Strong & Free

PROGRAM

• O CANADA Calixa Lavallée
• THE LANDFALL OF CABOT Donald Cook
• FELLER FROM FORTUNE Folksong, arr Harry Somers
• MON PAYS Gilles Vigneault
• AH! SI MON MOINE VOULET DANSER Folksong, arr Donald Patriquin
• MISKANAW—2023 30th Anniversary commission by KSS Sherryl Sewepegaham
• BIG YELLOW TAXI Joni Mitchell
• NORTHWEST PASSAGE Stan Rogers
• PRAIRIE GREYHOUNDS music: Jeff Smallman, lyrics: Pauline Johnson
• IN REMEMBRANCE Eleanor Daley
• RISE UP, MY LOVE Healey Willan
• JABULA JESU Stephen Hatfield
• HYMN TO FREEDOM Oscar Peterson
• THE HOCKEY SONG Stompin’ Tom Connors
• SEEDS OF COMMUNITY—2024 commission by KSS Tobias Sass
• TO YOUNG CANADIANS music: James Wright, lyrics: Jack Layton
• HALLELUJAH (Audience) Leonard Cohen
• THIS IS MY HOME Bob Buckley

This wonderful country has much to celebrate. In this concert, we will travel the route the voyageurs took by canoe as they moved west on our rivers. Join us on our journey across this great land in song, honouring Canada’s beauty and strength, diversity and heart—celebrating the unique country we call home.

Traveling coast to coast to coast with exciting music about Canada, the choir will sing songs from our past and for our future emphasizing the qualities that make Canada unique. Songs written by Canadians, for Canadians, and made famous by Canadians—singing their love for our country.

Accompanying the choir will be the always excellent Grace Yip on piano and Greg Mainprize on percussion of all types.

For this concert, we are partnering with members of the Canadian Armed Forces in London. On hand will be representatives of the Royal Canadian Regiment whose members welcomed King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their recent visit to Canada, representatives of The 1st Hussars, and representatives of HMCS Prevost—all to highlight our concert theme, “Strong and Free”.

As global factions scream louder and louder, Canada can be a guiding beam valuing and honouring diversity and inclusivity. We are what a multicultural democratic society can look like, and there is nothing more important in our world at the present time. Canada is a unique and proud country in so many ways, full of goodness and compassion. Let’s celebrate that!