Animals inspire two family concerts by Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra
The Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra invites families in the region to take a walk on the wild side through two animal-themed concerts next month.
Francis Poulenc’s Story of Babar The Little Elephant will be performed by the orchestra, as well Critter Music by Red Deer composer James Bicigo, which was inspired by the poems of Jack Prelutsky and Bill Staines’ book All God’s Creatures Got a Place in the Choir.
Concert organizers promise this won’t be your typical sit-down concert: “There will be an instrument zoo, an orchestra march past, colour pages and more… Fun for the whole family.”
The shows will be held at Red Deer’s St. Luke’s Anglican Church on April 15 and in the community rooms of Innisfail’s public library on April 16 at 2 p.m.
This will be the fourth and final concert of the Central Alberta Chamber Orchestra’s inaugural season.
Orchestra co-founder Karen Gustafson said concerts have so far been staged in Lacombe, Ponoka, Red Deer and Innisfail “to great success with many sold out performances.”
The selections have ranged widely from music by local composers Bicigo and Valerie Sherman, to grand works by Stravinsky and Handel, to the soundtrack of How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. A piece by indigenous Canadian composer Carmyn Braden was also performed.
The mission is to perform chamber music “in all its wonderful forms” by an orchestra of musicians who live and work in central Alberta — for central Alberta audiences, said Gustafson.
“Music is for all to enjoy. We wish to meaningfully engage children and adults through our performances and educational activities.”
Tickets to the family animal-themed concert are available at eventbrite.ca, or at the door, and are $12 per person.
