The Gallery Singers will be performing at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts Sunday for the choral presentation In Harmony.
The Gallery Singers, an adult chamber choir, will be joined by guests including soprano soloist Lorraine Reinhart of Vancouver, originally from Saskatchewan and the holder of a music degree from the University of Saskatchewan.
Also appearing will be Saskatoon baritone, Jordie Hughton, who has appeared in the Battlefords numerous times, particularly with Saskatoon Opera's school program.
Clarinetist Paul Hyunbai of the Battlefords, who holds a Bachelor of Music degree majoring in clarinet from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, will also take part.
The guests will also include a string quartet out of Saskatoon, featuring Scott McKnight, who holds a masters degree in cello performance, Joan Savage, who has degrees in violin performance from Peabody Conservatory and San Francisco Conservatory, Kim de Laforest, a fiddle, violin and viola performer and teacher, and Heather Wilson, who holds a masters degree in viola performance from McGill University.
The concert will be under the direction of Dianne Gryba and JoAnne Kasper.
The repertoire for the performance includes all movements of Schubert's Mass in G, Laudate Dominium from Vesperae Solemnes by Mozart, a group of spirituals and others. The lineup will end with a Yiddish song about truth, justice and peace, especially appropriate considering the recent events in Ottawa and Quebec. All the singers will be wearing poppies.
The directors, Kasper and Gryba, have been committed to building a strong choral program in the Battlefords for more than 11 years. As well as co-conducting the Battlefords' adult chamber choir, the Gallery Singers, they also co-conduct the Battlefords Children's Choirs.
Kasper is a language and literacy consultant with the Living Sky School Division and holds a masters degree in curriculum and instruction.
Gryba teaches a private studio of voice and piano students and holds a masters degree in piano performance. She has also appeared as both a soloist and duo-pianist with the Saskatoon Sympathy Orchestra.
According to Gryba, the Gallery Singers grew out of missing the choral singing opportunities she had while attending university in Saskatoon. Kasper soon joined the project and, more than 20 years later, the choir is still vibrant.
"Adult singing is just so joyful," Gryba said in an interview with the News-Optimist last year. "They just can't wait to learn more things about singing … I am constantly being amazed by that group."
