Voices of Prince Edward Island

The PEI String Collective will present its inaugural concert, entitled “Voices of Prince Edward Island” on December 8 at 7:30 pm at St. Paul’s Church in Downtown Charlottetown. The concert will feature three pieces by Prince Edward Island composers: “Arches”, by Sean Kemp, “The Sound Does Not Return” by Karen Graves, and “Give Voice” by Dr. Richard Covey. The orchestra will also welcome special guest, Sylvia Abikhattar-Mutch, who will perform several Christmas selections as well as Puccini’s “Vissi d’Arte” and “Laudate Dominum” by Mozart. Rounding out the program will be two movements of Josef Suk’s “Serenade for Strings”. The PEI String Collective is a community string orchestra made up of professional string players, music students and community amateur performers. The orchestra started in September 2021 as part of the UPEI Music Department, and moved into becoming a community orchestra this year. With members coming from as far afield as Morell and Summerside, the orchestra rehearses once weekly with conductor Natalie Williams Calhoun at the new UPEI Performing Arts Centre. Funded completely by community support, this concert will help fund next term’s rehearsals and performance. Admission will be by freewill donation, in support of the orchestra.