Choral Workshop with Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor - a Soprano's Take

At the end of April 2022, the Stairwell Carollers did a choral workshop with invited guest Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor, professional choral director and former member of Chanticleer.

Gabe, as he is affectionately known by the choir, had done masterclasses with the Carollers back in 2018 and 2019. After months of pandemic isolation he returned in 2022. Nothing in the world would stop the choir members and their director, Pierre Massie, from missing an opportunity to spend several days with Gabe.

So, here I am, new chorister with the Stairwell Carollers, and not particularly sure of myself. Choir members patiently await Gabe's arrival. He's a master, a specialist in his field, with a doctorate in choral conducting?

Ooof. Really?

What am I getting myself into here? I'm fine...take a deep breath, keep an open mind, after all, it's only one weekend...

Can you guess where I'm going with this? The workshop was just SUPERB, my performance improved by 150%, and the pandemic blues became a thing of the past. Well, not quite! Yes, Gabe is a master professor for sure. Genuine and sincere, he shares his expertise with humour, humility and simplicity, in a way that reaches everyone and unites the choir in song. While respecting Pierre's excellent work, Gabe helped us hone our spring repertoire and sometimes, imagine the songs in a different way. The workshop was also full of practical tips that come up regularly at our Wednesday evening rehearsals.

Still intimidated? Uh, of course, but I also loved the experience. We worked hard, but we also laughed a lot and shared some amazing food (outdoors, of course). The pandemic-related challenges we face are still with us, but what a boost to the group's morale and energy level!

When's the next workshop?

by: Anita Beaudette

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About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

The Stairwell Carollers Sing - Il Bianco e Dolce Cigno - live concert - YouTube video

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform “ Il bianco e dolce cigno”, a melodious Renaissance madrigal by Jacques Arcadelt. You can find the lyrics HERE. Performed live in concert at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022 and recorded live.

This version of Il bianco e dolce cigno is on our “Audite nova” recording.  All our recordings benefit charities and are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats. 

Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022. 

Videographers: Michèle Auger, Drew Mason

Video Editing: Pierre Massie

This beautiful choral piece is in the Public Domain! You can get it for your choir HERE for FREE on CPDL (Choral Public Domain Library)

  Get our professional recordings HERE.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Au joli jeu, a Renaissance Madrigal by Clément Jannequin - YouTube - Auditions August 24th 2022

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform the Spicy madrigal Au joli jeu by Clément Jannequin.

This version of Au joli jeu is on our Audite nova recording.  All our music benefits local charities and our albums are available to buy on our Square store in both CD and MP3 formats.  

Get our professional recordings here  

Visit our website!

Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022. 

Videographers: Michèle Auger, Drew Mason

Editing: Pierre Massie

In Person Auditions Set for August 24th 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices. Also soprano. Email Holly info(at)stairwellcarollers.com to set up your audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

O vos omnes by Tomas Luis de Victoria - Ottawa Stairwell Carollers choir - YouTube

 

Having been on Youtube for over 12 years now, the Stairwell Carollers has fought a few battles over copyright. Not the silliest being ones for our Director, Pierre's own original compositions! 

Sure enough, we uploaded our video of  O vos omnes by Tomas Luis de Victoria from our Spring concert last June. Bam. A copyright notice!

For an obviously Public Domain piece!

There are scammers everywhere, and YouTube is not by any means free of them.  (Imagine trying to get a piece of our already meagre YouTube earnings.)

Of course, I am disputing it. Details to come... (I'm usually successful fighting these fakes)

Here it is!

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform O vos omnes by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

O vos omnes is on our “Cantate Domino” recording.  Net proceeds from our music benefits local charities. You can purchase or songs on our website in both CD and MP3 formats.  Get our professional recordings here.. https://stairwell-carollers-buy-christmas-carol-cds-music.square.site

Visit our website

Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022. 

Videographers: Michèle Auger, Drew Mason

Video Editing: Pierre Massie

Auditions ongoing until end of August 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices. Also soprano.

Email Holly info(at)stairwellcarollers.com to set up your virtual audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

O Jesu Christe by Jacquet de Mantua - sung live by Ottawa's Stairwell Carollers - YouTube

Here is our next YouTube offering - O Jesu Christe - from our St. Columba June 4th 2022 Spring Concert. 

One of my personal favourites, I have been singing the alto part in this song for easily 20 years :P

You may have noticed, we are singing and rehearsing with masks on still. Many of our members are seniors and some are immune compromised, so we made the decision to continue masking.

The amazing thing is, I actually got used to singing through a mask, in fact, it helped with my allergies (churches can be very musty) 

Bonus -  the sound is just as good! I know, wierd, eh?

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform “ O Jesu Christe” by Jacquet de Mantua.

