Best Concert Ever!!!!

If the saying: “The most beautiful woman is the one who always tries her best.” is true, then the eight members of Folsom Singers would win every beauty pageant.

Seven out of the eight members are housewives with certain ages; some didn’t even wear any make up on stage; apparently not extremely appealing in appearance. But when they started to sing, the audience was completely in awe, not any sound was made nor heard. After the theme song “Over the Rainbow” was finished, the audience gave a standing ovation. The concert reached the climax by an encore piece “Java Jive”.

There were motet of 6 parts double choir; novel contemporary piece using white lines to represent the notes; as well as popular jazz pieces. The cords were absolutely beautiful yet complicated. You can tell how dedicated they must have been by the eight as one harmony.

Some audiences were so touched by the music that there were tears in their eyes. Some were so excited to hear a song that hadn't crossed their minds for a long time that they sang their hearts out all the way back home. Some were brought into a land covered with snow and "heard" the snow of many forms. Some applauded like they never had. Some were humming along quietly on their seats. All in all, most audience shared the same comment: Folsom Singers had never moved audience as profoundly as this year.

What motivates them to dare to challenge themselves to choose the road that less traveled? What is it that keeps driving them insisting on sharing the most beautiful music with the audience in spite of the brutal fact that there is never enough singers nor budget? It's the passion for multi-culture choral music; the stubbornness of never giving up; as well as a sense of obligation. Folsom Singers are determined to overcome the difficulties of recruiting new members and finding new funding, and try our best to bring the quality choral music to you, our beloved friends!!!

如果「認真的女人最美」這句話是真的，七日晚在新生活社區教會演唱的美聲歌者八位成員，一定是每場選美大賽的贏家。

雖然八位中有七位是有點年紀的媽媽；雖然在舞台上甚至脂粉未施，但是她們唱出第一個音符開始，座無虛席的會場便立刻鴉雀無聲。壓軸的主題曲Over the Rainbow 結束後，觀眾起立熱情鼓掌。節目在把現場氣氛帶到最高點的安可曲Java Jive中畫下句點。

美聲今年的曲目包括八人六部的聖樂；以音名取代五線譜、以線條粗細取代強弱記號的獨特現代音樂；或柔情、或哀愴、或熱鬧的爵士流行樂等。和弦優美但複雜。從八人如一的優美和音中，可以瞭解她們的默契有多深；投入的心力有多厚。

有的觀眾被音樂感動的熱淚盈眶；有的觀眾在歌曲中找到多年未見的老友，一路高歌回家；有的觀眾被帶領到雪地中，用耳朵看到雪花的各種面貌；有的觀眾說從沒有如此真心誠意的熱烈鼓掌；還有觀眾忍不住在台下跟著啍唱起來。但大家共同的感想是：今年是美聲歌者最讓人動容的一年。

是什麼樣的動力讓她們膽敢挑戰自我，選擇森林中人煙罕至的那條路走呢？是什麼樣的耐力讓她們能在缺人、缺錢的情況下，年年還是堅持把最好的音樂和愛樂者分享呢？是對多元合唱音樂的熱愛；也是百折不撓的那股傻勁；還有一點莫名的使命感吧！美聲歌者希望她們的執著、堅持、認真，能克服吸收新血及經費的困難，繼續把優質音樂帶給大溫地區的每一個愛樂人！

Folsom Singers' 7th Annual Concert!

Lucky 7! Folsom Singers is 7 years old! Our passion for music has always been the same, if not more.

Folsom Singers would like to dedicate this year's annual concert to you, our friends, who have been supportive for all these years. The concert is scheduled on June 7th at New Life Community Church in Burnaby. This is the first season that Folsom has worked with two talented young musicians, Kemuel Wong (conductor), and Gary Tse (Accompanist).

Ms. Morna Edmundson, co-conductor of the renowned Elektra Women's Choir, and Dr. Bruce Pullan, the highly beloved and respected professor of the UBC Music Department, came to our rehearsals and offered great guidance. We are deeply moved by their dedication and passion for music, and earnestly appreciate their assistance!!! It's a rewarding and exciting experience for everyone.

〈Over the Rainbow〉is the theme of this year's concert. The repertoire includes: religious pieces as “Ave Maria,” “Pie Jesu,” “Cantate Dominum”; popular English pieces as “Shenandoah,” “Mr. Wonderful,” “Sing Me to Heaven”; traditional Chinese/Taiwanese pieces as “Autumn Chrysanthemum,” “The Moon is My Witness,” “Blossoms on a Rainy Night”…and other pieces from Spanish, Japanese and Inuit cultures.

To celebrate our 7th anniversary, admission to this year's concert will be by donation.

