.
Tickets available at the door for $15
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Our first post-COVID19 concert took place on Wednesday, May 25. Entitled "Here's to Song, Here's to Freedom, Here's to Home", it celebrated several things. Firstly, it was a celebration of Roy Menagh's retirement from the OVE after 10 years as its founder and first musical director, albeit two years after the actual event. Secondly, it was a farewell to Mary-Jo Rosenquist who had been our splendid accompanist for several years, and who had decided to move away from Orillia. And thirdly it was a welcome to Blair Bailey as our new musical director and to our new accompanist, Katie Pergau.
Donations by the audience were donated to the Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal in recognition of the human suffering caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Accordingly, various pieces were chosen to reflect the emotions generated by that conflict, including the Ukrainian national anthem and A Ukrainian Prayer. A cheque for the $7,210 in proceeds was presented to a representative of the Red Cross.
Some of Roy's favorite pieces were included in the programme, and Roy himself conducted three of them accompanied by Mary-Jo. Soloists included a guest performer, Anna Trubashnik, and several of the OVE's own members.
Overall, a very successful and memorable event after the strictures of the past two years, despite the fact that the choir wore masks throughout and still managed to entertain superbly.
June 17, 2022
Qennefer Browne Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of their community. It was named in honour of Qennefer Browne, who gave much of herself to support both arts and heritage organizations within the region.
On November 24, 2021, the community came together in-person and virtually for the third annual Orillia Regional Arts & Heritage (ORAH) Awards, to celebrate the achievements of the sector and honour this year’s nominees.
The OVE congratulates Blair for his achievement!
On March 8th, Fred Larsen, President of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble, presented Roy Menagh with the gift of a framed print of a painting by local artist Dave Beckett, to commemorate his musical leadership of the OVE since founding the community choir in 2010. The presentation was delayed considerably by the cancellation of Roy’s final concert last spring because of the Covid-19 restrictions at the time, and delayed further while awaiting the possibility of a more formal and public event. However, March 8th was also Roy’s birthday, so what better an occasion for the presentation, outside and physically distanced!
The print was the very generous donation to the OVE by a member of the choir, and subsequently framed as a retirement and farewell gift for Roy. The viewer’s eye is drawn to a red canoe in the distance at the very center of the painting, and interestingly, at the time of the presentation to Roy, his own red canoe could be seen on top of a trailer at the entrance to his garage. A very fitting painting, indeed!
March 9, 2021
Blair Bailey, long-time choir master, organist, and accompanist in Orillia was named the new Musical Director of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble following the retirement of founding director Roy Menagh in the spring 2020. The restrictions on public gatherings related to Covid-19 precautions effectively curtailed a public concert by the community choir which had been planned to recognize the enormous contributions of Roy and the formal passing of the baton to Blair. Thankfully, the choir was able to recognize and thank Roy with a nomination for the Orillia District Arts Council Qennefer Browne Achievement Award. This award recognizes an individual or group of individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the cultural life of their community and the OVE was thrilled to see Roy become the recipient.
The new OVE Director, Blair Bailey, was born and raised in Orillia and has an enviable career in our community, following his graduation in 1984 with a music degree from the University of Toronto. He has been anchored at St. Paul's Centre as organist and music director since shortly after this, and additionally, was Artistic Director for the Orillia Kiwanis Music Festival for 25 years, and has also been the accompanist for The Cellar Singers since 1985. Blair is also renowned for his productions of musicals, most notably “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” last year. No stranger to the Orillia Vocal Ensemble, Blair has routinely filled in as the conductor for rehearsals during times when Roy Menagh was unavailable. Blair, and MaryJo Wilson - longtime accompanist for the OVE - are a formidable pair of musicians who are looking forward to working together in the months and years ahead, as are the choir members!