O Jesu Christe is on our “Cantate Domino” recording.  Net proceeds from our music sales benefit local charities.  Buy our songs from our website in both CD and MP3 formats.  

Purchase our professional recordings here.

The Stairwell Carollers, an a cappella group formed in 1977 by director Pierre Massie, has earned the distinction of being ranked amongst the best of Ontario choirs.   Our choir took first place in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association provincial competition.

Visit our website

Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022. 

Videographers: Michèle Auger, Drew Mason

Video Editing: Pierre Massie

Auditions ongoing until end of August 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices. Also soprano.

Email Holly info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your virtual audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

El Grillo - The Stairwell Carollers on Youtube - Auditions still on!

 Fresh from our first concert since Xmas 2019, here is “ El Grillo” by Josquin des Prez sung by The Stairwell Carollers.

This version of El Grillo is on our “Audite nova” recording.  Net proceeds from our music benefits local charities and are available to buy from our website in both CD and MP3 formats.  Purchase our professional recordings here... https://stairwell-carollers-buy-christmas-carol-cds-music.square.site/

Visit our blog http://www.stairwellcarollers.blogspo... or our website http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/ for updates.

Recorded at St. Columba Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2022. 

Videographers: Michèle Auger, Drew Mason

Video Editing: Pierre Massie Audio recording by the master of local choral audio, Tom Barnes.

We're looking for a few good Men!

The Stairwell Carollers are seeking tenors and basses to join our safe, fully vaccinated choral ensemble. A solid voice, a good ear, a great attitude, and proof of vaccination are all candidates need to qualify. Reading music is an asset but not a necessity.

Auditions for tenors and basses continue till August 2022 or until positions are filled. Auditions are held via zoom, Skype or Facetime. During the audition, the candidate must have access to software to read PDFs and play MP3 files.

Contact Holly at info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 
A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Search for Voices featured in Manor Park Chronicle

Many many thanks to Wes Smiderle for the beautiful article in the May/June edition of the Manor Park Chronicle. He got us the entire page!

I'm sure this will be a lot of help in our search for male voices to top up the choir for the coming Christmas season.

Check us out on page 40 in the May/June Manor Park Chronicle

Excerpts:

"The music ascends to the rafters, the choral voices surging from moments of delicate precision to a rousing, victorious force. Whether it's a medieval carol, or a wry French chanson from the Renaissance, or more modern music, the Stairwell Carollers know their way around a song."

"In the 1990's The Stairwell Carollers recorded an album which helped raise over $50,000 (- For Ottawa Ronald McDonald House - more in-depth history HERE), which sparked their philanthropic goals."

"Now, as the Carollers plan for concerts in their 45th year, Pierre is focused on recruiting more voices, a move that will expand the choir's vocal toolbox and allow the group to tackle a more diverse range of music.

Thanks to Cheryl, soprano, for asking Wes to cover the choir for his excellent local paper. Thanks to Doug Banks for spending so much time with us at rehearsal to get the perfect shots for the article.

We're looking for a few good Men!

The Stairwell Carollers are seeking tenors and basses to join our safe, fully vaccinated choral ensemble. A solid voice, a good ear, a great attitude, and proof of vaccination are all candidates need to qualify. Reading music is an asset but not a necessity.

Auditions for tenors and basses continue till August 2022 or until positions are filled. Auditions are held via zoom, Skype or Facetime. During the audition, the candidate must have access to software to read PDFs and play MP3 files.

Contact Holly at info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

A Great Come-Back Concert - Much Thanks To All from Nirvana

Thank you all for such a wonderful concert last night! The audience was so appreciative of the performance -- and in addition to that, I'm extremely appreciative of all the work that went into the staging, work that escapes the notice of many of the audience members. 

Many thanks for all the 'background' work that went into the concert, particularly those on the Tech Crew, the Workshop Committee, the Steering Committee, and a huge thanks to all the singers who made last night so very special. 

I feel like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, being able to sing in a public concert after so much time. My very best wishes to all, especially Erin and Katherine, who are each embarking on a brand new journey. We'll miss you, but hope you continue to stay in touch.

And most of all, thanks to Pete, for so many things -- 

having the vision to create the choir in the first place; having so much artistic integrity that it gives us such a unique, well-balanced sound; for all the pushing to make us unsatisfied with a good performance when a better one can be achieved with more effort; for years of instruction, for I have learned something with each and every rehearsal over the years; for the blunt (yet spot-on) comments when I inadvertently get lazy, for you know I can do better; and, most of all, for allowing me to be part of such a wonderful ensemble -- I feel such soul-affirming joy and awe when we hit on all cylinders! 

And that's also thanks to everyone giving their best. Together we are nirvana.

