(Vancouver, BC) With gratitude, Elektra Women’s Choir unveils A Season of Change, a joyful season marking Morna Edmundson‘s final year as Artistic Director. Morna’s exceptional 38-year leadership will be celebrated in a season of engaging performances showcasing the rich trove of Elektra’s many Canadian commissions alongside premieres of new works by Laura Hawley, Cassie Luftspring, and Tawnie Olson.
“I count myself extraordinarily lucky to have found my life’s work, my passion, and my community in Elektra,” says Morna. “I am forever proud of our transformative work in the choral world and, I hope, in the lives of all our singers and listeners. This season will be a thrill to conduct. And then I look forward to enjoying the rich future of this choir from the audience.”
The choir’s season begins with an enchanting multi-disciplinary masterpiece, The Light of Hope Returning. Described by composer Shawn Kirchner as “An American Folk Solstice Oratorio,” the work celebrates winter, solstice, and Christmas. Join Elektra as they weave their personal journeys into the eternal rhythms of these seasonal events as told in this engaging music and illuminated by extraordinary original video art projections by renowned Syrian-American artist, Kevork Mourad. Known for his collaborations with classical musicians like Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad, Mourad’s mesmerizing visuals add depth and wonder to this unforgettable experience of unity, purpose, and hope. (Nov 30 and Dec 1 at Vancouver’s Pacific Spirit United Church.)
In March, Elektra brings to life the magical world of The Lost Words: A Spell Book (Mar 8/9 at Vancouver’s Pacific Spirit United Church.) Whimsy meets wonder in a musical journey inspired by the bestselling book by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris. Featuring evocative compositions by ten Canadian composers, this magical experience conjures the ‘spells’ and watercolors intended to reconnect us with nature’s beauty. Actor Laara Sadiq will breathe life into each spell as performed by Elektra and six instrumentalists. Together, embark on a heartfelt celebration, immersed in the literary reawakening of childhood through spoken word, spellbinding melodies, and gorgeous watercolour projections.
Closing the season is Legacy, a concert featuring Morna’s “desert island playlist” of Canadian works drawn from nearly four decades of Elektra commissions, plus premieres of brand-new works by Laura Hawley, Cassie Luftspring, and Tawnie Olson. Experience the emotion as Elektra honours their much-beloved conductor and friend in an unmissable choral farewell. (May 25 at Surrey’s Church of the Good Shepherd and May 31 at Vancouver’s Christ Church Cathedral.)
Rounding out the season are Elektra’s ongoing Singspire Community Engagement programs that include youth mentorship opportunities, community choir showcases, and reading sessions of new compositions, as well as outreach performances in Agassiz and White Rock.
Experience the beauty, passion, and inspiration of Elektra as we celebrate the artistry and vision of Morna Edmundson and the power of music to unite, inspire, and transform lives during this 38th’s Season of Change. Season tickets are available now at elektra.ca.
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