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Artscene By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF · FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2009 33 Oakville Children's Choir 15 years young It's a concert that had been a decade and a half in the making. The Oakville Children's Choir is presenting its 15th anniversary concert later this month with what looks to be a varied and jubilant program. "The concert is for families and really, anyone who loves music," said Sarah Morrison, music director. "Really, I think it would appeal to all ages because there's all ages of performers in it. You'll hear 6-year-olds to 20-somethings singing. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy the concert." The group's five choirs, including cherub, intermediate, senior, chamber and boys, will each perform a set of some of their favourite pieces from recent years. The repertoire will vary from classical to contemporary. A centerpiece of the concert, which is called Celebrating 15 Years of Song, is a performance of the full 90-plus member children's choir, with the addition of 40 alumni members coming back to help mark the event. One of the pieces this mass choir will perform is a commissioned work by Sarah Quartel. The young, London, Ont.-based composer has written a work, called Sweet and Low based on the poem by Tennyson, specifically for this occasion. "It is a slow sort of lullaby piece and is really quite beautiful," Morrison said. "She chose the text and it lends itself towards a slower feel, but it's beautiful." Morrison said Quartel has attended rehearsals to work with the choir on the piece. The conductor said the young composer is a good influence on the fresh-faced musicians. "She's young and she's a female and I think that's important," said Morrison. "Often, if we sing repertoire from, for example, the Classical or Baroque era, it is by dead, white, male composers. She is a great role model and it is great for the choristers to see a female composer who's in her 20s." There will be a special guest appearance by Oakville Children's Choir founder, Glenda Crawford. Janet Stachow, associate music director of the choir, will share conducting duties with Morrison. The event will also feature special alumni guest soloists Stephanie Barone, Stephanie Domingues, Daniel Fiedler, Kate Gurnham, Jackie Kalina, Tessa Laengert and Jennifer Sullivan. "These kids were in OCC and have gone on formance. "The choir taught me so much," said Laengert. "At a very young age I was introduced to music that challenged and improved upon my very basic skills of music. It helped develop my voice and musicality in a positive and nurturing environment. I eventually learned to sing with confidence and had the opportunity to experience and learn from different performance settings. I learned wonderful discipline, which helped me with all aspects of my life." The Oakville Children's Choir currently casts a wide net for its membership. Children come from surrounding communities, such as Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills for the weekly Monday and Tuesday night rehearsals. Morrison said the group is an integral thread in the town's cultural fabric. "In terms of the arts organization in the community, we have a symphony orchestra and lots of adult choirs, but this is a great opportunity for children, who get hopefully music in school, but want to go beyond the instruction they are getting in school, " she said. "The children of Halton need this musical opportunity because it brings such growth and development." And the commitment shown by these children is amazing, Morrison added. She said the choir has a busy rehearsal and performance schedule, with concerts for both its regular season, as well as special engagements. "We get invited to perform a lot, so we try to fit in as much as we can, with rich, positive collaborations, without completely overwhelming the kids," said Morrison. "A lot of our kids are playing rep hockey, a lot are involved in competitive dance, some do theatre. It's not like we have kids who just do choir." And while it is called the Oakville Children's Choir, Morrison said the fact that the word `children' is in its name doesn't mean it is an amateur group. "It is a world-class choir at the senior level, but it is also music instruction and we don't turn kids away," she said. "It is a mix of giving music education to kids and also making sure they are working at a really high level." The Oakville Children's Choir will present Celebrating 15 Years of Song on May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Clearview Christian Reformed Church, 2300 Sheridan Garden Dr. Tickets cost $30 for adults, $20 for students (12-17) and $15 for seniors/children. For information or tickets, go online to www.oakvillechildrenschoir.org or call 905337-7104. OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO SING-ALONG: Janet Stachow, associate conductor of Oakville Children's Choir, leads a past rehearsal in this file photo. The chorus is currently busy preparing for its 15th anniversary concert on Saturday, May 23. The event will also feature choir alumni, including the singers pictured below. Stephanie Domingues professionally to music, so it is really exciting," said Morrison. Stephanie Domingues, 20, is an Oakville native with fond memories of the choir. The soprano said she looks forward to performing an aria from Mozart's opera, The Impresario, at the anniversary concert. "I am excited for this concert and (it will be) definitely memorable considering I am making a `full circle,'" said Domingues, who is currently studying voice at the University of Toronto. "My first public concert, even though it was with a choir, was with OCC and now I'm back, but this time, as an alum and soloist. I Tessa Laengert am also honoured to be working with Sarah Morrison -- the last time I worked with her was when I was a student at Appleby College." Tessa Laengert, also a 20-year-old soprano who is studying voice performance at the University of Toronto, said she is anticipating the concert. She was eight when she started with the Oakville Children's Choir, which she sang with for five years. Laengert will be presenting a Puccini aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi. She said her years with the choir instilled her with many skills that she still uses in per-