To borrow from my two-year-old, I'll give this one a "yay, hurray!"
This cheer in advance is for VanDeca, the New West-based vocal ensemble that's returning to entertain local audiences once again - and raise some money for a good cause or two at the same time.
The 12-voice, self-directed ensemble is hosting a cocktail-party-style concert on Saturday, April 18 at River Market.
The event will include canapés from Jeannie's Fine Food and Catering (yes, the choir promises it will be fancy), along with drinks and a chance to win door prizes.
"We are very passionate about supporting local artists and musicians and are hosting an event to help raise funds for Pianos on the Street, a project that makes music accessible to communities," explains a write-up from the choir.
Pianos on the Street had a piano housed at River Market last season, giving everyone who wanted to try it out a chance to sit down and just play in the great outdoors.
The choir is also fundraising to cover a professional development retreat in September.
If you're a regular reader, you'll have seen VanDeca featured in these pages before, but the roster of singers has changed slightly.
This incarnation includes sopranos Becca Wade, Elyse Kantonen and Maggie Ma, altos Stephanie Lam, Alyssa Inouye and Tess Meckling, tenors Linzi Voth, Justin Pham and James Whitlock, and basses Troy Martell, Marco Del Rio and Conrad Janzen.
And, I must add, the choir is extending thanks to those who are helping to make the event run - River Market is offering the space for free so that the choir can raise money for its causes, and Jeannie's Fine Food is donating the canapés.
Which pretty much means it's going to be a win-win all around - especially for the audience who'll get a chance to hear VanDeca sing.
The $30 ticket price also includes canapés, a drink ticket and a chance to win door prizes. Note: It's for ages 19 and up.
Check out www.tinyurl.com/VanDecaTix to buy Tickets.
ArtStarts for kids
Here's a fun one for the kids, coming up at River Market.
The market is hosting its next free ArtStarts event on Sunday, March 29.
This time out, kids can join in a workshop with artist Kyra Kelpin, My Space as a Self-Portrait Collage.
Kelpin is a photographer, and she'll lead kids in a creative photo collage workshop that taps into their ideas about identity, play and their regional environment.
"Using oneself as a subject and manipulating or reproducing our own image has long been a way that artists explore who we are and where we fit in," says a press release.
"This workshop starts with portraiture and finishes with students exploring their image and local environment. Through a hands-on cut-and-paste method, students will build a self-portrait that represents for them their personality and the elements that they value around themselves."
The workshop is designed for kids aged five and up.
It's free and runs 45 minutes, with two separate sessions - one at 11 a.m. and one at 1 p.m.
You don't need to pre-register - just turn up to take part.
See www.artstarts.com/weekend for more details about the ArtStarts events.
Poetic Justice continues
Heads up, all you poetry lovers: Have you checked out Poetic Justice lately?
The poetry reading series is continuing on Sunday afternoons at the Heritage Grill, with two featured poets and an open mike session each time.
Coming up this weekend (Sunday, March 22), Eva Waldauf will host the session featuring Hélène Levasseur and Lilija Valis.
On Sunday, March 29, the session will be hosted by Sho Wiley, featuring Chelsea Comeau and Janet Kvammen.
Poetic Justice runs from 3 to 5 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St. See www.poeticjustice.ca for the full schedule.
Playing with words
Also for the poetry lovers, don't forget about WordPlay.
The Royal City Literary Arts Society offers the free monthly drop-in series as a way to help writers generate poetry - you arrive with your own writing tools and paper, then get writing prompts from the group to help "free your poetic heart," as they say.
It's not a critique group, just a chance to get some first drafts flowing.
The next session is set for Thursday, April 2 at 7 p.m. in the back room at the Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia St.
See www.rclas.com for all the details.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
