Another World is Possible
February 4, 2007, at 2:00pm
(also performing on February 2, 7:30pm)
Alix Goolden Performance Hall
Benefit for The Power of Hope (read our ubuntu story)
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25 Comments for “Another World is Possible”
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GHC warmly thanks the talented team at Artemis PR & Design
for their continued contribution of work on our annual benefit concerts.
Welcome to our new website! We look forward to reading your comments about the concert.
The concert was absolutely magnificent. Beginning with the beautiful sound of the Handel and ending with Siyahamba. Sara and Rup were so moving and the children!
The Pax song had me in tears. Congratulations to all for a truly enjoyable evening.
THe concert hall is perfect for the Gettin Higher Choir. It’s so intimate it feels like a very large, and luscious house concert. Much love and gratitude to all of you for so generously sending the proceeds of the concert and the collection from the choir members on to Power of Hope.
This was my first concert as a member of the Gettin’ higher Choir and it was a truly enjoyable and spiritually uplifting experience. I look forward to many more.
The concert was supreme. Such a privelege to join with others in creating such meaningful and socially responsible and spiritual music. The music and harmony impacts deeply creating in me a sense of oneness. It is a ritual practice that integrates me with others amd feeds my soul.
Kudos to our brilliant directors.
One suggestion for the future. Our philosophy is that everyone can sing and most of us want to, including our audience. With our repetoire we set them up where they are ready, even eager, to sing with us. Perhaps at the end of the concert we could encourage them to stand up and join us in closing the concert with a community of voices where they can also express, share and feel the same indescribable sense of oneness.
Dear Shivon and Denis
Norm and I attended the concert on Friday and it blew me away.
Hearing Gaia and Pax was particulaily touching with the “Treble Makers”.
They added such a beautiful dimension to “Pax” and the choir was a perfect backdrop with the quieter volume of voices supporting them.
And of course “Holy Angels”brought me to tears again just as I experienced last september when I first sang it at practice in Sept.
Thank you for givivng all of us such a gift and all your work and planiing behind the scenes.
Pat Todd Mon nite alto
my second concert and I notice a few significant differences
(other than song titles, seasonal light and featured performers!)
the weft of this experience — what resonated for me
were the spaces in between
Illuminata
(ramblings, rantings and noticings #2, a folksy tribute to the ghc)
one slightly unfocused workday from rehearsal eager
to firstnight anxious
filled with the repetition of little French hearts and arms and hands
I train myself to more than memorize
popping sugary hot ginger cubes to dissolve my own worry
what could we all possibly be saying between sips of water and the wait?
we must rise…
to remember the words, that note we come in on…
Is my shirt bright enough? I have no scents!
I see the shining eyes of my alto pack and wide welcoming grins
we have shared 18 weeks of melodious friendship
I plant my feet on either side of silver riser joints
– this is my place –
shoulder to shoulder…I am before you and after her…
I ground myself, relax
ready to be led to a higher place
…..nerves to joy,…nerves to joy!
I hear that low crowd hum and remember to savour this moment
without words
the unspeakable richness of silent knowing
Ahhh…with this outbreath I find my centre
And suddenly this dream I’m having
matches everyone else’s
and the result is we aren’t just singing for the possibility of another world
we are filled with the power of hope,
the fierceness of youth, the harmonies of diversity
we are another world
Oh venni veritas!
A long (silent!) inhale of first breath
and we go for baroque in ancient Latin
the sound of that first note falling from my bones and skin
spilling out into the darkness, bathing the audience
and then filling back in again
a soundscape with four distinct streams
Now to softly correct, to intensify,
watch for signs
intent on each directed gesture, each closing of the eyes,
mouthing of the words
…delicious sound flowing now
I deeply listen to 200 of us becoming one voice
(and then I’m sure there ain’t nothing separating you from me)
And children!
The sweetness of their plea for a healthy planet nearly breaks my heart
(I do remember when the rain was clean)
I lean in willing to be changed by their crystalline sound
And now we’re a backdrop prop for hiphop…
The whoosh and click and the pop, pop, pop
I can almost taste this bittersweet experience
The air is so electrified, personified, unified…
Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on!
Let’s all sing for a better world,…let’s do it now!
