Spring Concert a success

Conductor Jerry Lonsbury

Toni Lucas

The Crownest Pass Symphony Orchestra played their final performance of the season at the Spring Concert held at Canyon Elementary School on the evening of Friday, May 4. The evening program also included two local choirs and pianist James Skierka.

The Canyon gymnasium had an air of anticipation as people came and readied themselves for an evening of lovely music.

Crowsnest Community Choir, Directed by Kathy Brown
C. Davis photo

Opening the program was the Crowsnest Community Choir, directed by Kathy Brown.  They gave a stirring and heartfelt rendition of 'Allelulia', by S. Albrecht, followed by 'Look to the Rainbow' featuting Sherry Chanin's clear soprano.  The choir wrapped up their performance  with 'Riversong' by Andy Beck and music from The Lion King. Director Brown thanked accompanist Pam Somerville, and the choir as a whole, at the end of their performance.

James Skierka
C. Davis photo

Next,  James Skierka performed solo, using a beautiful grand piano.  He performed all four movements of 'Excursions, Op.20', by Samuel Barber, a difficult piece that touches on North America's musical history and roots, and hearkens to a variety of styles from Boogie-woogie to folk.  Skierka played with energy and style.  He embraced the joy of this homage to the music that had come before, and had it reach out and speak to an audience that seemed quite mesmerized by his rendition.

Crowsnest Symphony Orchestra, Conducted by Jerry Lonsbury
C. Davis photo

The Crowsnest Pass Symphony Orchestra (CPSO) began with 'Andalucia Suite' by Ernesto Lecuona, as arranged by Gordon Jenkins.  Anyone familiar with this piece will be able to attest to the many moods that it runs the listener through.  Conductor Jerry Lonsbury has conducted the Orchestra the last 17 years.   He has developed a strong relationship with the musicians.  This poetry of unison was aided by the work of Concert Mistress Shelly Groves.

The CPSO took us on a journey through 'Prairie Sketches' by Canadian Composer Robert McMullin, 'Variations on a Shaker Melody" by Aaron Copeland and 'A Salute to the Big Bands', arranged by Calvin Custer.  After it was done, Lonsbury  admitted that the orchestra had gotten through 'Variations on a Shaker Melody ' only once before without having to stop for corrections.  That time was at the practice on Wednesday of the same week that they were performing.  The musicians definitely rose to the challenge.

Londsbury was appreciative of both Marie Olson and Maria Rosvick, who normally perform with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra.  These two ladies joined the orchestra for practices and and the performances to fill out the french horn section with their talents.  Mary Cote was also recognized for her 38 years of dedication performing for the Crowsnest Pass Symphony Orchestra.  This performance concluded the season for the Crowsnest Symphony Orchestra, ending it on a beautiful note.

Friends In Sync, Directed by Pat Toney
C. Davis photo 

Rounding out the evening was Friends in Sync, directed by Pat Toney.  The Friends performed 'Dansi Na Kuimba' by Dave and Jean Perry, 'California Dreamin', a medley arranged by Kirby Shaw, and 'Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy' by Don Raye and Hughie Prince, arranged by Ed Lojeski. This would be the most difficult for me to report on in the entire evening.  As a member of Friends in Sync, at that point I stopped being a member of the audience and took on the role of performer.  I know how hard the group worked on the music that they presented.

I also know how much I suffered jitters, butterflies, and nerves before the performance, a condition not universally shared by the rest of the group. What I can say for that portion of the evening is that the audience was appreciative and responsive to our performance, the group worked beautifully together, the sound in the hall was grand, and the two musical accompanists to the group, Brenda Squair on piano and Penny Nickol on drums, were applauded by the audience after they performed a musical interlude during the 'Boggie Woogie Bugle Boy'.

Most left the gym smiling, humming, and chatting about the evening,  giving every indication that they truly enjoyed their evenings entertainment.

Raffle Quilt detail
Quilt by Sheila Lonsbury
Jerry Lonsbury photos

The audience was also encouraged to buy raffle tickets.  The first prize is an Air Canada trip to anywhere Air Canada flies in Canada., compliments the Innisfail Travel and Cruise Center.  Second prize is a lovely quilt donated by  Shelia Lonsbury, who has donated five quilts to this concert over the years. The draw will be  held on August 18 at the National Music Festival in Fort McMurray and is held through the Alberta Society of Festival Friends.