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Cape Breton Post
November 1, 2024
March 13, 2024
Calling Cape Breton Chorale Alumni
December 7, 2023
Christmas with the Chorale celebrating fifty years
November 1, 2024
March 13, 2024
Calling Cape Breton Chorale Alumni
Christmas with the Chorale celebrating fifty years
Time: 7:30pm
Location: United Protestant Church, Sydney River
Tickets: $25 (available from Chorale Members, Cape Breton Curiosity Shop, or at the door)
The Cape Breton Chorale will present “A Night to Remember” on Saturday, February 9th, 2019 at Flavor on the Water, 60 Esplanade, Sydney. The evening will begin with a Valentine reception from 6:30-7:30pm., followed by a three course dinner with complimentary wine. The dynamic duo of Bette MacDonald & Maynard Morrison will be hosts for the evening. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Cape Breton Chorale, Shauna Doolan & Ryan Billington.
Price per person is $100.00 & dress is business appropriate.
There will also be a silent auction!
Tickets available from Chorale members, at Flavor On The Water, or by calling (902)539-7495
This one of a kind event is sure to sell out so don’t be disappointed.
Time: 7:30pm
Location: Church of Christ the King, Trinity Ave, Sydney
Tickets: $25/$20 Students & Seniors (available from chorale members, at the door, or at the Cape Breton Curiosity Shop)
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Fortress of Louisbourg Chapel
Tickets: $30 (available from chorale members, at the door or onlline at http://www.fortressoflouisbourg.ca/Holiday-Concert
Our 46th season of singing will begin Thursday September 6, 2018 and continue until late April of 2019 under the direction of our director Ryan Billington.
We welcome auditions from singers who find that they fit most of the following criteria:
Assets to the Chorale include:
For the audition:
Auditions will be held throughout the summer months. Please contact us to arrange an audition!
Email – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone – 902 968 9041 or 902 567 6437
Ryan Billington is a versatile vocalist, arranger and conductor. Since 2004, he has taught private voice, choral/vocal jazz ensembles and various classes in the music department at St. Francis Xavier University including, Songwriters and their Songs, Songwriting Workshop and Women and Popular Music. His main areas of interest are jazz/pop vocal performance, vocal pedagogy, choral ensemble direction and arranging for small vocal ensemble settings. In 2011, his student vocal ensemble EXTRA from StFX was featured nationally on CBC Radio 2 Choral Concert with host Peter Togni.
Ryan completed a Master of Music in Voice performance and Jazz at Western Michigan University in 2002. Prior to his appointment at StFX, Ryan performed as a professional choral singer in Toronto with the Nathaniel Dett Chorale and other professional choral ensembles.
In recent years, Ryan has performed across Atlantic Canada in jazz, oratorio, musical theatre and choral settings. He has held the position of assistant director for the Halifax Camerata Singers and has also performed and recorded with the Canadian Chamber Choir.
Recent original compositions of Ryan’s include “Atacama, Gateway to the Stars” written for Toronto mezzo-soprano Ali Garrison and piano (2015), and original music for plays by American playwright Sarah Ruhl – Eurydice (Theatre Antigonish 2017), and Stage Kiss (Festival Antigonish 2017).
Ryan directs the Antigonish Choral Ensemble, and as of September 2017 has begun his first season as Artistic Director and Conductor for the Cape Breton Chorale.
Ryan will conduct the chorale concert on November 11 at Christ the King Anglican Church in Sydney, NS.
On Tuesday, May 30, 2017, Sr. Rita Clare passed away unexpectedly at home in Parkland Cape Breton. Just two days previously during our concert “Salute to Canada”, the Cape Breton Chorale honoured Sr. Rita for her years of dedicated leadership and inspiration.
The following is an excerpt from the remarks made by Ruth Ann Morrison that evening on behalf of members of the Executive and choir:
“For Forty two years we had the privilege of having Sr. Rita Clare as our Director. Her dedication, and love of choral music allowed us to grow as a choir, and have many rich and varied experiences: concerts at home and abroad, recording CD’s, TV and Radio appearances, working with Voices for Hospice and fundraising for the Palliative Care Music Therapy Program, establishing the Sr. Rita Clare Scholarship , and so much more. She has received numerous awards and honours throughout the years but tonight I would like to highlight another side to our years together.
Quite simply, she became a friend, a mentor and confidante, offering strength and encouragement to so many of us over the years.
In her quiet way, Sr Rita became a mainstay in our lives. There was always practice Thursday nights and ...Sister Rita. There would sometimes be a phone call, an unexpected card in the mail, or a few words at practice to congratulate, celebrate, or commiserate as we marked the milestones in our individual lives.
Although we miss seeing you on Thursday nights, it is reassuring to know you are close by, still a friend, and, as ever, encouraging.“
We had no inkling that it would be our last opportunity to express our admiration and gratitude to Sr. Rita for her unparalleled contribution to the musical life of our community. She will be missed.
“Where words leave off, music begins”
- H. Heine.