Young singers from Burnaby Central Secondary will be raising their voices as part of an upcoming gospel choir event.
The Burnaby Central chamber choir, under the direction of Carrie Taylor, will be part of Rise Up Singing! A Youth Choir Extravaganza, presented by the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir on Saturday, May 30.
They’ll be joined by North Surrey Polaris Chamber Choir and the Vancouver Youth Choir in a concert to launch the Good Noise VIP Young Artist Program – an initiative designed to foster music education and gospel music appreciation throughout the Lower Mainland.
“As a former high school instructor, I’ve witnessed how the tremendous benefits of singing in choir – including improved self-confidence and discipline, coupled with greater focus and drive – can positively impact youth development,” said Gail Suderman, artistic director of Good Noise, in a press release. “The goal of the VIP Young Artist program is to validate, promote and create opportunities for young people in the local community to share their talent and achieve new skills and abilities, while also learning about gospel music and its rich musical history.”
The program will include performance opportunities for youth choirs, workshops for gospel music and solo voice, entrance scholarships for voice majors to college and university and, ultimately, the establishment of the first community youth gospel choir in Western Canada.
Full details about the young artist program will be revealed at the concert.
Rise up Singing! Takes place May 30 at 7:30 p.m. at Fraserview MB Church 11295 Mellis Dr. in Richmond. Tickets are $25 regular, $20 for students and seniors or $10 for kids 12 and under.
Check out goodnoisevgc.com for all the details.
A food journey
They journeyed around the world on an adventure in local food – and now they’re coming to the Bob Prittie branch of Burnaby Public Library to tell their story.
Brothers Chris and Josh Hergesheimer, authors of The Flour Peddler: A Global Journey into Local Food from Canada to South Sudan, will be at the Metrotown library branch on Monday, May 25. Their presentation and slide show is set to run from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
A press release notes their book follows the tale of a handmade bicycle-powered mill that Chris created to challenge the idea that there was only one way – the big way – to grow, process and market grain and flour.
He teamed up with his brother, Josh, on a journey that would take them from Roberts Creek on the Sunshine Coast to the bustling streets of Kampala, Uganda and finally to a village in South Sudan, where they set out to take their mill to a rural women’s cooperative – and where war breaks out and leaves them in a race to leave the country.
“The Flour Peddler is a unique and gripping story that explores the trends and issues of local food systems as well as the challenges and power of alternative food movements,” the release notes. “For the Hergesheimer brothers, it is also a journey of surprising adventure, from broken-down market vans, fraudulent bus tickets and hungry bears to a Russian helicopter, an attempted coup and a heart-wrenching homecoming.”
Their talk is free, but registration is required – register at www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
Nikkei wants talent
Do you have talent?
The Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre is looking for you.
The Nikkei Centre is calling for people to enter its Matsuri Star Talent Search, with a registration deadline of Wednesday, June 10.
The talent search is being held leading up to this September’s third annual Nikkei Matsuri, a family-friendly Japanese festival held at the Nikkei Centre Sept. 5 and 6. People of all cultural backgrounds are invited to apply for auditions, which will be held on July 5, July 12 and July 19.
Twenty performers will proceed to the semifinal, which will be held on the first day of the festival on Sept. 5. The finals, featuring the top 10 performers, will be held on Sept. 6.
All talents are welcome – last year’s festival included street dancers, singers, hip hop artists and more. Performers can compete as individuals or in groups of up to 10.
You can get an application form online at nikkeimatsuri.nikkeiplace.org and email it to talentshow.nikkei@gmail.com.
Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie by email, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com, or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
