Tuesday, December 24, 2019

The Monkees Sing Riu Riu Chiu - I'm in love all over again!

Cute Xmas music meme - credit unknown
K... This is the sweetest thing on the internet right now. Thanks David!

The Monkees sing Riu Riu Chiu. Thanks to TanjaBarnes channel on Youtube for an early Christmas gift!

And here's our version! About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with the net proceeds from our concert ticket and CD sales.

Monday, December 23, 2019

A Virgin Most Pure - featured on Catholic Culture Podcast! Youtube video

O magnum Mysterium CD also available in MP3 format

The Catholic Culture Podcast is featuring our performance of A Virgin Most Pure in Episode 59 - The Glorious English Carol. Thanks to Thomas V. Mirus for honouring us with this inclusion. 


Our carol is at 36:02 in the podcast.

The carol is on our O magnum mysterium Christmas CD, available through our website in both CD and MP3 format.
Here it is our live concert video on Youtube

The podcast episode is a wonderful overview of the English Carol with many other carol examples included, such as (from the podcast episode description):

All music in this episode used with permission from the recording artist and/or label.
Nowell sing we both all and some, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
Gabriel From Heaven’s King, Quire Cleveland https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/quirecleveland2
A Virgin Most Pure, Stairwell Carolers https://www.stairwellcarollers.com/en/o-magnum-mysterium/
Coventry Carol, Harry Christophers and the Sixteen, available on the CORO record label at https://thesixteenshop.com/

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Dec 18 Christmas concert last of the season for the Stairwell - St. Columba Church

Stairwell Carollers at Southminster concert - photo credit Mark Holzman
Our 2019 Xmas donation of $2000 was presented to Cornerstone Housing for Women at our 7:30 pm December 14th concert at Southminster United Church.

Some lovely praise from Mark Holzman -
"Pierre - What a wonderful concert on Saturday night. Thank you for your community support over these many years and for choosing to donate to Cornerstone this year. The hard work and dedication shown by all the Stairwell Carollers is evident in the lovely music you all have composed, arranged, practiced and performed so beautifully. And how magical to see the transformation back to winter when we left the church! Attached are several photos of the presentation. Happy holidays to all. - Mark"

Pierre Massie presents $2000 gift to Cornerstone to Mark Holzman
The concert was packed to the rafters with a wonderful audience! Even the choir loft was full! Thanks so much for a great night!

Reviews from The concert coming in -
"On Sunday I bumped into a couple of people who had attended the Dec 14th concert, and told me "how marvelous" it was.
Among many highly appreciative remarks were: How particularly they had enjoyed the piece "with all those various carols and yule songs in with the chant" (i.e., they meant "Christmas is...") and that they do hope that "Song of The Crib" will go onto the Carollers' next CD- "it was so beautiful".
Keith, Bass"
Two Smiling Ladies
Cornerstone has shared with us the impact that donations like ours will have:

“Almost 1,000 women become homeless in Ottawa every year.

“Thanks to the support of our partners, donors, and friends, Cornerstone Housing for Women helps two hundred women every 
day, and nearly five hundred women each year transform their lives from crisis to hope, housing, and healing.

“We are the only Ottawa shelter and housing charity uniquely tailored to women that have experienced homelessness.

“We offer emergency shelter and supportive housing at five locations, and an outreach program. We give professional and 
spiritual care to a diversity of women. With support, women can transform their lives and have a fresh start.”

To hear some of the best Christmas music in Ottawa - click here to get your tickets to our final concert of the season on Wed Dec 18th, only $15 in advance.Stairwell Carollers 2019 Christmas concert poster

By purchasing your ticket, you provide us with the funds to work towards our 2020 donation to another local charity. Thank you!

This brings our total giving to local charities plus music scholarships to students to just under $145,000.  This is the second time the choir has donated to Cornerstone – the first was in 2001 – and we are proud to be able to continue to support their important work.

David Rain

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, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $144,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Listen LIVE - Pierre Massie featured on the Peace Tower carillon - NOON today

 Dominion Carillonneur, Andrea McCrady,  will once again honour Stairwell Caroller director and choral composer Pierre Massie with a carillon program of his music.

The Noon Hour carillon performance will take place Dec 14, 2019.

Pierre Massie compositions and arrangements on the Peace Tower carillon

Pierre Massie and Andrea McCrady, Canada's Dominion Carillonneur (and National Treasure)
Exclusively made up of Pierre's arrangements and compositions, the concert features a carillon setting of his "Nouvelle Agréable"  by Wendy Earl - one of Andrea McCrady's graduate students.
Interior view of the Peace tower bells, Ottawa

If you missed the LIVE performance, here is a recording of a past performance of Stairwell Carol by Dominion Carillonneur, Andrea McCrady.


About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Twitter, NEW Gloucester Wassail Youtube vid and Christmas Concerts!

Grouse in winter

Follow The Stairwell Carollers - @StairwellChoir on Twitter!


Don't miss our tweets - and those of tenor, David Rain - Choral Composer - @DavidRain56
Stairwell Caroller Xmas concerts poster

NEW VIDEO - Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform The Gloucester Wassail, arranged by R. Vaughan Williams.


This version of “The Gloucester Wassail” is on our “Mourning Dove” CD.
Stairwell Carollers Mourning Dove CD cover
All our CDs are available on our website in both CD and MP3 formats.

