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Great News for 2009 - 2010!
Rajaton and Kaleid are Back!
Kaleid 2010 - May 6 to 8 - "How Can I Keep From Singing?"
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NEWS FLASH - KALEID FESTIVAL!
Once again Woodstock Fanshawe Singers proudly hosts the 2010 Kaleid Music Festival which brings together some of the best choirs in Ontario to celebrate the joy of singing.
AND RAJATON RETURNS!
We are thrilled to announce that the internationally renowned a cappella group, Rajaton will also be returning to Woodstock from May 6 to 8, 2010 to help us celebrate the Fifth anniversary of our Kaleid Music Festival..
For more information about RAJATON, click HERE
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PRELIMINARY FESTIVAL PLANS - FURTHER DETAILS LATER!
WELCOME BACK RAJATON!
The sensational a cappella group, Rajaton will help us celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Kaleid Music Festival with several perfomances.
VIP EXCLUSIVE EVENT - RAJATON UNPLUGGED:
Watch for tickets to go on sale for our VIP EXCLUSIVE EVENT which will be an intimate evening, up close and personal with the sensation a cappella singing group, RAJATON.
• Wednesday, May 5th at The Guthrie Farm
• Only 100 tickets will be sold - $100 per ticket
• Stay tuned for more information
OXFORD HONOUR CHOIR:
To celebrate our Fifth Anniversary, the Kaleid Festival will be working with Oxford County principals and teachers to identify youth in each of their schools who demonstrate strong musical skills and would benefit from an enrichment opportunity.
These students will come together to create an Oxford County Honour Choir that will be showcased during The Kaleid Festival.
• For more information, contact Valerie Easton at: v.easton@tvdsb.on.ca
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For more details of our complete 2009-2010 Season go to our Upcoming page
From our Archives
KALEID 2005 - A CELEBRATION OF SONG!
Most Woodstock residents will remember the weekend of June 10 & 11, 2005 for its oppressive heat and humidity, however a privileged few of us will cherish it as a time of pure joy and wonder. The Kaleid music festival brought together five superb choirs from southern Ontario and an unbelievably talented and world-recognized acappella singing group, RAJATON, from Finland to share in an outpouring of song which, for a brief moment of time, put Woodstock front and centre in the world of choral music.
The 200 singers who participated in the Kaleid Festival and its workshops were transported far beyond the boundaries of merely superb singing and into an intensely spiritual and profoundly moving community experience of all that is beautiful in the world of music. Our spirits were raised to heights which we did not think possible.
Two of the most significant reasons for the success of this festival were the inspiring leadership of Jennifer Moir, the musical director for the weekend and the dazzling singing group RAJATON.
Jennifer Moir has the ability to elevate the art of singing to new heights as she focuses her exuberant personality into a poetic expression of her utter love of the human voice. Her soft style of leadership brought out the best in all of the choristers by convincing each of us that we had a gift to contribute, and that whatever voice we had been given by birth or by training was equally important to our collective sound. Through her gentle guidance she encouraged an atmosphere of togetherness and community which filled everyone with a sense of deep personal connection with all the folks who were sharing their voices together. We felt surrounded by a warmth of spirit and a oneness with all of the other participants.
RAJATON was the other ingredient which contributed to the joy of the weekend. Most of us have never before heard the human voice so beautifully presented. For many of us, it was the most profound musical experience of our lives and touched our spirits deeply. Our hearts sang as we experienced the beauty of their music, their passion for singing, and their reverence for the magnificence of the human voice. They truly made 200 new friends as they shared their infectious enthusiasm, their love for music, and their charming personalities in the associated workshop.
They are accompanied by no instruments, but they do more than merely sing. They employ their voices to provide a sometimes rhythmic and sometimes ethereal and haunting atmosphere to support their beautifully harmonic and complex singing. Many of us had no idea of the scope, the range, the beauty and the potential of the human voice until RAJATON shared with us their voices and their love of singing. We were absolutely astonished by the way in which their superb blend of sound was able to reach deeply into our very souls. We departed the festival with a heightened sense of elation and euphoria, but were also infused with a certain peace and serenity and a feeling that somehow, for a fleeting moment in time, we had joined together in community, bonded by our music and our friendship.
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ABOUT RAJATON
 Rajaton translates as "boundless", and that's exactly the right word to describe the way Rajaton approaches music.
The six-piece a cappella group has performed at jazz festivals, churches, and concert halls singing everything from spiritual music to pop hits.
Founded in Helsinki in 1997, Rajaton consists of (left to right) Hannu Lepola (tenor), Ahti Paunu (baritone), Soila Sariola (alto), Jussi Chydenius (bass), Virpi Moskari (soprano), and Essi Wuorela (soprano). All members have vastly different musical backgrounds, ranging from classical music to folk, pop, and rock. When combined, all these influences create something unique: The Rajaton sound.
In its native Finland, Rajaton is a bona fide pop phenomenon after rising to number 2 on the album charts and going gold with its 2003 release Joulu, a Christmas collection featuring both original compositions and highly original versions of seasonal standards.
Rajaton's Web Page: http://www.rajaton.net/main.site?set_language=eng
NEW MEMBERS
The choir is recruiting members for our concert choir. Those interested in a voice placement interview with Jennifer, or who have questions, should call 539-3428 and speak with Keith Bingham or come to the first practice and speak to Jennifer.
Practices are held in St. Mary's High School music room at 7:00 pm Tuesday evenings.
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