King Edward Choir’s third concert of the season, Voices of Light, on March 1, will highlight Dobrogosz’s Requiem Mass, as well as a new organ fanfare written especially for the midwinter concert.
Steve Dobrogosz’s Requiem was chosen after a choir member heard it a year ago and was impressed. The choir sang one piece and loved it, thus director Barbara McCann felt the composition would be a good fit for a concert setting.
The entire requiem will be featured, as well as two pieces, which the group calls the Jazz Mass.
“It’s very unusual but very musical and appealing. Dobrogosz’s first choral work was the mass in 1992 with piano, strings and choir and is continually sung all over the world. All his reviews rave about how beautiful his works are,” noted choir spokesperson Jane Beattie.
One of the concert’s featured soloists, Diane Jones, has been a choir member since 1969, when the group was under the direction of Jean Dobson. Throughout that time, the high soprano has sung a number of solos. Recently retired from teaching Grades 5 and 6, she has more time for practising now, and is also an active member of Trinity Anglican Church Choir.
As well, she holds a music specialist certificate, and taught a number of elementary school choirs.
For as a long as she can remember, singing has been Jones’ passion.
“It’s the great love of my life. You do things for your soul and that’s what I do. I sing for my soul. It sounds so hokey, but it’s true,” she said, adding that when she used to get headaches she would still make herself go to practise. “I’d always feel better. It has healing qualities.”
Gifted with a versatile voice, Jones actually started off as an alto in her youth.
“My first clue that I wasn’t an alto was in 1967 when I sang with a choir that was at the opening for Centennial Park.” Jones said.
Singing lessons soon allowed her to tap into her full range. Jones is delighted about taking on the Dobrogosz solos, which will include Hostias, Lux Aeterna and Libera Me.
“I like this music because it’s so different from what we’ve done in the past. When you sing Mozart or Beethoven - the great masterworks - you can say it’s predictable. It follows patterns. And this doesn’t. It doesn’t do what you think it’s going to do, which makes it really exciting as a singer,” Jones said.
Voices of Light will also feature a five-piece orchestra. Jim Leonard’s special composition, Organ Fanfare will start the program. There will be two new songs: Mid-Winter by Bob Chilcott and Snow by Edward Elgar. For tickets to King Edward Choir on March 1, at 7 p.m. at Collier Street United Church, call 726-1916.
