Spring is in the air, and along with the joyful chirps of newly hatched birds are the melodic tunes of island singers and musicians. The month of April will bring with it concerts from Melodious Notes Over the Harbor and the San Juan Singers.
Melodious Notes
The seven musicians of Melodious Notes Over the Harbor bring with them solos, duos, trios and ensemble renditions of pieces by classical greats and local composers.
Melodious Notes Over the Harbor performs at 7:30 p.m., on Saturday, April 6. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students reserved and $5 for student at the door, limited number available.
“I hope that this concert gets these great pieces of music out to our community,” organizer, director, conductor and musician Sue Collado said. “It’s a program for them. … We greatly appreciate all of their support for coming out.”
Collado, who spent her 28-year professional career as a principal clarinetist in an orchestra, is joined by musicians on the flute, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and piano. The group formed in 2012 and has performed an annual concert since its inception.
“I had just moved here, and I didn’t know anybody,” Collado said about the ensemble’s first year. “You have some really good quality musicians up here, but it’s a matter of getting everyone together.”
The group is comprised of Collado on clarinet; Hanneke Klein-Robbenhaar, viola; Elizabeth Schaltenbrand, piano; Pat Nelson, bassoon; Kay Zavislak, piano; Kim Breilein, flute; and Sasha von Dassow, cello. Of the seven core musicians, three are from off-island, traveling here from Bellingham and Oak Harbor.
San Juan Singers
In a concert that is expected to sell out, the San Juan Singers join with the local rock-n-roll band the Chameleons to bring you the hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s for two nights only. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on April 12 and 13, at the San Juan Community Theatre. Tickets are $20 for adults, $20 for students and $5 for student at the door, limited number available.
“We’re featuring some of our own singers in solos and duets, as well as the solo voice of Kira Sable and Darvis Taylor of the Chameleons,” San Juan Singers Director Angel Michaels said. “We also have some guests joining us — the Sound Vibrations and a couple other ‘cameo’ performances by local musicians.”
Michaels has been directing the choir for about 15 years, she said. This year, the group will have 38 singers on stage, though at times there have been more than 50 members participating.
“We have ‘veteran’ singers who’ve been in choirs for 50 years, and we have first-timers,” Michaels said. “We welcome singers of all ages who are willing to put in the time and the energy to learn their music and sing it correctly — and with heart — in ensemble.”
Picking her favorite song from all the hits was like asking her to pick her favorite child, Michaels joked. She conceded, however, that she is looking forward to ABBA’s “Dancing Queen,” Alphaville’s “Forever Young” and, of course, Toto’s “Africa.”
Though not required, Michaels encourages attendees to dress up according to their favorite represented decade — the ‘60s, ‘70s or ‘80s.
“You should come to this show because you will have fun. The music is upbeat, familiar and, if you grew up with these songs, they’ll remind you of good times and good people,” Michaels said. “The music we’re singing in this concert has been showing up in movie soundtracks, commercials and, yeah, even in the elevators. But it’s familiar and live.”
