Elektra Announces Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund
 Vancouver's renowned women's choir honours co-founder
An important part of Elektra's mission is to "inspire and lead in the choral art form through the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire." Over the years, Elektra has commissioned, premiered and performed over 50 new works.
As part of the upcoming celebrations honouring Diane Loomer's stepping down as Elektra's co-conductor, the choir is pleased to announce the Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund. It represents a commitment that the choir's president, Arlene Higgs, calls a fitting tribute to a champion of Canadian choral music.
"We may be saying good-bye to Diane, but we're committed to carrying forward her passion to explore Canadian compositions for women's choirs," explains Higgs. "This commissioning fund is a tribute to Diane in two important ways. It ensures that her name and her love of new choral work will continue to be woven into Elektra's future. It also ensures that Elektra will, in Diane's name, be able to continue to support the work of contemporary Canadian composers and delight our listeners with their music."
Bramwell Tovey, Maestro of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, offers a personal view on the importance of Elektra to Canada's broader musical life, and of the unique leadership team that has made it such a success.
"Elektra has become a big part of my life," he says. "I am an Elektra groupie, and perhaps most honourable of all, an Elektra spouse.
The joint leadership of Morna and Diane is one of those things that one would never have thought would work if all those years of incredible achievement weren't there to prove it. I first met Diane in Newfoundland when she was visiting the Cabot Festival 500 with Chor Leoni. I first heard Elektra when they worked with the VSO in tandem with Chor Leoni for a G&S special with the orchestra, just after I'd assumed the post of Music Director of the VSO.
Elektra is a sensational choir. The choir's sound and the choir's modus operandi have produced a musical combination that composers long to write for, and Diane and Morna have not disappointed them. They have generously commissioned and performed probably hundreds of composers who have breathed life into this great sound.
I can't think of a better way to honour Diane's contribution to Elektra than by the promotion, in perpetuity, of new work for this great ensemble. Elektra has worked many times with the VSO and we will continue to renew that relationship in the years ahead. In fact, in 2009/10 we will perform Mendelssohn's music from Midsummer Night's Dream with Elektra as well as The Planets by Gustav Holst. Perhaps one day, in the near future we might be able to play a work for Elektra and the VSO that has come about as the result of the new Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund.
Diane has been an inspiration to a whole generation of singers and choral conductors. Her contribution to Canadian choral music has been recognized at the highest levels. Here in her adopted hometown of Vancouver we can always appreciate her enormous contribution to new music for women's choirs through this commissioning initiative.
One of the greatest thrills of my life has been taking our two young daughters to hear their mother sing in Elektra. Now our kids are singing in a children's choir and the tradition continues. New music is at the heart of what we do to stay alive and creative. Creativity and joie de vivre are part and parcel of Diane Loomer's musical make-up, what better way to celebrate her contribution than with new creations that breathe life into this great tradition?"
Contributions to the Diane Loomer Commissioning Fund for Elektra Women's Choir may be made by contacting the choir's office at 1.604.739.1255 or by sending a cheque to Elektra Women's Choir, 949 W. 49th Ave., Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1. All donations are welcome and tax receipts for amounts over $25 will be issued.
Elektra will celebrate Diane's 23 years of co-leadership at From the Heart on May 31 at Ryerson United Church (3:30 pm).The concert will be followed by an elegant dinner at Shaughnessy Restaurant in the beautiful Van Dusen Gardens.
We hope you will be able to join us for both the concert and the elegant dinner. Please click on the link below to receive the order form for concert and/or dinner tickets.Concert tickets $20, all seats. Dinner tickets $80 each. For your convenience, tickets for either event may also be ordered through the Elektra office at 604.739.1255. Concert tickets are also available through Ticketmaster 604.280.3311. 
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Elektra Women's Choir
"To inspire and lead in the choral art form through excellence in performance and the creation, exploration and celebration of women's repertoire."
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Elektra gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Canada Council for the Arts, City of Vancouver, Government of British Columbia, CBC, Cypress Choral Music, Lang Michener LLP, BordenLadnerGervais, Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation, the Leon and Thea Koerner Foundation, and BC 150 Years. Elektra also thanks its many generous individual donors and volunteers - their support makes us sing. |
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