BCBusiness

58 BCBUSINESS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019 the First World War, Chor Leoni commissioned a major new work: When There Is Peace, an oratorio by American composer Zachary Wadsworth with a libretto by artistic director Erick Lichte and theatre director Peter Rothstein, and perfor- mances by guest soloists and the Borealis String Quartet. The Remembrance Day concert is one of Larocque's favourites because it's been per- formed annually since 1993, a year after Chor Leoni's founding. Plus, "it provides our community with a meaningful oppor- tunity to remember and celebrate the sacriŠces of many Canadians who served our country so courageously," he says. The annual Christmas Concert series, introduced in 1995, is always popular, drawing 800 or 900 peo- ple to some performances: this time around there are Šve from December 14 to 17, celebrating the launch of a new holiday CD, Star of Wonder, recorded over the past two years. Chor Leoni rehearsals, held for three hours every Wednesday, are also professionally recorded, with each member receiv- ing a copy so they can practise independently at home. "We're constantly working our own voices individually but with the objective of being part of a greater sound," Larocque notes. As concerts or CD recordings approach, the choir adds extra rehears- als and provides access to private lessons. It also brings in coaches when members sing in foreign languages, which have included French, Russian, Latvian, Estonian and Punjabi. The next generation of male choral singers is nur- tured through MYVoice (Mobilizing Young men's Voices), a donor-funded Chor Leoni program for 12-to-20-year-olds in Metro Vancouver. Participants perform with the choir every spring at UBC's Chan Centre in a concert called VanMan Male Choral Sum- mit. This April, Cantus, a renowned eight-man U.S. a cappella ensemble, will join them. "It really does help to raise young men to be kinder, more sensitive and thoughtful and caring, but also to keep the tradition of music and music educa- tion alive, which is also much of what I do at Arts Umbrella, serving more than 20,000 young people in Metro Vancouver through arts education," Larocque says. "I'm lucky that I have the oppor- tunity to have a job that inspires me every single day, and then to be able to participate in something so meaningful as being a part of Chor Leoni is huge for me." ( quality time ) See Red All 106 guest rooms in Rossland's brand new ski-in, ski-out boutique hotel have a view of Red Mountain. At the base of Red Mountain Resort and the first Canadian property from Seattle-headquartered Noble House Hotels & Resorts, the Josie includes a spa, fitness facility, ski concierge and a 2,600-square-foot terrace next to the event space. The full-service Velvet Restaurant and Lounge, offering locally sourced fare, is helmed by executive chef Marc André Choquette, formerly with Cactus Club Cafe and Hawksworth. Broadcast Battles The NHL's decision in 2013 to give Rogers Communications a 12-year deal for the exclusive rights to broadcast the league's games in Canada was a land- mark one at the time. The Globe and Mail 's David Shoalts takes readers behind the scenes with Hockey Fight in Canada, which details why and how Gary Bettman and company chose to leave long-standing partner Bell Media in the dust and the troubles Rogers has had in the aftermath. Douglas & McIntyre 224 pages, paperback, $22.95 A F T E R HO U R S

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