We are pleased to announce (rather late) that Isabel Livie is the winner of the Roger Andrews Memorial Scholarship for last year. Normally, the winner would have been asked to perform at our end-of-season concert in late May last year, but with the Covid-19 restrictions in place, this could not happen. Instead, we have asked Isabel to say a few words about what she is doing:
"This year has been soo crazy with Covid and it has definitely been a challenge to start university along with it. I finished my first semester of my Bachelor of Arts at Queens and despite the difficulties of learning on line have seemed to pass my courses with flying colours for a first year. I have already set myself up for my double major of music and drama by studying music theory, vocal composition, and drama as well. I also plan on taking my Grade 9 Harmony exam with the Royal Conservatory of Music come the end of my second semester!"
Congratulations, Isabel. We will no doubt hear more about your progress later!
January 11, 2021
Roy Menagh, former musical director of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble was honoured to receive the Qennefer Browne Achievement Award today in the Orillia Regional Arts and Heritage Awards presented by the Orillia and District Arts Council and the Orillia Museum of Art and History. Owing to COVID-19 restrictions, the award took place at a virtual ceremony that was broadcast on a YouTube live streaming channel. In his acceptance speech, Roy said that he felt honoured to receive such an award, and pointed out that many other people were involved in his endeavours, and that he felt they all should be recognized for their efforts.
The award ceremony can be seen by clicking on the following YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNVzDZCLslc&feature=youtu.be
Roy's acceptance speech starts at 35:40 in the video.
November 24, 2020
A beautiful eclectic program of Lauridsen, Brahms, Vivaldi with soprano soloists, Welsh Music, African Music, Early Music with recorders, and the music of New Orleans was held in support of the Mariposa Hospice. It raised nearly $4,000.
Participants were:
This fund-raiser for the "Sharing Place" food centre in Orillia raised more than $7,000 and attracted so many people that Thor motors show room was packed with happy faces. The Orillia Music Centre provided 70 enthusiastic young Ukelele players who played carols, ate cookies, and met with Santa Claus. Forty members of the OVE sang a variety of carols and Christmas music and ended the festivities with the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. Our thanks go out to Thor Motors, Roy Menagh, and Mary Jo Wilson in addition to all the volunteers!
Joyful Sound Christmas Concert
December 8th at 3pm - The Orillia Vocal Ensemble presented Joyful Sound, a Christmas concert in support of Lakehead University's Humanities 101 program.
The concert featured performances from Rita Arendz, A Little Wind Music, and soloists Laura Aylan-Parker and Dean Jobin-Bevans.
Our last full concert of the 2018/2019 season was a youthful one which featured the music of Bruce Cockburn, Stan Rogers, Duke Ellington, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Jerry Garcia, and Hoagy Carmichael to name a few. The program featured some excellent solo work by key members of the choir, the happy and popular work of the WG Ukelele choir, and a handful of young musicians from the Youth Centre itself playing their own music.
Pictured below are, in the left picture, (left to right) OVE President Fred Larson and Ethan Mask, who stood in for OYC Director of Youth Opportunities Kevin Gangloff at short notice. Next are two members of the Ukelele Group. In the right-hand picture are Ethan and the members of the OYC band.
Our 2019 Roger Andrews Memorial Scholarship recipient is Lauryn MacDonald. Lauryn is currently singing in the National Honour Choir in Ottawa at MusicFest Canada. She aspires to becoming a music educator. Following her graduation from Mount Allison University, she plans to attend Acadia University and enroll in their Bachelor of Music Education program. Upon graduation, she hopes to immediately start working in the school system and after finishing these two Bachelor degrees, would like to undergo a Masters program, preferably in music education and choral conducting. We are proud to award her our Scholarship.
The Love Never Forgets concert on April 7, 2019 raised $4,140 for the Alzheimers Society of Simcoe County. Musical pieces in this concert included works by Mark Sirrett, Gabriel Faure, Bach, Mozart, Debussy and Dobrogosz.
In the photo below, Fred Larsen, President of the OVE, presents a cheque to Debbie Islam, Chief Executive Officer of the society (right) and Valerie Powell (left).
