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.

The Choir gets a lift - Solo Saturday on Sunday

Rise up, Rise up!

Risers - should you use them or not? The larger the choir, the more tricky the setup.

Long ago we invested in commercial collapsible choir risers. Sure enough, we looked pretty - and professional - perched on  three levels. 

Costumes were shown off well and the risers were simple to set up and safe to stand on.

 Despite the onus of storing and transporting these mechanical marvels, we used them at many concerts. We also got used to the squeaks and clinks as the supporting structure complained about the weight of the entire choir. 

But then, during our Cantate Domino recording sessions our old risers proved unsuitable. We could not hear each other as well as when we were standing all on the same level. And they were noisy!

Our director made the executive decision to allow the Glebe Collegiate Music Department to use them (as payment for storing them), and to explore new options. 

 Jim, master piano player and husband to Susan - alto - took on the task of creating a new set of risers. He designed and constructed them by hand from plywood. Each one is small enough to be easily carried with cutout hand holds.  All different sizes, they fit in each other for ease of transport, taking half the space of the commercial choral risers. 

Now we have endless setups, customizable for each venue. Awesome. 

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir way back in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with 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. Net proceeds benefit charity.