They laughed, they cried.
Sunday evening, three friends and musical associates brought Broadway to Third Avenue United Church in North Battleford.
Serving up some favourites of this century and the last, drawing from hits such as Annie Get Your Gun, Oklahoma, and even Shrek, they brought comedy and drama alive in a fun filled performance.
Who had more fun - the performers or the audience - is still in question.
About 100 people attended the third in a series of recitals at Third Avenue United Church being presented by local artists Lisa Hornung and Jaya Hoy.
Billed as a Valentine concert, it featured the talents of mezzo soprano Hornung and long-time collaborator and friend baritone Chris Kelly from Saskatoon, who holds a master of music in vocal performance from the University of Western Ontario. Hornung and Kelly were joined in this recital by Garry Gansuage, dedicated and gifted local accompanist. Gansauge accompanies the Community Youth Choir, directed by Hornung, and has accompanied music festival vocalists for over 30 years.
It was fun to present something different, said Gansauge after the concert, especially the benchmark songs of Broadway's history. They don't write them like that anymore, he laughed.
Gansauge also plays keyboard with the country dance band Cherokee Rose and, in the summer, is the accompanist for Hornung's Summer School for the Solo Voice, held at Third Avenue United Church.
Hornung is well known as a teacher, adjudicator, clinician and choral coach. On stage, she has been acclaimed for performances in repertoires ranging from Baroque to contemporary composers.
In accordance with her belief that every child deserves the opportunity to sing, Hornung runs the non-audition Community Youth Choir and often collaborates with elementary and high school musical endeavours.
Kelly, who also serves in the faculty of the Summer School for the Solo Voice, studied at the University of Saskatchewan pursuing a double major, completing performance and academies requirements for voice and piano, and holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Western Ontario.
The concert series has been organized by Hornung and Hoy, who both grew up in North Battleford and have enjoyed international musical careers. While Hornung has based her career out of the Battlefords, Hoy has worked mainly out of the United States. She has recently returned to care for her mother, Dr. Mary McPhail.
The two artists have used their contacts as professionals to bring international level artists to the Battlefords.
The music of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms was featured in the first of the series of concerts featuring pianist Hoy and visiting cellist Chris Grafton of Chicago.
The next concert featured Hoy and American violinist/composer Myra Lin. Lin has been performing as a recitalist and chamber musician to audiences throughout the United States, Canada and Europe for over 25 years, at one time serving as a cultural ambassador for the United States.
The fourth in the series will feature Hornung, Hoy and her brother, baritone Hugh McPhail, together for a lively afternoon of songs, arias and duets March 6 and the season will wind up with a duo piano recital by Kelly and Hoy on June 12.
Other upcoming musical events include a performance by the Community Youth Choir, directed by Hornung, with special guests the Cantilon Children's Choir from Edmonton on March 13, and a French Horn concert with Arlene Shiplett on May 29.
