April 9, 2010

250 Glenmore Elementary Students to Perform with Okanagan Symphony

KELOWNA, BC: For the first time in Kelowna, 250 young voices from Glenmore Elementary will be accompanied by the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) for a special performance of “How Canada Came to Be – A Story of You and Me”.  The world premier of this entertaining musical depiction of Canadian history will take place on April 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Trinity Baptist Auditorium.

In celebration of their 50th anniversary season, the OSO commissioned award-winning composer/arranger Claude Lapalme to create a symphonic arrangement of this show.  It combines traditional folk songs with original works written and arranged by Rhonda Draper, a Music Specialist at Glenmore Elementary and Brian Wiebe of Solar Nest Arts.  In 2007, Draper received the Governor General’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History for her work on “How Canada Came to Be”. 

This special one-hour concert directed by OSO Music Director and Conductor Rosemary Thomson will feature Rhonda Draper, the Glenmore Grizzly singers and members of the OSO.  In addition to outstanding musical performances, the concert includes storytelling, audience participation and large screen images of Canada’s past.  Draper says the show brings to life the glory and drama of the Canadian story and helps people understand how they came to be Canadian. 

“Rhonda’s reputation for outstanding work in music education is well known in the Okanagan and beyond,” says John McMahon, Principal of Glenmore Elementary.  “Recently, Maestra Rosemary Thomson moved with her family to the Okanagan and chose to live in the Glenmore Elementary catchment so that their children could attend the school where Rhonda teaches.  The musical collaboration of these two talented women has created something very special.”

Tickets for this spectacular and interactive show can be purchased for $10/adult and $5/child at Glenmore Elementary School (250-762-3209) or the Okanagan Symphony office (250-763-7544). 

Performances:
Kelowna: Monday, April 12 at 9:45 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Kelowna Trinity Baptist Auditorium.  Vernon: Tuesday, April 13 at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. at Trinity United Church
Penticton: Wednesday, April 14 at 9:30 & 10:45 a.m. at the Bethel Tabernacle

Approved by the Superintendent and Rhonda Draper on April 9, 2010

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For comments, please contact:

Rhonda Draper, Music Specialist, Glenmore Elementary, (250) 762 3209 email: rdraper@sd23.bc.ca

John McMahon, Principal, Glenmore Elementary, (250) 762-3209

Okanagan Symphony Education, (250) 763-7544 or email: admin@okanagansymphony.com

Hugh Gloster, Superintendent of Schools, School Board Office, (250) 860-8888

For background information, please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.