Local health care got a nice funding boost, while local audiences delighted in the musical stylings of the Eclectica Community Choir at a concert in 100 Mile House on May 9.
The Blue Skies show raised a total of $1,676 for 100 Mile & District General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary and the Mill Site Lodge/Fischer Place Auxiliary, which took in close to $840 each.
There was a great turnout at Martin Exeter Hall, says Eclectica spokesperson Barbara Hooper.
“It's great when coming together to enjoy the fun of making and listening to music and also generating funds for a worthy cause, such as the hospital auxiliaries, which buy much needed equipment for our hospital.”
Opening the show was local blue grass band, Front Porch, which was very popular with the audience. Its members include Len Aune (vocals and banjo), Cathryn Aune (vocals and mandolin), Tanya Guenther (vocals and fiddle), Moe Parent (vocals and guitar) and Kate Regan (vocals and bass).
The first number, Blue Skies, set the choir off to a great start, including a piano improv section by Donna Forward.
The choir was pleased with all of its choral pieces, Hooper adds.
“There were many audience favourites, including the stirring I Believe/Ave Maria (arranged by Stan Beard and Barry Tucker); Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen; and the final piece, which included the movement, Dubala, a traditional Xhoshan folk song (arranged by B.C. composer Stephen Hatfield); as well as Haydn's oratoria, The Heavens are Telling, accompanied by Daven Mapson on the organ; Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo, All the Little Rivers, by Larry Nickel, and Closer to the Flame, by Susan Boersma and David Lantz III.”
Several solo and ensemble pieces in an eclectic array of styles were also enjoyed: Simple Gifts by Tanya Guenther (vocal and violin) and Cathryn Aune (cello); Panis Angelicus by Patricia Spencer (vocal), Anthony Lau (harmonica) and Jasmine Kreschuk (piano); Count Your Blessings vocals by Ruth and Friends (Ruth Tupman, Nicole Ross, Karen Smith, Karin Graham, Tamara Hatch, Cathryn Aune) and Mary Ann Robertson (piano); Misty by Tom Fisher (accordion); an a cappella piece, Bring Me Little Water, Sylvie, by Silk (Frances Higginson, Karin Graham, Christiane Nauen, Mary Ann Robertson, and Marilyn Buyar); and Automatic by Karen Smith (vocal) and the Front Porch blue grass band.