I look–en regardent –I hold in precious regard
this stained-glass coloured choir,
showing ourselves in our fullness
I can see the holiness in every open face
and am swept up into prayerful swells of ecstatic saints, instruments of god
floating incantations to the spirit of the world, invoking peace and love,
conjuring holy angels and mothers of grace
Find us, embrace us, comfort us…in gentle spirit
Here at ‘ground zero after a love bomb’
of lullabyes with silvery notes and dreamland wishes
It’s time to call it a day
clapping – tripping down the hallway – hugging good-bye
quite suddenly, I am a millionaire
of wishes and dreams and laughter and love and community
I’ve learned something more about love through singing
I gulp the night air and find the moon
it’s as full as I feel
and I sink back into a world that seems changed to me
softer, wider, lighter….
all the lights have halos
good-night, sleep tight
we can rest
pax, pax, pax
Love Hilary
Thursday Alto
February 2007
The concert was wonderful- what a pleasure to be in the audience & yet feel so close to all of you.
Thank you for such an uplifting evening of music.
I love the web site- it’s amazing, congratulations!
Namaste, Donna
PS See you next session!
A wonderful uplifting afternoon of music. I have been to all your yearly concerts and this one ranked very highly with all the rest. Thank you for bringing another one to us Shivon, Denis, the choir members, all the talented choir members, musicians and lovely children. You are doing a wonderful job of making the world seem a better place.
Josephine Muro told us that this was a choir not to be missed. It was our first concert and we traveled down from Chemainus. What an experience. The opening number had us with tears in our eyes, as did many others, while the upbeat numbers had our feet, thumbs and hands clapping. We thorougly enjoyed the mix of performers. All were excellent, inclucing our first live introduction to hip hop and rap. Her enthusiasm was infectious. Besides the lovely harmonies, it was the looks of pure joy on the faces of so many choir members as they sang. One could see that they loved singing as much as we did listening.
With some “life stuff” happening - I did not sing in this concert, but I was thrilled to be in the audience- I had a young woman with me- visiting here from Russia-she speaks minimal english, but her face was alight with happiness from the beginning to the end of the concert! I melted with the childrens choir-love the name!- how amazing for them to attempt and succeed in such a polished performance of such difficult music. Their director positively radiates joy! Sarah has the MOST GORGEOUS voice and I have always loved “Holy Angels”, but to hear her sing it was heavenly! One day she will be recorded, and i’ll be in line to buy her first CD. The other sarah did a terrific job with the Hip Hop - its not a genre i have enjoyed before ,but she reminded me to embrace all music - if it brings happiness , expression, and commmunity to anyone singing- thats what its all about, and I did enjoy it. The GHC was stupendous as always, and watching in the audience i felt enveloped by the people i love in the little village that is our choir. Wonderful job Denis and Shivon. Shivon your radiance lights up the entire hall- how blessed the world is to have you. Thankyou all for a day that has left me still happy and singing at 10 p.m.- namaste- kathie-monday alto and high noon alto
I feel so honoured and so blessed to be part of this amazing choir community. Thank you to Denis and Shivon for bringing us to this place. I can hardly wait to get started on the next concert!
Nora.
Thursday Alto
Wow, the best concert you folks have ever put on. I won’t repeat the accalades, just read the previous comments. Getting a concert like this together takes a lot of work behind the scenes. Thank you all and every one for making a dreary rainy afternoon shine with hope. We hummed all the way home.
Gerhard
It is such a joy to be part of a community that shares so much - and the concert brought together the best of what that is for me….a joyous celebration of life, connections with all ages and stages, beautiful harmonies, authentic self-expression, shared leadership in action, resonance at so many levels. Another world IS possible!!!
Thank you each and everyone for your unique and valued contribution.
Diana
I am feeling a little sad and a wee bit cheated at not being able to participate for the first time in three years,in what was obviously another amazing concert. Sitting here in Cochabamba Bolivia surrounded by many happy, lovely black haired brown skinned children almost suffices but a twinge of regret lingers. I am so delighted that this concert was another huge success. Thank you Shivon, Denis, Gloria et al, for the joy you bring to so many and for “making another world possible”. Here in Bolivia where violence is so prevalent, it gives me hope to know that I return to such a warm, loving community striving to make a difference. See you all on the 19th! I can´t wait.
Patricia.
My daughter, Caitlin, a member of The Treble Makers, had the honour of accomanying the Gettin’ Higher Choir this past weekend, it was such an amazing experience for her and our family. Thank you.
I enjoyed all of the guests, everyone so unique and so talented.
I have never been to a concert given by The Gettin’ Higher Choir and loved every minute of it! It brought chills, tears, smiles and laughter. You are a remarkable group of people and have done wonderful things for so many, great role models for the children!!
I thank you for your hard work and determination, you should be so proud. Cheers, Cynthia
My daugter & I had the most wonderful afternoon at the GHC concert. It was a professional production from the incredible skillful technicians of sound & light & stage to the oh so impressive voices of the GHC & Treble Makers. Your guest performers where so wonderful & talented & truly did entertain & educate us in several styles of music & song. It certainly didn’t take long before the audience was truly engaged in the whole experience of community through song. We laughed & clapped & our eyes teared up too
Sara singing Holy Angels was so beautiful. Her voice just made you feel at peace.