Time: 7:30 pm June 7th, 2008

Place: New Life Community Church
8765 Government Street, Burnaby (between Lougheed Mall and Costco)

Reservation or Inquiries: Sherry (604-4206036); Ada (604-4365018)

｢7｣是許多人的幸運數字，而今年正是〈美聲歌者〉(Folsom Singers) 室內合唱團成立七週年之幸運年。七年來，團員們對音樂的熱愛「一路走來始終如一」，為了回報愛樂聽友的熱情支持，年年卯足全力，期望能在年度音樂會上以絕佳的默契展現合唱音樂之美。

今年〈美聲歌者〉的七週年年度表演，定於六月七日星期六晚間7:30於本拿比新生活社區教會 (New Life Community Church， Burnaby) 舉行，歡迎各界喜愛合唱音樂的朋友共襄盛舉。這是〈美聲歌者〉與指揮新秀黃國豐先生及鋼琴伴奏謝志豪先生首度合作，更邀請到著名合唱指揮Dr. Bruce Pullan （UBC音樂系副教授）以及Morna Edmundson（Elektra Women’s Choir團長及指揮）擔任客座指導，相信必能帶給聽眾耳目一新的感受。

〈美聲歌者〉今年的音樂會以〈Over the Rainbow〉為主題，曲目包括多首宗教歌曲Ave Maria, Pie Jesu, Duo Seraphim, Cantate Dominum, Nigra Sum；著名英文歌曲Shenandoah, Mr. Wonderful, Sing Me to Heaven, Prayer of the Children；精選中文及台語歌曲如秋菊、月亮代表我的心、雨夜花、天黑黑；還有十六世紀西班牙民歌、日本童謠、加拿大原住民歌曲等，內容包羅萬象，精彩可期！

〈美聲歌者〉為了慶祝成立七週年，本年度音樂會為樂捐入場 (admission by donation)。音樂會地點位於新生活社區教會 (New Life Community Church，8765 Government Street, Burnaby，介於Costco 及Lougheed Mall之間)，六月七日晚上7:30，〈美聲歌者〉與您歌聲中相會。因座位有限，請預約索取門票。洽詢電話：604-420-6036 (Sherry), 604-436-5018 (Ada) 。

ChorFest 2008!

Increasing our exposure to the choral music community in Vancouver is an ever-present concern, and I (as an active member of the BC Choral Federation, and English-speaking representative for the choir) try to attend as much events that this umbrella organization holds to share with the board.



Recently, I had attended the annual choir festival called ChorFest at UBC. The timing of this festival was wonderful and significant in that it was the 30th year of this festival, the 150th birthday of the province of British Columbia, and the 100th anniversary of UBC.



The major highlight was to return to sing at the gorgeous and acoustically-sensitive Chan Centre, though one of the two workshops that I attended during the festival was particularly exceptional. The singing workshop was led by Elektra co-conductors, Morna Edmundson and Diane Loomer, and was practical in that it was similar to a mini-choir rehearsal! The short warmup was interesting as not only was it about warming up our voices; it was very much a physical exercise to warm up our whole body :) No piano was necessary to do the vocal exercises, as Diane led us through vocalising by singing "Over the Rainbow" using various vowels.



Members of Elektra choir were sandwiched between festival participants, and helped us through singing the many pieces of music. The 75 minutes alloted for the workshop flew by in a jiffy...and I felt so uplifted and joyous by the end that I didn't want to leave immediately. I didn't hesitate to talk to the conductors...Morna, who had come to our choir rehearsal last November, seemed to remember me as she gave me a welcoming handshake :) Soon afterwards, I would talk to Diane...and further confirm my realization of how small and close-knit the choral community is here...by introducing myself as part of Folsom choir which was now led by Kemuel Wong. She immediately noted that she had met him last autumn, likely through Morna's connection.



All in all, it was a very wonderful experience to get together and sing with a lot of music enthusiasts, as well as reconnect with contacts in the choral music community.

黃金女郎帶來的感動！

美聲前團員劉淑蓉在上了四年聲樂課後，四月十九日舉行了一場溫馨的成果發表會。

雖然她並不是專業的演唱者，但是在台上，她的台風穩健、舉止優雅、中氣十足，表現得可圈可點！雖然她沒有Celtic Woman、或 Charlotte Church般年輕甜美的聲音，但是她演唱Ave Maria時，竟能讓人有一種無法言喻的感動；眼眶甚至熱了起來。

音樂的奇妙之處應該就在於此了吧！謝謝妳，Sue!



Sue was one of us. After taking four years of vocal lessons from Ruth Suzuki, she held a recital April 19th.

She is by no means a professional singer, but she stood there confidently and elegantly, and sang every piece beautifully! Of course she is not as young (she proudly announced that she was 66 years young), and her voice is not as sweet as Celtic Woman or Charlotte Church, but when she sang Ave Maria, it touched the deepest corner of everyone's heart. It was beyond words. My eyes were warm and wet.

This must be the magic of music. Thank you, Sue.

與布拉姆斯漫步/Wander with Brahms

三月九日下午2:30，在溫哥華市的St. Helen's Anglican Church (4405 West 8th Ave.)，將有場「與布拉姆斯漫步」室內音樂會。

由遠道合唱團指揮女高音康幼玲、鋼琴家彭憶芬、法國號何興華老師、小提琴家廖俐伶，聯袂演出的這場音樂會，可望為觀眾帶來一個浪漫又古典的週日下午。

洽詢電話：778-8986734




A Chamber Music Recital Wander with Brahms will be held at 2:30 pm on March 9th, at St. Helen's Anglican Church (4405 West 8th Ave. Vancouver).

Soprano Katherine Lu, pianist I-Fen Peng, French Horn Steve Ho, together with violinist Li-Ling Liao will present this special concert. This coming Sunday afternoon is expected to be a romantic and classic one.

For info please call at : 778-8986734