Showcase gala features city’s best
Seanachie Clark will be pulling double duty on May 5, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
The Hatter will perform at the Medicine Hat Symphonic Society’s Concerto Showcase Gala at the Esplanade as both an instrumentalist and vocalist, and she’s not taking the opportunity lightly.
“I work really hard in both viola and voice and it was really good to be able to show that and have something show for it,” she said this week. "This is a really big accomplishment for me and I’m really excited about it.”
The MHSS holds a competition for advanced music students each fall, choosing four instrumental winners and two vocal winners to perform with a full orchestra in the spring gala, which begins at 7 p.m.
Society president Cameron Clark, Seanachie’s father, says to his knowledge it’s the first time one performer has won in each category in the show’s 39-year history. Seanachie will be joined by Bree Clark (cello), Noah Dolter (piano), Soren Lorentzen (viola) and Samatha Scott (voice).
Seanachie said the night is for all the performers to come together as one.
"There’s no competition, it’s just friendships and us performing together,” she said. “And it’s a good opportunity for the community as well to be able to see some young musicians who may or may not pursue professional careers in music.”
Cameron echoed Seanachie on that, saying the night is an easy introduction to classical music for people who don’t want to sit through a full symphony.
“There are six 10- to 15minute performances that are very entertaining and the level of talent is exceptional. These students are performing at nearly a professional level. They’re not professionals and I wouldn’t claim that they are but they’re performing at a very high level.”
Tickets, $25 plus service charge and GST, are available at www.tixx.ca, by calling 403502-8777 or in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk.