The Valley Voices choir has been performing for several years in Drayton Valley.

 

Drayton Valley has a hidden musical gem, and it’s open to everyone. Since 2001, Valley Voices Community Choir has presented 36 concerts and you can be a part of the next one!

“Depending on the year, we’ve had anywhere between 25 and 50 community members, spanning the ages of 15 and 85,” says long time member and current President, Pam Baker. “The only requirement is that they want to sing. There are members who don’t read music and some who are very experienced.”

Valley Voices’s year is split into two semesters; the fall term prepares for a Christmas concert in December and in January the focus shifts to a themed spring concert and performance in the local music festival.

Baker says, “In the past, we have had traditional concert formats as well as more experimental ones. We’ve done themes like ‘love’, music from movies and musicals, and  we did a big thing for the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. A few years ago, our winter concert was paired with stunning photographs by local photographer, Martin Prentice, so it was a visual performance as well as live music.  Last Christmas, we joined Heather Rankin on stage for a carol at the EPAC. We’ve had special guests join us like Michelle Colby, Harpist Kerri Zwicker, and the band, River’s Edge. Sometimes we do well enough in festival to be invited to provincials in Edmonton which is another very different experience.”

Valley Voices meets on Mondays, from 7:00 – 9:00 at the Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre, and there is an optional coffee social once a month after rehearsal.  The $60 registration fee each semester pays for music rentals, monthly coffee, and venue costs.

While most members come from Drayton Valley and the surrounding County of Brazeau, Valley Voices also has members who carpool in from Evansburg. “It’s a social event as well as a musical one. Working together to create music is such a positive relationship-building activity.” says member Brenda Cartwright – and science agrees. Studies show that singing in a group has benefits for mental, emotional, social, and physical health. It also can create long term friendships.

So why not try it out this fall?  Not only will you get to have fun and make music, but you might make a friend!  Registration is September 9 and 16 at 6:30 at the Eleanor Pickup Arts Centre. If you have any questions, please contact Pam Baker at 780 542 4169.

 

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