{Nirvana is a place of perfect peace and happiness, like heaven. In Hinduism and Buddhism, nirvana is the highest state that someone can attain, a state of enlightenment, meaning a person's individual desires and suffering go away.}

Enjoy a well-deserved respite, and have a terrific summer. ;o)

Maggie

Auditions ongoing until August 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices. Also soprano and an alto.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Sad Departure - The Stairwell Interviews

It's not always that when a singer departs, she leaves a gaping hole in our hearts. 
That rhymes! How fitting! Katherine style. 
I'll mostly miss her devilishly adorable sense of humour, her dancing with and miming out song lyrics, her fantastic crochet and knit creations, her beautiful photos - and, well, just HER. 
XO Holly

It seems so appropriate that I get to bookend my time in the Stairwell Carollers with a "choral boot camp," first at the Galilee Centre in 2018 when I had just joined the Carollers, and again now in the spring of 2022 as I prepare to depart Ottawa.

 These sessions brought a concentrated, focused enjoyment to singing and a more profound understanding of the music, alongside a very physical awareness of sound. It’s an addictive feeling and also a familiar one, because it condenses the experience of every single Stairwell Carollers rehearsal. 

Pete fills each Wednesday night with intensity and purpose; he points out the interplay of voices in the music, plays with interpretation to bring out different aspects of each song, and encourages everyone to hear imperfections in tone and blend, smoothing them away to create something pure. 

Of course, this couldn’t happen without the Carollers themselves, every one of them warm and funny and generous, who come together with hard work and good humor* to make Pete’s vision happen (as best we can).

Singing with the group has the feeling of finally snapping in the correct puzzle piece: it’s so perfect and incredibly satisfying. I didn't know what to expect when my family was posted to Ottawa, but I cannot tell you how lucky I feel to have become involved with this amazing choir, led by this exacting and exciting director, who every season gathers a repertoire that challenges and delights. 

Of all the things I expected to gain from my Canadian experience, a deeper and more nuanced appreciation for choral music was roughly nowhere on the list, and I am stupidly grateful for it. The past couple of years turned out to be challenging, but being able to sing with the Carollers has been a joy, and to have had their friendship and music to rely on during this time was an absolute gift.

*I know you Canadians spell it “humour” but I have to stand my ground.

by Katherine Marek

Auditions still ongoing until August 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices. And maybe an alto...

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Stairwell Carollers Ottawa Choral Concert this Saturday June 4th 8:00pm

Alle psallite cum luya, loosely translated as ' let us sing together, alleluia!' is more than just the name of one of the pieces we sing this season. In fact, it seems to encapsulate how we feel these days for several reasons.  RESERVE TICKETS HERE

To begin with, this is our first live musical offering for the public after two years of pandemic-induces silence - so for that alone, let us sing together, alleluia! 

 Second, during the late 13th and 14th century when this motet was composed, the first bubonic plague was starting to ravage Europe, sowing death and stoking fear and panic. 

Yet, one anonymous monk, shivering in his cloister, found the means of offering defiant praise against the specter of a frightening new world with a musical call to arms: Let us sing together, alleluia! 

The fact that his melody and words have survived 800 years into our century so that we might sing it during our own trying time: alleluia! 

Finally, having made it through the Covid-19 epidemic, the Stairwell Carollers have persevered, but in reduced numbers of male singers along the way. Moving forward, we need to build up our membership in order to sing at our optimum best. 

My challenge to any musically oriented guys reading this message: heed the call of the anonymous thirteenth century monk and join us: let us sing together, alleluia!

Director, Pierre Massie (thanks to Terry B. for the wonderful words)

We're looking for a few good Men!

The Stairwell Carollers are seeking tenors and basses to join our safe, fully vaccinated choral ensemble. A solid voice, a good ear, a great attitude, and proof of vaccination are all candidates need to qualify. Reading music is an asset but not a necessity.

Auditions for tenors and basses continue till August 2022 or until positions are filled. Auditions are held via zoom, Skype or Facetime. During the audition, the candidate must have access to software to read PDFs and play MP3 files.

Contact Holly at info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your audition time.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Stairwell Carollers singers featured in Vistas Article

Stairwell Carollers in rehearsal - photo credit, Katherine Marek

In a new article that just dropped in Vistas - the local Alta Vista newspaper - two Stairwellers, one new and one long time member, speak about singing and performing with a choir through and despite the pandemic. 

Veteran journalist, Courtney Tower, spent hours interviewing Maggie,  Anita, myself and Director, Pete, in preparation to writing the article. He co-created the piece with a Ridgemont journalism student, Skyler Josephson.

Here is a link to the entire online paper - Paper copies may still available locally.

Auditions still ongoing until August 2022 - we are especially searching for tenor and bass voices.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.