Borak Forte Program donations

Several choristers have asked how to proceed when a friend, relative or associate, or the a chorister themelves, wishes to make a donation to the chorus. Please know that all donations to the chorus will receive a tax receipt from the Calgary Philharmonic Society, allowing a tax deduction for the donor. Also, please ask whether a donor works for a company that does "employee gift matching".

Many of Calgary's large companies will have the Calgary Philharmonic on their list of charities that qualify for matching all or a portion of an employee's charitable donation. We can turn $100 into $200 as easy as that.

If  the donor directs the donation to the Forte Program, then the CPC will receive the benefit. All donations to the Forte program are flagged by the development office for the chorus's exclusive benefit.

Any cheques should be made out to " Calgary Philharmonic Society - Forte Program" and a note may be made at the bottom "Calgary Philharmonic Chorus".

Donation Cheques, or any other inquiries about the donation process should be directed to:

 

Alison Geskin

Director of Development

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra

205 - 8th Ave SE

Calgary AB T2G 0K9

tel: 403- 571- 0273

The Okanagan Trip: Great Memories!

CPC Choir trip to Okanagan

We left Calgary in a snow storm in the morning of May 5, worried that we might have to turn around due to poor road conditions in the mountains. But as we drove west the sun shined through and the roads were suddenly perfect!

This was the beginning of an absolutely amazing choir trip in the blossoming sunshine of the Okanagan. Upon our arrival, we  had a rehearsal in Kelowna with music director and conductor Rosemary Thomson, the Okanagan Symphonic Orchestra and their community choir. The programme for the concerts consisted of the same piece the  Okanagan Symphonic Orchestra played for their inaugural performance exactly 50 years before, The Symphony No.9 d minor, Op. 125 by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Also,for the occasion a piece was commissioned, titled Quaternity a Cantata of Seasons by composer Imant Raminsh Principal Second Violin with the OSO since 1978. It was indeed a rare delight to have the composer perform his own work in the orchestra and being able to benefit from his contributions for the performance.

During the stay many of us managed to make time for important activities, such as wine tasting, golfing, hiking, shopping or just relaxing between rehearsals and concerts. The following nights we performed in Penticton and Vernon, with all performances being sold out! The community is very supportive of their Symphonic Orchestra and was proud to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Choir music is so powerful and it becomes even more significant as you get to know the special people who take part in it.  What would life be without music?

Josée Robitaille

An introduction to maestro Jean-Marie Zeitouni

Here is a link to a video on Jean-Marie Zeitouni's new position as Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.

http://vimeo.com/15608751

Also, here is a link where you can learn a bit more about Maestro Zeitouni and some of his thoughts on Handel's Messiah.

http://vimeo.com/2498737

Thinking ahead to Prometheus!

The Calgary Philharmonic Chorus is involved in two interesting programs back to back in February 2011. The first will be performing selections from Gershwin's "Porgy & Bess" and the second will be the Canadian premiere of a new piece by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer William Bolcom called "Prometheus." Both are huge undertakings since they are back to back in our season.

Anyone interested in hearing a performance of "Prometheus" this weekend by the Jeffry Biegel (piano), the Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Chorale should tune-in on-line. The

Read more about "Prometheus" in the following article on the Pacific Symphony webpage:
http://www.pacificsymphony.org/main.taf?p=8,1,1,1&npr=82

Here is the link to the live broadcast by kusc classical fm 91.5 which can be heard on-line.
http://www.kusc.org/Programming-ProgrammingHighlights-PacificSymphony.aspx