Ottawa Citizen - The Upbeat: Ottawa Choir sings a Charitable Duet

A duet of American goldfinches

David's original article as submitted is below:

Ottawa choir sings a charitable duet this spring

May 18, 2016, For Immediate Release (Ottawa) –



Founded in 1977, the Stairwell Carollers give back to the community in so many diverse ways. Musically, they are an award-winning a capella choir, led by an award-winning composer, their director, Pierre Massie.

The Stairwell Carollers also sing in a humanitarian key, as they are a registered charity themselves. Over the years, including this spring, proceeds from their CD and ticket sales have allowed them to donate over $130,000 in music scholarships to students and special gifts to local charities.

Continuing this tradition, the choir is thrilled to announce this year’s winner of the Stairwell Carollers music scholarship, Charlie Watson. Charlie is a grade 12 student at Canterbury High School, who plays the piano and trumpet and also sings in the male chorus. He is excited to receive this $1000 award, which will help him as he enters the University of Toronto music department in performance this fall.

The Stairwell Carollers are also pleased to present their next $2000 donation to the Ottawa Chapter of Parkinson Canada. From diagnosis to discovery, Parkinson Canada guides the way for Canadians to live well with Parkinson’s disease through education, advocacy and support services.

The Carollers will make an official presentation of their gift to Parkinson Canada at their spring concert
at Saint Barnabas Church (corner of James St & Kent St) on June 4^th, 7:30pm.

Tickets are available at the door for $20, or in advance for $15 from The Leading Note, 370 Elgin St; Compact Music, 190 & 785 1/2 Bank St; Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave, or online at http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Concerts.html.
And if you’re looking for a great gift, the Stairwell Carollers’ latest CD, “O magnum mysterium”, will be on sale at the concert. Your purchase of a CD will help the Carollers offer their next music scholarship or donation to a local charity.

To learn more about Parkinson Canada, visit parkinson.ca.

David Rain, who sings second tenor, has been receiving his musical cues from the back of Pierre Massie’s head for 23 years with the Carollers. For more information, please visit www.stairwellcarollers.com.

The Tenor of the Moment -- after the audition...

The Stairwell Carollers welcome Richard to the Tenor section

So... I joined a choir. It's something I do. I've sung with choirs in Budapest (Gabrieli Choir) and Aarhus (Korinord) and Toronto (Hart House Chorus) and a few others beside.

Richard, in blue, top right, pays close attention to Pierre's direction

It's the Stairwell Carollers and if you're reading this, you've probably already heard of the group.

Director Pierre works with the men only for Spaséniye sodélal

This choir has bits of the best bits of some of those choirs - it's a small group of people from all walks of life and a range of ages who come together to make beautiful music.

The men only sing Spaséniye sodélal

We sing unaccompanied (I don't think the drum for "Tourdion" really counts), beautiful music from anywhere from five hundred years ago to five years ago. And we sing it well.

Even better, we do good: each year the Stairwell Carollers raises money for charities active in our community and to provide a scholarship to an Ottawa-area high school student beginning music studies at a Canadian university.

Last week I sang my first concert with the group - in Almonte, so I understand if you didn't make it out. But this Saturday evening we'll sing the same repertoire in downtown Ottawa and I hope you can make it to join us.

It's really some fantastic music. Come, hear!

Richard Martin-Nielsen

Tenor

Stairwell Carollers 2016 Spring Concert series Lux Aurumque tonight and June 4th

Stairwell Carollers St. Barnabas church, Ottawa

Don't miss our gala 2016 Spring Concert June 4th 7:30 pm at St. Barnabas Church, 70 James St. Ottawa !

$15 in advance, $20 at the door.
ADVANCE TICKETS are available from all choir members in person, ONLINE HERE, and at selected local businesses.
We will be presenting a $2000 cheque to the local chapter of the Parkinson's society of Eastern Ontario at this concert. This gift is made possible through our concert ticket and CD sales. Thanks! CDs are always available at our concert during intermission and at the reception afterwards. Thanks to the Square, we can accept credit cards at the concert for cd sales, so do that early Christmas shopping :)

As always, there will be a post concert reception with lots of yummies supplied by the choir. There is also a door prize draw , but you must be at the reception to win -- so we will see you there!

Since it was so well loved last spring, we are continuing to explore musical selections from the contemporary scene alternating with glorious prices from the Renaissance period. Here is the repertoire for the evening.

Our director, Pierre, has again chosen some spectacular music for this concert.

Due to popular demand ( and the fact that we all LOVE it) we are again singing the modern Ave Maria by Franz Biebl. If you have been living under a rock and have never heard it, here is an exquisite version of it on YouTube performed by a lone virtuoso, Mr. Matthew Curtis. We are planning to do quest workshops with Matthew here in Ottawa for the Stairwell Carollers upcoming 40th anniversary in 2017 -- which coincides with Canadas 150th birthday!

Don't miss this concert!

Here is a text list of the concert repertoire:

1. Amor Vittorioso - Giovanni Gastoldi (c.1550-1622)
2. Pater Noster - Igor Stravinsky
3. Dindirin, dindirin - Anon.(c.1500)
4. Earth Song - Frank Ticheli
5. Cucú, cucú! - Juan del Encina (1464-1523)
6. O magnum mysterium - Morten Lauridsen
7. Come Again - John Dowland (1563–1626)
8. O vos omnes - Pablo Cassals
9. Fa una canzone - Orazio Vecchi (1551-1605)
10. In Remembrance - Eleanor Daley
11. Tourdion - Claude Gervaise (fl.1540–1560)
12. Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal - Paul Mealor
13. La Tricotea - Franco Alonso (c.1490-1520)
14. Spaséniye sodélal - Pavel Chesnokov
15. Fair Phyllis - John Farmer (1570-1601)
16. Lux aurumque - Eric Whitacre
17. Le chant des oyseaux - Clément Janequin (c.1485-1558)
18. Esto les Digo - Kinley Lange
19. O Jesu Christe - Jacquet de Mantua (1483 -1559)
20. Salve Regina - Francis Poulenc
21. Corten espadas afiladas - Cancionero de Medinaceli (1500)
22. Ubi caritas - Maurice Duruflé
23. El Grillo - Josquin Des Prez (1440-1521)
24. Ave Maria - Franz Biebl

Tonight we are also singing a concert at Almonte United Church in Almonte, Ont.

Please call 613 256 1355 for ticket info.

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And, for your listening pleasure, a TEASER PLAYLIST for the concert....

Check out our newsletter for more details!

Manor park Chronicle Newspaper -- This Jay sings in a different key

Jay Fee, Conduction Mastering records Stairwell Carollers CDs

Our latest CD for Christmas, o Magnum Mysterium

Our latest CD for Christmas, o Magnum Mysterium

Lit by the light of his Mac, Jay works intently

The Stairwell Carollers are proud to have worked with Jay Fee for all our CD and thanks to him, they all have the same high quality and sound production. He really understands the Stairwell Carollers sound and the detailed audio needs of an a cappella choir.

Jay Fee, Conduction Mastering

Jay's recording company is Conduction Mastering and he has worked with many up and coming independent musicians, producers and even Sony. His impressive list of credits is HERE .

We can't say enough to recommend him for your recording needs whether you are a solo musician, pop group, a cappella ensemble or choral group. He records us on location in church venues but a large proportion of his record work is done in studio.

Our full compliment of Christmas, Sacred and Renaissance madrigal CDs can be perished and purchased directly from us HERE.