Pure Elektra: Mar 4 concert and CD campaign

Pure Elektra - Sunday March 4 - 3pm - Ryerson

Close your eyes, open your ears, and take a deep breath of Pure Elektra.

Dear friends,

Elektra Women's Choir and Artistic Director Morna Edmundson are pleased to announce Pure Elektra, a concert on March 4 (3pm) at Ryerson United Church (Vancouver) that marks the ensemble's silver anniversary.

The focal point of the concert is From Behind the Caravan: Songs of Hâfez by American composer, Abbie Betinis. This five movement work is symbolic of Elektra's commitment to the exploration of new works for women's choirs. Joining Elektra are Ariel Barnes (cello), Navid Goldrick (oud), and Liam MacDonald (percussion.)

Pure Elektra includes the world premiere of Kathleen Allan's Joy (text by Sarah Teasdale), a work that is a robust musical exploration of the joys of being in love. Contrasting Joy is Stephen Chatman's I am Not Yours (text also by Sarah Teasdale), a delicate unaccompanied work. The concert also includes seven more Canadian composers, including works by Allan Bevan, Sheldon Rose, Diane Loomer, Donald Patriquin, and Stephen Smith.

"One of the things this concert celebrates is Elektra's role over the past quarter century in developing excellent repertoire for women's voices," says Edmundson. "So in addition to the world premiere of Joy, we have In the Gardens of Shushan by Ontario composer Sheldon Rose, which was submitted a few years ago to one of our reading sessions, and Tundra by Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo, commissioned by a consortium of North American women's choirs that includes Elektra."

Diane Loomer, the choir's Conductor Emerita and Co-Founder, will conduct her own arrangement of Allistair MacGillivray's Away from the Roll of the Sea. Elektra will be joined for this piece and other selections (including the premiere of Kathleen Allan's new work) by the young women of Mira, the choir's mentoring program for high school-aged singers.

"The forward-looking theme of the concert encompasses the fact that our 12 high school mentorship program singers will be premiering Joy with us," adds Morna. "I'm so happy they'll be meeting the composer and be truly part of the birth of a work that will likely go on to be performed by other choirs."

Pure Elektra is a concert that celebrates Elektra's leading role in the development of women's choral music and showcases a choir that is renowned internationally and treasured locally. By turns serene, gripping, beautiful, and surprising, Pure Elektra will surround you with beauty in a program of works full of the radiant "Elektra sound" that has captivated audiences for 25 years. Close your eyes, open your ears, and take a deep breath of Pure Elektra.

Pure Elektra
Sunday March 4 - 3pm
Ryerson United Church
2195 W45 Ave, Vancouver

Adults $28 - Seniors $22 Students $15
Avaiable online through Brown Paper Tickets, through the Elektra office (604.739.1255)
or from Elektra members and at the door. NOTE: Patrons purchasing through Brown Paper Tickets will have their names added to the Will Call list for ticket pick up at the door.

Elektra in a Brave New World: Crowdfunding!

Crowdfunding: the collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money and other resources together, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Wikipedia

Pure Elektra IndieGogo campaign

Elektra entered the brave new world of "crowdfunding" on IndieGoGo.com at the beginning of February to raise the money necessary to complete their eleventh CD, Pure Elektra, in this the ensemble's Silver Anniversary season. Choral recordings hold a particular place in the choir's mandate, explains Morna Edmundson.

"I think when we look at the big picture of Elektra's legacy, the music we've released on CD is possibly the most important aspect of all. That, and causing many fine arrangements and compositions to be created." she says, "but it's when we record those that other choirs become aware of them and the pieces live on in different parts of the world through different choirs' interpretations."

The campaign lasts ninety days and relies on social media and email to spread - and so far it is working! Launched two weeks ago, the choir is thrilled to announce that 25% of the target of $5000 has been raised.

