The Musaic Vocal Ensemble members are currently practicing for their upcoming spring program, with concerts being held in Penticton, Kelowna and Summerland.
Imelda Kedge, who has been with the choir since its inception, also serves as the choir librarian.
“I have all the music at my house,” she said. “I have three filing cabinets and 24 boxes in my basement, with music in them.”
Ken Gray started the choir in the 1990s, although, as Kedge said, “this choir is a reincarnation of choirs that came before it.”
Before this, there was a choir called the Galaxy Singers and a lot of the Musaic members also sang with the Galaxy Singers.
When Musaic first began they had about 20 singers and they now have 48.
The vocal ensemble has been aptly named because of the wide variety of music they sing.
“Musaic was kind of a play on the word Mosaic,” explained Kedge. “It’s all kinds of different music that we sing, so it’s a musical mosaic. We’ve done music from the early renaissance, up to modern day pop and jazz.”
Even though the choir practices once a week in a church, they are not a church choir, but rather a community choir.
“For years we practised at the Anglican Church but we’re presently practicing at the Lutheran Church,” said Kedge. “Unfortunately we’ve outgrown the space at the Anglican Church. We can’t all stuff into the sanctuary anymore!”
Over the years the choir has had four directors. The current director is Tracy Stuchbery.
“We have a really good balanced group of men and women. The choir has really grown under Tracy as far as precision and blending,” explained Kedge. “It’s been really wonderful singing with Tracy. Our sound is getting much more professional.”
Kedge also explained that due to Stuchbery’s connections, she is able to bring in different accompaniments for the choir to sing with.
For the upcoming concert, a junior choir will be joining the Musaic Vocal Ensemble. The choir will also be accompanied by a string ensemble and for one number, by a young girl playing the African drum.
“It’s not just the choir singing by themselves or with the piano, so it is really, really nice,” said Kedge.
During the program the choir will be singing in six different languages; Russian, Swahili, French, English, Latin and German.
“On our program this time we’re starting back at Bach and we’re moving up to things like, We Rise Again,” said Kedge.
“We’re actually doing a song that is used in a computer game called Baba Yetu.
In order to become a singer with the Musaic Vocal Ensemble, one must audition, singing for the director.
Kedge can’t remember a time when she hasn’t sung.
“I love to sing,” she said. “Music is just a joy. It’s how I pray.”
She said it would be nice was if there were a few more young people interested in choral music. Although their concerts are usually sold out, their audience is aging.
The Musaic Vocal Ensemble will be singing in Summerland at the St. John’s Lutheran Church on Sunday, April 26 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or can be purchased in advance from James on Kelly.
“I would say we are a good choir,” said Kedge. “Well worth coming out to hear.”
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