In a joint concert on February 24th, the Orillia Vocal Ensemble and the Nai Children's Choir, with the participation of children from the Orillia Music Centre, raised just over $3,000 for the YMCA's Skid Watson Fund. The Songs for the Children concert featured a mix of Syrian, Canadian and international music. Here, OVE president Fred Larsen and Fei Tang of CultureLink (on the right) present a cheque for the proceeds to Pamela Marck and Kate Meeks of the YMCA (on the left).
The Orillia Vocal Ensemble and Nai Children’s Choir will co-present a special concert featuring a variety of Syrian and Canadian patriotic music with guest performers from the Orillia Music Centre. A fundraiser for the YMCA Skid Watson Fund, it will be held at 3:00 pm. in St. Paul’s Centre Great Hall, 62 Peter Street North, Orillia. Admission is free with a free will collection. Members of the Nai Choir recently sang at the celebration of the 80th birthday of Adrienne Clarkson, where the photo below was taken. Recognizable public figures who attended include former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, writer John Ralston Saul, former prime minister Jean Chretien, and current Governor-General Julie Payette.
On Saturday, December 15, 2018, the Orillia Vocal Ensemble (director Roy Menagh, accompanist Mary Jo Wilson) raised $5,750 for the Lighthouse Shelter’s Building Hope campaign in a concert at St. Paul’s Centre.
Guest artists were the A Little Wind Music brass ensemble led by Rita Arendz, violinist Sean Ford and soprano Laura Aylan-Parker. Some notable choral pieces of music performed were Song for a Winter’s Night by Gordon Lightfoot, Laudate Dominum by Wolfgang Mozart and Ecce Novum by Norwegian composer Ola Gjello. Brass pieces included Christmas Day by Gustav Holtz, Huron Indian Carol by Jean de Brebeuf and Es Ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (Lo, how a rose e’er blooming) by Brahms.
The concert was superbly MC’d by Jack Latimer of the Building Hope campaign.
The Orillia Vocal Ensemble is known as the “pay-it-forward” choir and has raised in excess of $120,000 for various Orillia charities over the past few years.
OVE president Fred Larson presents a cheque for the proceeds of the concert to Linda Goodall of the Orillia Lighthouse Shelter.
Listen to a couple of pieces from the concert:
Ecce Novum by Ola Gjeilo, sung by the OVE
Birthday Carol by David Willcocks, sung by the OVE Chamber Choir
The annual OVE fund-raising concert to benefit the Sharing Place Food Bank took place on December 8, 2018 at Thors Motors. 80 children on ukuleles helped to enliven the proceedings, and at the end of the day about $6,000 was raised. Santa Claus also put in an appearance, to the delight of many kids. Many thanks, as usual, to Bob Brown for hosting this event and sponsoring it.
Photo by courtesy of Orillia Matters.
The OVE Richer Than Wealth concert on May 26, 2018 raised more than $2,500 for the Loonie Lunch program of the St. James Anglican Church in Orillia. The concert featured pieces by Billy Joel, Coco Love Alcorn, and Mark Sirett, among others. Guest performers were the Orillia Shout Sisters, and drumming accompaniment was provided by Mark Sturrup and his family.
About 75 choristers from eleven choirs or choral groups participated in a sensational day of learning at Lakehead University!
As with previous workshops, three clinicians led participants in different aspects of choral singing.
Dr. Mark Sirett, noted Canadian composer and conductor, explained his compositional process to promote greater meaning and understanding in performers!
Melissa Lalonde led singers in exploring traditional Zulu vocal music and discovering some of the ways in which African song is unified.
Dr. Robin Williams presented an intense session on the basics of singing according to the Italian School, commonly referred to as bel canto.
Feedback from the choristers present was very positive, and an enjoyable day was had by all.
The OVE Spring Sing concert on March 25, 2018 raised $4,400 for children's mental health programs at Jubilee House. Guest performers Paul Brooks on guitar and Mike Milner on bass accompanied the OVE on some pieces and also played some of their own selections.
Once again, we thank our sponsors and audience for their generosity, some of whom made very large donations. You are all very much appreciated.
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Roger Andrews Memorial Scholarship:
Kathleen Andrews