A Day of Performances
It was a big weekend for the kids at Saint James Music Academy – the talented performers started of the 2011 performance season with back to back performances Saturday at two different events in Vancouver.
To start the day off, the choir sang at the 4th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder 2011 for an estimated crowd of 400 attendees at Vancouver’s Bayshore hotel. 25 of the senior choir performers from the Academy sang three songs, ending with “Inscription of Hope” for the closing ceremonies of the event.
If you haven’t heard them yet, the senior choir is perhaps the most established program at the Academy, and continues to establish itself year after year as an exceptional performance group. The choir program as a whole consists of two groups – the junior and the senior choir. The choir was recently divided so that the kids can develop their skills at the level most appropriate to them.
The senior choirs consist of the kids that have been in the program longer and can take on more advanced challenges, while the junior choir gives the kids who have not had choir experience to gain a solid introduction to choir singing from the ground up.
Following the Bayshore performance, the choir was joined by the Academy’s chamber group for a performance at the UBC Faculty Women’s Club where they were able to perform for a smaller audience at a private event. This event was dubbed a ‘Musical Soiree’ dessert evening at Cecil Green Park House.
The chance to perform is a key aspect of the Academy’s offering for all the kids that participate in the program. Not only does it give them the opportunity to showcase their talents and build confidence, the experience on stage playing and singing for an audience is a big part of their musical education. The readable level of excitement surrounding the events tells us that it’s an aspect that they truly love.
Additionally, it helps spread awareness for the blossoming program, highlighting the talent and exceptional level of musical performance and learning that we hope to achieve for all of the groups at the Academy – thank you to all of the volunteers who helped coordinate the day so that the kids could take part
Saint James Music Academy has been running since 2009, and was set up to provide exceptional musical education to children from low-income families in the downtown East-side.
To become a member of Saint James Music Academy, please contact info@sjma.ca. Membership is an opportunity to provide regular support and donations to the Academy. Depending on whether you’d like to join as an individual, a business or a family, we have several opportunities for you to get involved.
Donation info:
By mail: 303 East Cordova, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1L4
