Find solace with Sirens during this season of remembrance. PEI’s award-winning choral ensemble, along side Harmonia Girls’ Choir, will present its first concert program of the 2016-17 concert season this November. “Vigil” will be performed on Friday, November 18, 7:30pm at Park Royal United Church, Charlottetown and Sunday, November 20, 3:00pm at St. Andrew’s United Church, Vernon Bridge.

“Vigil” is an hour-long collection of meditative songs reflecting on themes of remembrance and peace. Beginning in a place of sorrow and loss, the music will eventually move to a place of tranquility and acceptance. Performing repertoire from the contemporary choral canon, including pieces by Leonard Enns, Allan Bevan, Stephen Chatman and Michael McGlynn of Ireland’s Anuna, the compositional style and close harmonies provide the perfect backdrop for personal reflection. Audience members are invited and encouraged to participate in the performance, whether sharing the name of a loved one, lighting a candle in remembrance, or simply closing their eyes to listen.  Sirens will be joined by Stephanie Cole at the piano.

Named after the singing femmes fatales of Greek mythology, Sirens is an award-winning women’s choral ensemble based out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Since their formation in November 2012, the group has developed a strong following of supporters and has been lauded for its pure tone quality, sensitive musicality and tight ensemble. Sirens produces two full-length concert programs each season while maintaining a busy schedule performing at a variety of concerts, fundraisers, events and workshops. As recipient of several awards at the local and provincial music festivals, Sirens earned the Richard W. Cooke award at the FCMF National Music Festival, placing first in the Choral Ensemble Class in 2015. That same year, Sirens also received a nomination for Music PEI’s award for Achievement in Classical or Jazz. In past seasons, Sirens has been featured at the renowned Indian River Festival and the UPEI Department of Music Recital Series, and has collaborated with the likes of Meaghan Blanchard, Tracy Cantin, Robert Kortgaard, Sean Kemp and The Atlantic String Machine.

Committed to fostering the development of choral music in Prince Edward Island, Sirens initiated Harmonia Girls’ Choir in fall of 2015 to nurture the next generation of PEI’s female choral singers. Lead by Sirens’ Artistic Director Kelsea McLean, and accompanied by pianist Andrea Ellis, the choir provides opportunity for girls between the ages of 12-18 the opportunity to develop strong vocal technique, choral ensemble skills, and a safe place to make music.

Tickets for these performances may be purchased by clicking here.

This May, Sirens takes its audience on a cross-Canada song-journey in two performances of “Canadian Soundscapes”. Concerts take place on Friday, May 13, 7:30pm at Park Royal United Church in Charlottetown, and on Sunday, May 15, 2:00pm at O’Leary United Church in O’Leary.

Having performed “Canadian Soundscapes” in May 2014, Sirens remounts this beloved concert program, retaining favourite songs while introducing audiences to new repertoire. Combining poetry, photography and a program of Canadian-composed music, the performance will explore the cultural groups and landscapes that paint this great nation.

Telling its tale from west to east, Sirens starts the concert with a chant from the Tsimshian People of British Columbia.  Songs of immigrant settlers, “Family Tree” by Stephen Hatfield and “Morning Star” arranged by Donald Patriquin, transport listeners throughout the Prairies. Heading north, “Auyuittuq”, meaning “entirely without summer” in Inuit, captures the striking National Park on Baffin Island. “Reel a’ Bouche”, a mouth music piece, and “V’la l’Bon Vent” take listeners to Quebéc. The program moves to Atlantic Canada, including well-known Newfoundland folksongs “Let Me Fish off Cape St. Mary’s” and “Sarah”. Finally, the program concludes with pieces celebrating Canada including “Un Canadien Errant” and “Woodsmoke and Oranges”.

Named after the singing femmes fatales of Greek mythology, Sirens is an award-winning women’s choral ensemble based out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Since their formation in November 2012, the group has developed a strong following of supporters and has been lauded for its pure tone quality, sensitive musicality and tight ensemble. Sirens produces two full-length concert programs each season while maintaining a busy schedule performing at a variety of concerts, fundraisers, events and workshops. As recipient of several awards at the local and provincial music festivals, Sirens earned the Richard W. Cooke award at the FCMF National Music Festival, placing first in the Choral Ensemble Class in 2015. That same year, Sirens also received a nomination for Music PEI’s award for Achievement in Classical or Jazz.

In past seasons, Sirens has been featured at the renowned Indian River Festival and the UPEI Department of Music Recital Series. The ensemble has collaborated with singer-songwriter Meaghan Blanchard, soprano Tracy Cantin, pianist Robert Kortgaard, violinist Sean Kemp and string quintet The Atlantic String Machine. During the 2016-17 season, Sirens will collaborate with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra and the nationally award-winning Halifax Camerata Singers.  The ensemble will also endeavour to record its first album of Canadian choral music in future seasons.

Tickets for both performances of “Canadian Soundscapes” will be available at the door, or by following the link below.