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Voices To Our Ears
ALEXANDRA BABBEL & CANDESCA
» Thursday 17 June 2010 | 5 pm
» Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue, Kelowna
An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas
and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as world-renowned vocal stylists Alexandra Babbel and Candesca present a special performance of their unique and inspiring interpretations of classical and contemporary musical works.
» $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
Vocal Musicians Present a Concert of Interpretive Stylings
Alexandra Babbel has an accomplished background as a soprano soloist and her voice teaching has produced several successful young singers who have gone on to enjoy voice scholarships and careers in music. Her contribution to the Okanagan has been remarkable as she continues to appear as soloist with numerous choirs, ensembles, and orchestras as well as produce shows including over a hundred participants with the intention of exposing new audiences to the beauty of classical music. She frequently collaborates with other art forms such as the ballet, stringed instruments, flamenco dance, and the pipe organ to present a kind of "Cirque de Soleil" of classical music.
With the perspective that rhythm, vibration and frequency are the components of all matter, Alexandra Babbel will present an historical glimpse of music's effect on the health of mind and body and discuss how combining music appreciation with experiential spontaneous song can facilitate inner spiritual healing.
While continuing her international operatic career, Alexandra Babbel has extended an invitation to young women to join her in the pursuit of musical excellence. Candesca, which means beginning to shine, is the result. She will be joined by the Candesca singers for a special performance. Ms Babbel exclaims, "More than anything I want the next generation to know that there is so much beauty in the arts... these talented young women have much to give! Music is for sharing ... there is so much joy in giving it away!"
On Thursday, June 17th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café, Kelowna presents Voices To Our Ears. Join us as world-renowned vocal stylists Alexandra Babbel and Candesca present a special performance of their unique and inspiring interpretations of classical and contemporary musical works.
 Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel, being the only American-born member of her family, has approached her music with a great sense of privilege. Her German mother and Ukrainian father met and married in a displaced persons' refugee camp after fleeing the Stalinist terror in Ukraine and later immigrated to the United States where Ms. Babbel was born.
She holds degrees from the University of Michigan, the University of Alberta and Northwestern University. She held the faculty position of Voice Department Head at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois before relocating to Canada. Her opera career in Chicago included the title role in the World Premiere production of Philip Hagamman's opera, The Aspern Papers, together with soprano roles with the Lincoln Opera and the Milwaukee Opera Company in Puccini's La Boheme, performing both the roles of Mimi and Mussetta.
Performances in Canada, Germany, England, Switzerland and solo concert tours in Russia and Ukraine included guest appearances with members of the Kiev Conservatory of Music, Moscow's conductor Evgeny Vechenko, and recital performances in association with the Britten-Pears School.
 Candesca is an award-winning singing ensemble of young women, ages 14-18, based in Kelowna, B.C. Selected by audition, each member has a solid musical foundation with backgrounds that vary from high level instrumentalists and composers to musical theatre performers and actors. They excel in competitions both vocally and instrumentally as well as being honour roll students and cultural ambassadors in their community. These lovely musical maidens combine attention to detail with the beauty of their angelic voices, to inspire audiences with a youthful interpretation of the traditional classics. Their repertoire includes Gregorian chant, classical art song from a variety of cultures and medieval arrangements of contemporary music, much of which is sung a Capella.
Established only five years ago Candesca has already risen to acclaim, performing for the three tenors, Romanza, and entertaining nearly 3,500 audience members at the Canadian School of Ballet's performances of The Nutcracker Suite Ballet. Their most recent achievement is a first place finish in this year's Kelowna Kiwanis Music Festival. They are currently working on their first CD.
In 2008 Candesca did its first European tour including a stop in Kelowna's sister city of Veendam. The group performed their repertoire for a variety of European audiences.as ambassadors of culture and classical music.
As Alexandra Babbel states, "Now only two years after their very successful European Concert Tour, Candesca is headed to the Big Apple to bring New York audiences to their feet. A one week tour starting July 8th will include 2 performances at St. John the Divine Cathedral - the largest Anglican Church in the world and Trinity Wall Street Church opposite Ground Zero, as well as a vocal clinic and guided tours of the world famous Julliard School and Manhattan School of Music. Several of these girls are headed to music educations so this is a wonderful opportunity for them."
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Voices To Our Ears takes place at the Bohemian Café, Kelowna. This marks the 143rd event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
Express is directed, convened and hosted by Doug Hodgkinson, Karen Close, Edward McLean, Neil McKay and Jan Kennett. It has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet laureate and professor John Lent, creative entrepreneur Nikos Theodosakis, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and many others from a wide range of creative fields.
The Okanagan Institute is a group of creative professionals that has gathered around the goal of providing events, publications and services of interest to enquiring minds in the Okanagan. We partner with individuals, organizations, institutions and businesses to achieve optimal creative and social impact.
Our mission is to ignite cultural transformation, catalyze collaborative action, build networks and foster sustainable creative enterprises. We invite the participation by all members of the creative community.
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