Audio: Tom Barnes.
Recorded at Southminster United Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Dec 15th, 2018.
Videographers: Matthieu Brennan, Elisa Torlone
Editing: Pierre Massie

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, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $140,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Cornerstone Housing for Women to receive Caroller's 2019 Christmas Gift of $2000

Snow Fairy
The Stairwell Carollers are excited to announce that our 2019 Xmas donation of $2000 will be presented to Cornerstone Housing for Women at our 7:30 pm December 14th concert at Southminster United Church!
Two Smiling Ladies
Cornerstone has shared with us the impact that donations like ours will have:

“Almost 1,000 women become homeless in Ottawa every year.

“Thanks to the support of our partners, donors, and friends, Cornerstone Housing for Women helps two hundred women every 
day, and nearly five hundred women each year transform their lives from crisis to hope, housing, and healing.

“We are the only Ottawa shelter and housing charity uniquely tailored to women that have experienced homelessness.

“We offer emergency shelter and supportive housing at five locations, and an outreach program. We give professional and 
spiritual care to a diversity of women. With support, women can transform their lives and have a fresh start.”

To see the presentation of the donation to Cornerstone - and hear some of the best Christmas music in Ottawa - click here to get your tickets, only $15 in advance:
Stairwell Carollers 2019 Christmas concert poster
By purchasing your ticket, you provide us with the funds to work towards our 2020 donation to another local charity. Thank you!

This brings our total giving to local charities plus music scholarships to students to just under $145,000.  This is the second time the choir has donated to Cornerstone – the first was in 2001 – and we are proud to be able to continue to support their important work.

David Rain

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, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $144,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

PREMIERE! Es ist ein Ros entsprungen - The Stairwell Carollers - Youtube video

Stairwell Carollers 2019 Christmas concert poster
Sneak Peek!
David Rain's gorgeous arrangement of the classic German carol “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” is included in our 2019 Christmas Concert program.

Here is the premiere performance via our Youtube channel.
Don't miss The Stairwell Carollers Christmas concert, An a capella Christmas, at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Ave at Bank St, Saturday December 14th, 7:30pm.

The Carollers are pleased to be presenting a $2,000 donation to the Cornerstone Housing for Women at this concert.

Looking for that perfect Christmas gift? Stairwell Caroller CDs will be on sale at every concert. We accept credit cards and debit now too with The Square!

Tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 in advance at Compact Music, 206 & 785 1/2 Bank Street
ONLINE TICKETS.

If you can’t make it to Southminster, you can still hear the Stairwell Carollers on Wednesday December 18th at St. Columba Church, 24 Sandridge Road, 7:30pm
ONLINE TICKETS

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, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $140,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

NEW website for the Stairwell - Xmas Concerts this weekend!

Stairwell Carollers Official website
Stairwell Carollers NEW Official website
Q.What is as painful as birthing a baby but took way longer than 8 Months??

A. A new website :P

When the internet was young, my husband and our darling director, Pierre, built our first website from the ground up. He learned the HTML, spent hours, days, weeks in the chair tweaking it. He loaded it with tons of content and photos (very special since the early internet was pretty wonky with managing the images.

Then, FOR YEARS, he kept his baby chugging along.

Then smart phones appeared. Mobile tech needs mobile websites. Nuh uh - ours had the weirdest look on mobile, and it was way beyond Pete to correct it. He was already dealing with frames and java script nightmares.

Basically our website had become a haunted mansion. With strange random pages still existing out in the nether net - if you had the link - and s-l-o-w- l-o-a-d-i-n-g problems.

Well, two awesome things about our facelift is it's NEW - and it's FAST!

Our brand new shiny website, using Wordpress is courtesy of Cypher systems, designed and managed by our director, Pierre (with editing and proofing help by fellow Stairwellers).

Speaking of CONCERTS ------------ coming up this weekend!

 The 2019 Christmas Concert program will feature a number of works by Pierre Massie – including his arrangements of Christmas favourites like “Do you hear what I hear” 
and “Mon beau sapin”, along with his original bilingual song, “The Stairwell Carol.” 
Two world premieres will be presented during the Carollers’ upcoming Christmas season: the beautiful, gently rocking “Mary’s Lullaby” written by alto, Lyndsay Bolden – and the imaginative, tour de force “Christmas is…” by bass, Terry Brynaert.
Stairwell Composers - David, Lyndsay, Pierre and Terry
Both Lyndsay and Terry have been filled with excitement and anticipation watching their new pieces blossom in rehearsal.

David Rain's gorgeous arrangement of the classic German carol “Es ist ein Ros entsprungen” is also included in the program.

It’s a rare choir indeed that can boast such an abundance of creative energy. Ottawa residents can hear the results of this choral composer collaboration at the Stairwell Carollers Christmas concert, An a capella Christmas, at Southminster United Church, 15 Aylmer Ave at Bank St, Saturday December 14th, 7:30pm.

The Carollers are also pleased to be presenting a $2,000 donation to the Cornerstone Housing for Women at this concert.

And, if you’re looking for that perfect Christmas gift, the choir’s CDs will be on sale too. Net proceeds are used to help local organizations - since 1997 the choir has donated over $140,000 to local charities and scholarships.

Tickets are $20 at the door, or $15 in advance at Compact Music, 206 & 785 1/2 Bank Street
ONLINE TICKETS.

Hope to see you there on December 14th!

If you can’t make it to Southminster, you can still hear the Stairwell Carollers on Wednesday December 18th at St. Columba Church, 24 Sandridge Road, 7:30pm
ONLINE TICKETS
About The Stairwell Carollers:

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

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert, CD and cookbook sales. 

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