Cantabile is a Latin word that translates to mean, “an anything style.”
How fitting, then, that the Cantabile Connection choir will be performing a variety of music at its upcoming winter concert, Many Gifts Of Praise, on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary of Zion United Church on Main Street. From Christmas music to contemporary folk music to ABBA, the concert will conclude with Handel’sHallelujahchorus fromThe Messiah.
“We really try to move our concert in such a way that we can kind of go from really big pieces to meditative kind of songs as well so that we have both the excitement of the glorious Christmas sound as well as some of the things we need to think about as well,” said choir director Dorothy Yakiwchuk.
“I do think that there’s always something for everybody. I think that’s what makes this choir and the repertoire that we sing very unique.”
She has directed the choir since she founded it 15 years ago. The choir has piano accompaniment by Sarah Pouteaux. The 42-member voice chorus is comprised of sopranos, altos, tenors and bases from ages 20 to people in their 50s and 60s from a variety of churches and community members.
“We do have a really nice balance,” said Yakiwchuk. “That understanding of the gift of reading music and the different voices, different voice styles, different blends … (is) wonderful.”
The choir is a volunteer group that considers itself community-minded. Yakiwchuk said the proceeds of the concert would go to Community Under the Dome, which is a repair project for the heritage part of Zion United Church to “make sure that the building is there for generations to come.”
For more information, see an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
