HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-11-28, Page 30PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013.
Blyth Festival Singers bring
show to Clinton United Church
Memorial Hall plays host to cultural symposium
Quite the artist
Randy Jones, left, of Exeter was the guest speaker at Saturday’s Huron County Cultural
Symposium, which was held in the lower level of Blyth Memorial Hall. Jones is an established
artist worldwide and his work has been featured in publications like The New York Times and
The Wall Street Journal. He is seen here talking to John McHenry, right, of the Blyth Festival.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
The Blyth Festival Singers are
ready to kick-start your December
countdown to the big day. Together
with the Central Huron Secondary
School Wind Ensemble, the Blyth
Festival Singers are putting up the
holly, feeling pretty jolly and
presenting “Counting Down to
Christmas.”
A fun-filled mixture of classic
Christmas music and contemporary
songs of winter performed in the
wonderful acoustic space at Clinton
United Church, this concert is
sure to get you into the holiday
mood.
And you won’t want to miss
Director Sharon Poelstra’s debut
performance with the Singers.
Sharon began conducting as early as
Grade 11. Holding her Bachelors of
Music and of Education she taught
high school music for five years
before focusing on a solo singing
career in opera and concert. In 1998
she returned to conducting at the
Manitoba Conservatory of Music
and Art, founded the “Intermediate
Vocal Ensemble” and was a much
sought-after adjudicator at music
festivals. From 2000 to 2013 Sharon
has been the artistic director for
“The New Tecumseth Singers”. She
has also conducted Handel’s
Messiah with the Headwaters
Concert Choir and the Stratford
Concert Choir. She is currently
conducting the Brahms Requiem
with the latter. In 2010 Sharon
extended the adventure to
conducting children when she joined
the St. Mary’s Children’s Choir in
Stratford.
Also featured in the concert is the
Central Huron Secondary School
Wind Ensemble, a group comprised
of approximately 30 senior
music students under the capable
direction of Denise Haines. In
addition to adding some youthful
exuberance to the affair, several
students will be featured
instrumentalists in a few of the
Singers’ numbers – adding
instruments to voices.
“Counting Down to Christmas”
commences at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 1
at Clinton United Church. Tickets
for adults are only $15 and just $6
for children aged six to 12. They are
available from the Blyth Festival
box office at 519-523-9300 or from
any Blyth Festival Singer.
Despite some nasty weather on
Saturday, Blyth was the setting for
this year’s Huron County Cultural
Symposium, which featured
guest speaker Randy Jones from
Exeter.
The event was held in the lower
section of Blyth Memorial Hall and,
in addition to hearing from Jones,
guests were treated to some words
from Blyth Festival Artistic Director
Marion de Vries, a sneak peek at
next year’s Huron County cultural
tourism brochure and an update on
the county’s cultural plan
development to date.
Cultural Services Officer Rick
Sickinger was the day’s emcee and
despite speeding through portions of
the program to ensure the snow
didn’t impede anyone from getting
home, many found the day very
informative.
Jones, however, was the event’s
guest speaker and his story
completely enthralled those in
attendance.
Jones, an Exeter native, has made
a living as an artist, composing
illustrations for The Toronto Star,
The Globe and Mail, The New York
Times, The Wall Street Journal,
Playboy, United Features Syndicate,
Cambridge University Press and
New York Newsday.
Growing up on a potato farm in
Exeter, however, Jones found that
his learning style didn’t mesh with
what was being taught in schools,
and over time, he showed great
potential as an artist.
While he has lived in New York
City for decades, he has now moved
back to Exeter, where he can
continue his career as an artist from
Huron County. He and his wife,
however, still maintain a residence
in New York City’s lower east
side.
In an interview with The Citizen
after the symposium, Jones says he
loves coming back to Huron
County and connecting with its
people.
“The more I learn about these
folks, the more I like them,” he said
of the people of Huron County.
Jones says he has a great
admiration for the art community in
Huron County, both for its
underground artists and for its many
residents who appreciate and
support artists and their work.
Much of Jones’s work can be
viewed on inxart.com, of which
Jones is a founding member.
He says he hopes to spend his
newfound time in Huron County
connecting with artists all
throughout the community,
including people from towns like
Stratford, London and Blyth.
Saturday, November 30
11:00 am
Wingham Santa
Claus Parade
Wingham Lions Club will be collecting
canned goods for the North Huron Food Share
along the parade route.
After the parade kids can meet Santa
at the Firehall and get a treat bag.
To enter a float or for more information
Call Wayne Elston 519-357-3855
Hot Stone Massage
406 Mill Street
(corner of Dinsley & Mill),
Blyth
519-523-4793
www.spaessentials.com
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By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
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The Citizen
Continued from page 24
dare to die. But God demonstrates
his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for
us.” (Romans 5:6-8) Amazing! For a
world of lost sinners – He would do
that?
Advent was truly a “daring
enterprise/hazardous activity” for
Jesus. A real adventure, a one-time
occurrence that nevertheless
procured eternity in heaven for those
who trust in Him. Surely our
Christmas celebrations, then, should
be anything but ho-hum.
So, as you review your calendar,
what “routines” have cluttered your
schedule that could be eliminated in
order to carve out some time to
focus more on the real meaning of
the season? Are there functions that
have little to actually do with
Christmas, and even less redeeming
value (perhaps even posing a safety
threat on account of substances
consumed)? Are you absolutely sure
those long distances travelled to
shopping malls are necessary –
perhaps gifts might be found closer
to home? Are some of your relatives
so well-off already that they would
understand if, instead of buying a
gift of questionable usefulness, you
made a donation in their honour for
disaster relief in the Philippines, or
to help some third-world
entrepreneur receive a microfinance
start-up loan in order that their
family might have enough to eat?
Instead of yet again watching Mr.
Bean drive away with a huge
Christmas tree or get his head stuck
in a turkey (funny as that is), what
about treating some elderly
neighbours to a carol and some
cookies? What decorations could be
left unplugged this year so you can
find some quiet moments to reflect
before God on your own current
purpose in life, and how that relates
to the purpose for which Jesus came
in the first place?
Now, you’re starting to put the
adventure back in Advent! When
your wheels stop churning, you
might hear angels’ wings.
Happy 90th
Birthday
December 6
Ruth Dougherty
Love from your family
Planning for Advent-ure