Josée Chartrand Following a request by the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Culture, the University of Ottawa Choir will be touring in St Petersburg and Moscow from June 8 to 17 before presenting concerts in Kiev, Ukraine from June 17 to 19. The bulk of their repertoire will consist of Canadian works.
To help with the cost of the tour, the choir will give a “sneak peek” concert in Tabaret Hall, Room 112 (former chapel), 550 Cumberland, on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10. For more information contact Dominique Lapointe at 613 567-2849. The choir last toured outside the country four years ago, and many members are happy to go on the road again. “In 2004, we received an information brochure from the International Fine Arts Institute who specializes in coordinating musical tours in Russia. We discussed it seriously with Choirmaster Laurence Ewashko before undertaking this,” explains Dominique Lapointe, current choir president and member since 1979.
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Choirmaster Laurence Ewashko
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Ewashko has always dreamed of presenting concerts in Moscow and St. Petersburg. “In addition, we will present concerts in Ukraine where I still have family, friends and colleagues,” he says. Ewashko studied in Kiev as a special student. “I was able to soak in the culture, specifically music and art. It is a truly rich culture and I am excited to expose it to my fellow choir members,” adds Ewashko.
The tour will be a real culture exchange since most of the repertoire will consist of Canadian works. “I am a bit of a fanatic when it comes to our Canadian composers. There is a large and rich repertory. I found French-Canadian songs like those of Lionel Daunais and other English language pieces. I also found Inuit songs in the Salish language,” explains Laurence Ewashko.
The choir composed of students and members of the community will have the opportunity to share the stage with a Ukrainian choir in Kiev. They will perform some Ukrainian songs at that concert. “We will not only be ambassadors for the University of Ottawa, but also for Canada,” says Dominique Lapointe. “I am certain it will be an enriching experience for all the members of the choir. For some, it will be a once in a lifetime experience.”
However, the choir will be reduced to almost half since the cost of the tour is prohibitive. “We all have to pay our own way,” points out Lapointe.
To help with the cost of the tour, the choir will give a “sneak peek” concert in Tabaret Hall, Room 112, on Tuesday, June 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10. For more information contact Dominique Lapointe at 613-567-2849.