"We know that Elektra has fans all over the world," states Bruce Hoffman, the choir's Marketing Director. "Elektra has represented Canada in Australia, sung in New York City at Carnegie Hall, and has dedicated fans that purchase the choir's CDs in Japan, Europe, and across North America. We're hoping that those fans and friends will want to be part of this project - and with crowd funding, no donation is too small. Even the cost of a morning latté helps!"

"I like thinking of other voices than ours learning the melodic lines of something that was first sounded in an Elektra rehearsal," adds Edmundson. "Two pieces on the "Pure Elektra" CD that I'm excited to see move out into the world are Changed Forever, Kate MacColl's beautiful arrangement of Shari Ulrich's moving song, and Solitude by our own Stephen Smith."

The CD will also include works by Canadian composers Kathleen Allan, Allan Bevan, Timothy Corlis, Jeffrey Enns, Ruth Moody, Sheldon Rose, and Mark Sirett.

The YouTube video features Elektra singing Ruth Moody's One Voice and forms the main element of the campaign. Campaign contributors receive regular status updates and are encouraged to share it on Facebook, Twitter, or by email.

Pure Elektra Indiegogo Campaign

The campaign has a fun component as well, with donors being able to claim perks at various levels of giving. These include a beautifully designed bookmark ($10 donation), a digital download card ($50 donation), or a signed copy of the CD ($100 donation.)

In crowdfunding no donation is too small and we invite you to make a contribution now. Please note: All donations are in US dollars.

Visit the Pure Elektra campaign page on IndieGoGo here.

Can't make a donation at this time? You can still play a crucial role in the campaign! Forward this email to your friends, post about the campaign (http://igg.me/p/54211?a=337241) on Facebook , send out a Tweet, or mention it to your friends over coffee!

With your help we know we can reach our goal and produce this stunning CD!

Nanaimo Sings! presents Elektra in Concert - February 18

Elektra is excited to be singing on Vancouver Island once again! Nanaimo Sings is presenting us in concert this coming Saturday, February 18 at 7pm at St. Andrew's United Church in Nanaimo. This concert is part of Vocal Winterludes, which includes an afternoon workshop lead by Morna and Elektra, so if you're a choral singer looking for a great workshop/concert package, this is it! The workshop costs $30, the concert costs $20, or you can get a great deal by attending both for only $40. Click the link above or the graphic below to visit their website for all the details.

We're looking forward to seeing many of our Island friends at the show!

This performance is part of Windsor Plywood Spectacular Music BC, a project of MusicFest Vancouver.

Click image above to purchase tickets through PayPal

Support Elektra Now

It is a sad fact that ticket revenues come nowhere near to covering the production costs of an Elektra concert. We couldn't exist without the generous support of people like you; people who believe that choral music is important enough to support.

You may donate online by clicking here.

If you'd prefer to make a donation over the phone, please call our office at 604.739.1255 or mail your donation to

Elektra Women's Choir

939 W 49th Ave

Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1

Every donation helps, no amount is too small, and we thank you for your generous assistance.

Connections

Whether by mail, email, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube, we love hearing from you!

Did you know that your comments are always welcome, and that we have several ways for you to reach us? If you read something that you enjoy on the Elektra blog, feel free to leave a comment. You can find the Elektra blog by clicking on the RSS icon on the Elektra site. (That's the button that looks like this:

) or you may click on this link.

Elektra's Facebook Page is a going concern, full of comments, posts, photos, and general newsy bits, perfect for checking out while enjoying your morning coffee. Feel free to join in the conversation.

We're on YouTube as well.

If comments in 140 characters are more your style, follow Elektra on Twitter. We're @ElektraYVR and we'd love to connect.

If you feel moved to write a review of a concert, we'd love to see it!

Email it to us

and we may post it to our website. Of course, you can also send us a card or a note through the mail. Our address is

Elektra Women's Choir, 949 W49th Ave, Vancouver BC V5Z 2T1.

Whichever way you choose to interact with us, we'd love to hear from you!

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."

Elektra gratefully acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Foundation, Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation, ArtsFACT, Borden Ladner Gervais, and Ryerson United Church.

Elektra also thanks its many generous individual donors and volunteers - their support makes us sing!