The Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir offered a respite from the hectic pace of the holiday season with their concert titled “Peace” and despite the weekend deep freeze of -40 C weather, all three shows were met with great attendance and a warm audience.  The program showcased all of the boys from the choir and presented a few aspects and interpretations of “peace” including a monologue on the peace brought by sumptuous chocolate, wishes of peace in “The Gaelic Blessing” and the desire to be an instrument of peace in “The Prayer of St. Francis”.

The Prepatory boys debuted impressively with two carols in which they sung and provided their own supplemental instrumentation with hand bells and percussion.

Junior Boys performed a piece in Latin and Senior Boys got the audience’s toes tapping with an African rendition of The Lord’s Prayer entitled “Baba Yetu” and included some soulful solos!  The Men of Note presented “Jing-ga-lye-ya” with the impressive agility they have developed over the years in the choir.  The concert also included a string quartet prior to the show and was accompanied throughout the evening by three pianists, guitar, percussion and violin.

The show spun a 360 with its skit set hundreds of years into the future.  The main characters’ assignment to discover the true meaning of peace brought some very memorable elements to the evening.  It began with an outrageous flashback to the era of peace in the 60’s which saw bellbottoms, afro hair and Travolta moves accompanying “Jingle Bell Hustle”.   Next was a pinnacle moment in the show when the Men of Note sang “Christmas in the Trenches”, a memoire of the true story of the truce between British and German soldiers on a Christmas Eve during WWI.  Ironically, and to the benefit of the Men’s connection with the song, the daughter of a soldier who was involved in this truce was in attendance at the concert and met with the Men.

The concert wrapped up in grandiose style with over 150 performers and accompanists on stage that included choir members, dads, accompanists, brass and timpani ringing out “Joy to the World”.

Concert review by Mary-Ann Lynch, Prep Choir parent

Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Arctic Winter Games
Opening:  Sunday, March 7, 2010 – 7 pm / Canada Games Arena
Closing:  Saturday, March 13, 2010 – 6 pm / Canada Games Arena
The Men of Note and Senior choirs will be joined by other local choirs in the spirited opening and closing ceremonies of the ‘Games’.  Watch for the boys on CBC television!