MOOSE JAW — Cornerstone Christian School’s annual spring concert is coming soon and will enable its choir and vocal jazz groups to display their talents while also raising funds for the music department.
MOOSE JAW — The event takes place at Hillcrest Apostolic Church on Monday, June 16 at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but a donation basket will be present for those who want to give.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to showcase what they’ve been working on all semester and celebrate their achievements over the year,” said Josh Carley, the choir director.
“And we’ve taken part in some festivals in Regina and Moose Jaw over the last few months and (students have) been receiving high praise from the adjudicators, so we’re just looking forward to sharing the music with the audience.”
The 34 choral students from grades 7 to 12 attempt to sing a variety of music, not just to fulfill educational requirements but also to satisfy the people in attendance, he continued. Song genres focus on the 1980s, contemporary gospel and traditional choral music, although almost everything is up-tempo.
Carley said he finds the students’ dedication and commitment to be incredible, along with their willingness to work hard and pursue an ethic of excellence and high standards.
“This is my 17th year at Cornerstone, so I really enjoy the connections we make through music and the camaraderie and the relationships that are built through working on music together,” he said.
Although the choir and vocal jazz groups — and some soloists — sing a variety of tunes, Carley didn’t have a favourite song. Instead, he enjoyed journeying with the students through the concert and helping create special or memorable moments, especially for those youths graduating high school.
Meanwhile, Cornerstone’s choir and vocal jazz groups always appreciate the donations they receive from their concerts because that funding helps them prepare for the next year, Carley added. Specifically, they must purchase materials — from sheet music to file folders — to support their repertoire, while they also require money to attend festivals.
For more information, visit www.ccsmj.ca.
