鈥淚f you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change,鈥� is the theme of Man in the Mirror, written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. It was a number one hit for Michael Jackson and nominated for a Grammy Award.
Vallee Harmony A Cappella Pop Choir members will blend their voices later this month and 鈥渕ake a change鈥� by donating the proceeds of their Spring Concerts to local charities in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kamloops. With over sixty singers, their big sound is perfect for Man in the Mirror, Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles, California Dreamin鈥� by the Mamas and the Papas, Coldplay鈥檚 Viva la Vida and other pop music classics.
They sing without accompaniment, making the guitar and percussion sounds with their voices, and memorize all their music. Bohemian Rhapsody, the international mega-hit, written by Freddie Mercury, and recorded in 1975 by the British band Queen, is twenty-two pages long, and they sing it by heart.
Directed by Sylvain Vallee, the pop choirs practice separately in Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kamloops and come together as one large group for public performances. They won first place for Community Adult Choirs in the Shuswap Music Festival in April and were recommended for the BC Provincial Finals of Canadian National Festival of Music by adjudicator Terry Logan. They also took second place in 琉璃神社 at the 2019 Kiwanis Music Festival.
Vallee Harmony was Kevin Derow鈥檚 first venture into group harmony.
鈥淚 enjoy making music. Harmony singing in particular is the most satisfying by far, sounds the nicest and it鈥檚 a social thing. A lot more pleasing than solo singing,鈥� said Derow, who is a tenor and sings lead in a couple of songs. 鈥淲orking on a part and coming together as a group - the sound we make together - you don鈥檛 find it when you are (making music) on your own.鈥�
He said he finds the A Cappella pop choir fun, challenging and rewarding.
鈥淪ylvain is a very knowledgeable, experienced and patient conductor. He is a lot of fun to work with, and certainly can make people grow in music. Harmony is social but not difficult. It is very easy to fit in socially with this group.鈥�
End-of-season concerts will include a performance by sixteen-year-old baritone, Carson Venne, and an ensemble singing Billy Joel鈥檚 hit ballad, And So It Goes.
The group will perform at Trinity United Church in Vernon on Saturday, May 25, 7:30 p.m. 鈥� 9:00 p.m. All proceeds will be going toward the Vernon Women鈥檚 Transition House.
The group will be at Nexus-First United Church in Salmon Arm on Sunday, May 26, 7 鈥� 8:30 p.m. They will also be performing on Friday, May 24, 7:30 鈥� 9 p.m. at Kamloops United Church.
Information and advance $16 tickets are available at . Tickets will also be available for $20 at the door.
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