JUNO nominated conductor and composer, Timothy Corlis and assistant director Kathleen Allan will team up with saxophonist Willem Moolenbeek and pianist Boyd McDonald for the first performance of the Vancouver Peace Choir, April 24 at Richmond's Gilmore Park United Church (8060 No. 1 Rd at Blundell, 5 pm) and at 8 pm April 26 (Epiphany Chapel, Vancouver School of Theology at UBC) in Vancouver, in concerts centred around Earth Day and environmental consciousness.

The unusual combination of saxophone with choir will lead a musical celebration of the earth and a hopeful vision of environmental stewardship. Into Paradise will feature the Vancouver premier of Corlis’ work In Paradisum for tenor sax and choir, as well as works by Felix Mendelssohn, Astor Piazzolla, Frederick Chopin, Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Simon & Garfunkel.

The Vancouver Peace Choir is dedicated to the search for inner and outer expressions of peace through music. Its vision is to create a place to experience deep contemplation and to become a source of inspiration for the peacemakers in our world. The choir will bring together experienced musicians that share a passion for the work of peace in all meanings of the word – politically, environmentally, and interpersonally. Their concerts will draw from freshly composed works that aim to speak out about the injustices of today’s modern world and from traditional choral repertoire that has expressed the spirit of peacemaking throughout the ages.

Timothy Corlis has received repeated praise from prominent musicians and reviewers. John S. Grey of Whole Note Magazine (Toronto) reviewed him as “a composer of great depth and passion, not to mention a pristine, polished craft,” Bramwell Tovey described him as “a very fine young composer on his mettle” and Christos Hatzis consistently describes his music as “brilliant.” As a choral director, Corlis studied under Leonard Enns and has since directed numerous choirs, often combining his gift for composing with a passion for fostering powerful connections with his audience.

A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Kathleen Allan, is an experienced choral vocalist having toured in the lead role of Stephen Hatfield’s opera, Ann and Seamus. At the age of 19, she is a two-time recipient of the Nflld Arts and Letters Award for composition. Her choral works are published with Alliance Music Publication (Texas) and Cypress Choral Music (BC) and have been performed across Canada and in the UK.

Moolenbeek and McDonald have recorded several cds that are often aired on CBC and other classical music stations. The use of the tenor saxophone as an instrument for classical music is relatively new and Moolenbeek’s work in this area had been recognized internationally. His playing has been described in the press as a “standard for tonal excellence in the world of reed music” (The Record, Kitchener, ON) and by sax legend, Paul Brodie as possessing “the most beautiful tenor saxophone sound I have ever heard.”

Boyd McDonald gave his New York debut as winner of the Leschetizky Debut Prize and has since toured extensively across Canada, Great Britain and the USA. He is a member of the Classical Trio with violinist Jeanne Lamon and cellist Christina Mahler of internationally acclaimed ensemble Tafelmusik.

Tickets $20 adult | $15 senior $10 student. Available through choir members and at the door.
Information: 778 668 3440