With a decade of bringing beautiful music to Alberta, the Foothills Philharmonic Society is looking to expand its ensembles.
"There's just so many phenomenal musicians in the Foothills," said Tim Korthuis, co-founder of the society and director of the chorus. "[It's great] to have a place that they can call home and make great music together."
The Foothills Philharmonic Society is welcoming new singers for numerous ensembles, including the chorus, chamber chorus, orchestra, vocal jazz and junior singers.
"There's a huge range of abilities, which is challenging but also really fun," said orchestra director Sarah McLean. "It's really great for our community."
Registration is set to open at the start of August for most of the ensembles.
"The really big benefit that we offer too besides the great music is that there is such a wonderful sense of community no matter which ensemble you're in," said Jeff Hibberd, director of the junior singers. "We have people who did music through high school, we have people who have music degrees, we have people in there who just like to sing.
"We want everybody to get a chance to sing."
Registration is open now for the junior singers, including prelude performing at the Grade 1 and 2 level, and cantabile, for grades 3 to 6.
"We've got a pretty wide range of music that we do," said Hibberd, whose junior singers range from ages six to 12. "In our first season, we did some Bach, we did some contemporary choral, we did some Disney. We've got a whole range."
The chorus has a similarly diverse selection of scores, performing "works from all periods of music, from Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and all the way through the Modern Period" along with "the classic greats such as Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schubert, new works by Eric Whitacre and Arvo Part, and everything in between."
The society celebrated its 10th anniversary with concerts in February, including a performance alongside the Juno-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir.
"I've said several times over the 10 years of the Foothills Philharmonic Society that I'm proud of the music we create, but I think I'm at the point of being more proud of the community," said Korthuis.
"We're really proud of being able to be a part of the vibrant arts culture here in the Foothills. I want all the people in the Foothills who want to make music [to join], and I know there's way more out there."
Learn more about joining the Foothills Philharmonic Society here, and find contact information here.