I was very impressed & delighted listening to the Treble Makers. Their musical director has brought them to such a wonderful level of performance. They must all be so proud.
And to think this wonderful event started such a short time ago, with people wanting to sing & Shivon & Denis showing them how to tap into that wonderful experience of community song.
Thank you for your efforts & your activism. It is wonderful & inspiring. Bravo! Bravo to all the singers!
Barb
Alto
PS: Great web site!
This was my first concert with GHC, and rates up there with the best things I’ve experienced in my lifetime. There are no words to adequately describe the sensation of being a part of such beautiful harmony. Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who work so hard to make this happen. Both concerts were so much fun, so exhilarating….I’m still humming the songs and can’t wait for the next concert!
What can I say that hasn’t already been said? Once again I had an amazing experience singing, listening and watching how the children transformed the audience along with us. It’s so wonderful having such an inter-generational inclusion of talents. The highlight for me was having my Mom and Stepdad in the audience for the first time. They have never heard me or us sing before and for my Mom to win the door prize was just icing on the whole cake.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Denise and Shivon for making this yet another wonderful memory for so many to cherish and benefit from for years to come. Also being a volunteer for the Power of Hope for 5 years I know first hand how well the funds raised at each concert help the youth. So you both should be extemely proud of all the hard work that you do. In gratitude and with a song in my heart, Stephanie, Thurs. Soprano.
I attended the concert on Sun. afternoon & enjoyed it tremendously. I was particularly moved by the children’s choir. Even though I was a participant for this session, I was unable to attend rehearsals for the past 3 weeks and thus, felt unable to participate in the concerts. It was very poignant for me, though, as I lost my beloved father at the end of Dec. and more recently, my sister-in-law (only 55 years old) to breast cancer last week. Returning to Victoria after funerals & memorial services on Feb. 2 and being able to attend the Feb. 4 concert was a beautiful way to re-connect with my choir (and my fellow altos). Thank you to choir members who were able to sing so wonderfully.
What a gorgeous performance! Both at the end of the first set and at the end of the concert a line of German poetry welled up within me. Here’s a rough translation: “When to the moment you wouldst say, ‘Oh linger on, thou art so fair…’ ” (”Wenn du zum Augenblick willst sagen, ‘Oh bleibe doch, du bist so schoen…’ ”
There was no question of “Are they going to call for an encore?” Instead, we would have loved a second encore because the concert was “so schoen!”
I was in the choir a few years ago, before the death of my husband and have attended numerous concerts since that time. I have to say that this one was stupendous, not merely for the variety but for the quality of sound and joy that emanated from the choir. I felt incredible up-wellings of emotion while listening to the first three songs and those feelings didn’t disappear but intensified as the programme continued. Ah joy, thank you Shivon for all that you have done and will do … You have added much to my life and to the community at large.
I am in my seventh year with the choir and have participated in many concerts. These concerts were definitely “up there” as being the best for me.
I felt focused, confident and clear, a feeling that has carried over into the rest of my life this week. Winning the Hollyhock prize on Sunday added to my sense of joy about these concerts. I have never been to Hollyhock, and even amongst the music workshops it is difficult to chose, but what a treat to have that challenge! Thanks Shivon, Denis, Bill and Gloria for their important parts in creating these concerts and to my fellow choir mates.
This is the first choir I’ve ever sung with and this was my first concert…and I am loving it ALL. I think my daughter ( now 31 ) summed it all up in her email to me after the concert - “”I wanted to tell you how lovely it was to see you singing away on Sunday, I am glad that you have found that outlet. You look so happy. For some reason, watching you sing made me think of you as you must have been as a little girl and let me see the performer in you. It also made me remember all of those performances I did in my childhood and how you were always there, smiling in the audience and working hard before getting me to my classes and making my costumes.
Thank you Shivon and Denis. This is the joy that you are giving to us and we, in turn are giving to others.
I echo all the above comments … and would like to add some of the comments from the people who bought tickets from me … couples from my church. One couple in their early 80’s that I thought would not appreciate the hip hop, thoroughly enjoyed it … as well as the rest of the concert … said they could see their grandchildren doing it … it was the second of our concerts they’ve been to and asked to be informed of others we do. Our minister (who I’m told doesn’t like concerts) and his wife have come to the last two and asked to be informed of any others. She would very much like the music to “Holy Angels” She sings in the church choir and has directed ones in the past. They all commented on the mix and how much they enjoyed it all … and, of course, the children!!! Thank you so much for everything!
hi, hi, hi! Beautiful site.