We’ve had quite a season, starting with the Amabile Young Women’s Ensemble’s annual cabaret with emcee CTV’s Nick Paparella, to our annual performance at the Remembrance Day Mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, to performing the National Anthem at the London Knights Game in November 2019; participating in the world premiere of Scott Good’s ‘The Sleepers’ alongside London Symphonia; to our three amazing holiday concerts – each of them bringing back memories of prior years and the music that has always been a part of an Amabile chorister’s heart.
This year’s Midwinter Gala was nothing short of spectacular and blew us all away! Hosted at the WindEEE Dome at Western University, the Amabile Men of Primus once again gave us a night to remember with a magnificently curated menu of delicious food, and an eclectic set of songs all based around the weather.
But perhaps the highlight of this milestone season was the Amabile Festival featuring Canadian composer and Junior Amabile Singer alumna Sarah Quartel. We were so incredibly pleased and excited to welcome Sarah home as we celebrated this special anniversary. Sarah’s music took us on the journey’s she’s been on, and captivated us with elegance and eloquence of every piece, filling our hearts and souls with each choir.
Unfortunately, this year’s season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic that spread throughout the world and left us asking, ‘How can we keep singing?’ The perseverance of all those at Amabile kept the singing going. Using technology and the human need to come together, beautiful things were created during this unprecedented time. Primus: Amabile Men’s Choir collaborated with Toronto composer Hussein Janmohamed, in the world premiere of ‘Grateful Heart’, released in time to honour and celebrate Eid in May. All our choristers from the youngest to the oldest, came together virtually in the months of May and June to release the virtual recording of Ruth Moody’s ‘One Voice’ (arr. Wailin Jennys), showing the message that we, as Canadians, are the sound and spirit of one voice, helping each other make it through.
Over the last eight months, we have made wonderful memories and created lasting impacts with our choristers and our community. And while this season as brought forth challenges that we, and countless others, never expected, we are ever grateful for the experience they have given us.
We would like to extend our most sincere thanks to all our supporters who came to all our events this year. We would also like to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to our donors and sponsors this year; and to our funders: Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, London Arts Council, Ontario Arts Foundation, City of London, and the London Community Foundation for their support.
In these times, we are encouraged and uplifted by the amazingly talented and dedicated people with whom we make art and thereby heal our spirits.
On behalf of all the singers, volunteers, staff and artistic directors of the Amabile Choirs of London, Canada, we wish you all a safe and healthy summer.
Click here to see this year’s Concert Program.
For photos and videos from this year’s season, click here.