Prepared with Files from London Pro Musica
Chor Amica is partnering with London Pro Musica at First-St. Andrew’s Church for its largest ever production — the London premiere (and second-only orchestral performance) of Canadian composer Stephanie Martin’s Water: An environmental oratorio on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 pm.
(Pictured: Paul Ciufo.)
Written in collaboration with playwright and librettist Paul Ciufo and Anishinaabe scholar Vicki Monague, Water tells the story of a fictional Northern Ontario town and its pivotal decisions to protect its local freshwater resources for future generations.
(Pictured: Vicki Monague)
Performed by four exceptional vocal soloists — Katy Clark, soprano, Hillary Tufford, mezzo-soprano, Chris Fischer, tenor, and Paul Grambo, baritone — full orchestra, and the combined forces of three local adult choirs and a children’s choir under the baton of Chor Amica’s music director, Patrick Murray, this is a community musical collaboration not to be missed.
Synopsis:
Canadian composer Stephanie Martin’s new oratorio receives its London premiere with the combined forces of London Pro Musica, First-St. Andrew’s Senior Choir, Chor Amica, St. Mary School Children’s Choir, orchestra, and professional soloists.
It is the story of the importance of this precious resource (water) and a community’s efforts to protect it. In this modern-day oratorio, the Mayor of a small Canadian town must choose between an ambitious developer whose questionable plans for a clothing factory will endanger a pristine water source, and her environmentalist son who pleads for her to take a stand and protect Water. The Mayor is troubled by dreams in which WATER appears as a woman and is finally brought to her senses by the spectre of her future grandchild.
The composer Stephanie Martin’s wish is, “I hope ‘WATER: An Environmental Oratorio’ will bring people together to start a conversation about this very precious resource that sustains life on our planet but that we take for granted.”
This work disrupts stagnant modes of thinking and complacency around the importance of water by considering this Anishinaabe teaching: it is our sacred duty to protect water, as human existence depends on it. The music in this oratorio utilizes several styles to embrace all listeners. Some styles include opera, folk, jazz, classical choral, and orchestral music.
Soloists:
(Pictured: Katy Clark.)
Renowned for her versatility and captivating stage presence, Canadian soprano Katy Clark has appeared across North America as a soloist, chorister, teacher, lecturer, and director. She has appeared as a soloist with many groups, including the Amici Chamber Ensemble, the K-W and Windsor Symphonies, and Michigan Opera Theatre. She is a member of the Elora Singers and of Opus 8, and has sung with the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and the Canadian Opera Company Chorus. An active teacher, lecturer, and clinician, Katy holds a DMA from the University of Toronto. She operates an active teaching studio in London, Ontario.
Canadian mezzo soprano Hillary Tufford is a versatile and engaging performer, a Graduate of Western University (M.Mus. Voice Performance) and Alumna of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Program at Vancouver Opera. In 2024, Hillary debuted as Carmen with Toronto City Opera. She has performed as a soloist in Messiah with the Elmer Iseler Singers and Hamilton Philharmonic, and in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Kingston. This summer, Hillary will perform with Festival d’opéra de Saint-Eustache in Quebec.
(Pictured: Chris Fischer.)
Tenor Chris Fischer has appeared as a soloist in more than two dozen major works for choir and orchestra. Operatic credits include the title role in Bernstein’s Candide, Nanki-Poo in Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, and Kaspar in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. Chris has sung with the Grammy and JUNO-nominated Elora Singers since 2012. They are also the collaborative pianist for the Rainbow Chorus of Waterloo-Wellington, and the Minister of Music at London’s First-St. Andrew’s United Church.
(Pictured: Paul Grambo.)
Baritone Paul Grambo is an active member of the local music and theatre community, having performed works at the London Fringe Festival and with local theatre companies, jazz and classical musicians, London Symphonia, and as a chorister and soloist with the Grammy and JUNO-nominated Elora Singers. Additionally, Paul is the artistic director of London Pro Musica Choir, conductor of the Canadian Celtic Choir, and assistant director of St. James Westminster Church choir. As a teacher, clinician and conductor, Paul maintains a vibrant private studio, regularly holding workshops in and around Southwestern Ontario. Paul holds a Masters of Music degree in Performance and Literature from Western University.
Tickets: $40 general admission | $10 students/children with ID
The Beat Magazine 2025 