More voices raised in song
Choir seeks to extend its season, tackle Broadway
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, February 4, 2016
INUVIK
While usually heard only at Christmas, the Inuvik Community Choir is looking to expand its horizons and head to Broadway.
Anne Kokko, right, leads the Inuvik Community Choir at the annual Christmas Concert last December. Kokko says everyone from that performance has said they will return for an extended season this spring. - NNSL file photo
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"There is always a community choir involved with the Christmas concert, and sometimes people want to continue on," said newly-minted conductor Anne Kokko.
"I asked around about what people wanted to do, and it kept coming back to musicals."
With some background in musicals herself, Kokko said she gravitated towards Broadway tunes.
After some time researching, she found an arrangement for a show featuring 100 years of Broadway tunes.
"It starts with Gilbert and Sullivan, and goes to Rent and Grease," she said.
"I don't even know all the songs, but there are enough recognizable ones that it will be fun for everyone."
Kokko said there are opportunities for short solos but the choir is open to voices of all levels of ability.
She encouraged people who don't feel confident in their talents to come out to have fun, and learn as they go along.
While there is no set schedule yet, Kokko said practices will likely begin this month and run a few times a week, with singers asked to come to the ones that fit in their calendar.
"Pretty much everyone from the Christmas performance is coming back," she said.
"The call-out is for singers at this point, but anyone who doesn't want to sing but still be involved can help with production and other things. If we had a hundred voices, we would make it work."
The final performance will most likely be held in June, with a location yet to be determined, although Kokko said she hoped to secure the Igloo Church again.
The toughest challenge, she said, is to find male voices to cover the lower registers in the tenor and bass sections. Still, she said there is a deep well of former performers right here in town from which to draw.
"There was musical theatre in Inuvik for years," she said,
"And there's a ton of music in the communities, you just don't see it all the time because they're in their homes, doing their thing."
This effort, however, is a team sport, and something Kokko hopes the choir will draw participants from across the community.
"Not being able to carry a tune is not an excuse," she said, laughing.
"It's amazing how much you pick up singing in a group next to people who can carry a tune."
