NOVA VOCE NEWS
APRIL 2018
After last week’s little snowfall, we’re hopeful that Winter is finally over and Spring firmly entrenched in our weather pattern here in Nova Scotia. Through the cold months the men of the choir have been working hard on learning new repertoire, resurrecting old repertoire, and polishing that sound we know so many of you love.
Here’s a look at our spring lineup
we hope you’ll be able to join us at one of our events!
SPRING GALA

April 21, 2018

If you’ve been putting off getting your tickets, folks, I’m sorry to tell you that we are now sold out. For those of you that waited just a bit too long to get your seats, we’re planning another event next year, so stay tuned for updates. For those of you that did purchase tickets, here’s what you can expect at the Gala.

This year Ashburn Golf Club, well known for its ambiance and culinary excellence, will be providing a wonderful dinner for us, including a roast beef carving station, salmon, choices of salads, vegetables, and desserts. You should come with an appetite, because we’ve swung a deal to make sure there will be enough food for folks to have seconds.

Our master of ceremonies, actress Marlane O’Brien, is taking a break from her theatre and production commitments and making the journey over the Confederation Bridge from Prince Edward Island to join us and we’re sure she’ll keep you entertained as she guides you through the evening.

The choir will be opening the evening with a set of songs designed to put you in a relaxed mood – most of the songs we’re performing are not part of our regular repertoire, so there may be a few surprises. Then there will be individual and group performances by members of the choir; an hour-long showcase of vocal talent ranging from solos to quartets as the guys strut their stuff. You might even be treated to some instrumental virtuosity as the evening unfolds. By then you’ll need a break to stretch your legs, so why not walkabout, peruse the items on offer in our silent auction, get your bids in and spend some time talking with friends and the choir members? To end the evening the choir will bring a few more songs especially selected just for you.

The men of the choir and their supporters have gone out of their way to find outstanding items for our silent auction this year (over $3000 worth of services and items, and raffle tickets for a spring themed “barbecue raffle basket” valued at over $400 will be on offer (tickets are $2 each or 3/$5). As a matter of fact, the guys will be selling these tickets in the weeks leading up to the gala, and you don’t have to be present to win!

If you’re in the mood for a libation or two, Ashburn’s cash bar will be open for your liquid refreshment. And, what evening out would be complete with a chance to memorialize it in our photo booth? Choose from a variety of props, from top hats to mustaches and have your photo taken gratis! You’ll be able to access and download your photos from your home computer shortly after the gala.

The proceeds from the evening will be used to support Nova Voce’s travel fund with a portion of each ticket purchased going to Phoenix Youth Programs. It’s a great chance to support two great organizations in one great evening and is sure to be one of the highlights of the performing arts season here in Nova Scotia.
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Saturday, April 28
7pm
Wolfville, NS
Sunday, April 29
3pm
Fall River, NS
Friday, May 25
7:30 pm
Chester, NS
Our Spring tour is just a few weeks away! You can find us performing in Wolfville at Manning Memorial Chapel on April 29th and in Fall River at St. John’s United Church on April 28th. On May 25th Nova Voce will be in performance at The Chester Playhouse. Once again we’ll be singing in different styles, languages, and genres ranging from folks tunes through to the classics and maybe a tune or two you may know well enough to sing, clap, or hum along with. Some of the pieces
we’re polishing include “Seal Lullaby,” and an arrangement of the well-known Welsh lullaby “Suo Gan.” We’d tell you the entire lineup, but, in the words of P.T. Barnum, “Always leave ‘em wanting more.” We do want to highlight the world premiere of I Once Loved a Lass by Mark Sirett. This piece was commissioned of Mark by Nova Voce and we are pleased to present another piece written especially for us by this renowned Canadian composer. 
For a bonus at these performances, Nova Voce will be joined by Michael James (van der Gagg), a well-known tenor who sings with the Halifax Camerata Singers and studies with Lucy Hayes Davis. A graduate of University of Prince Edward Island (Bachelor of Music in Voice), he is the proud father of Lillian van der Gaag, a mischievous five year old and budding musician, who enjoys songs from Disney’s “ Frozen ,” and dancing to The Wiggles. Michael will be bringing his vocal talents to solos in “Danny Boy, “Nearer, My God to Thee, “and “Loch Lomond.”  
 
Tickets ($15 per person) are available from Choir Members or through our website, www.novavoce.com for our Fall River and Wolfville performances, and through the Chester Playhouse Box Office for the Chester performance (Tickets for Chester are $22.00 adult, $15.00 youth through the Box Office at 902 275-3933).

You can also look for a chance to win tickets to one of our shows on CBC’s Daybreak, Information or Weekend Morning shows.
Nova Voce | [email protected] | www.novavoce.com