Page 14 WEDNESDAY, DEcEmbEr 25, 2019 PrEScOTT JOUrNAL

Music starts Here!

-613- 258 9119

613-3

42-73

77

7712 Kent Blvd. BrockvilleENTERTAINMENTSpotlight

This week, I was speaking at a festive Christmas event for our Shakespeare festival. We concentrat-

ed on Youth and the Arts. I was so impressed by Lynda Joanisse of the St. Lawrence Academy as she gave an impassioned speech on the importance of

the arts for our young generation.

For us as parents, we recognize this need for artis-tic expression in children. We watch them play and

make-believe… write stories, sing songs, paint… all children do it. This creative and artistic need is something we’re born with. Young kids love words,

poetry and stories. They get it… especially if you get them up and speaking the words aloud.

I was reminded of this when I watched the Prescott Kidz Choir joyfully perform in St. An-

drew’s Church this week. The Christmas period is a time for performances, whether it’s by the per-

son giving a sermon in church or a singer per-forming at a New Year’s Eve party.

This time of year has always been celebrated and

revered in ancient civilizations, indigenous cul-tures, and various religions. It’s a time of reflection

and regeneration; an opportunity to look within oneself and focus on what you want and need.

It’s a time to set goals and intentions for the com-ing year, to examine and let go of our past, and to

make changes within ourselves.

A few days ago, I climbed into a truck with boxes and furniture and moved from Toronto to our new

home here in Prescott. I have been here working in Prescott for the last five years… and my family and I are so excited to at last join this community

which we have come to know and love.

Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas... and here’s to us all having a full and healthy artistic

new decade.

Richard Sheridan Willis

Artistic Director

St Lawrence Shakespeare Festival

Tracing time

The 2020 Kemptville Live Music Festival welcomes Glass Tiger

the Festival makes a Festive giFt…

www.stlawrenceshakespeare.ca | 613 925 5788

2020 Passes and tickets

now available at 2019 Prices!

And so it continues...the story of one of Can-ada’s most enduring and iconic bands, Glass Tiger, roars on.

Originally known as To-kyo, the band formed in Newmarket, Ontario in 1981 and spent several years cutting their teeth

day. With rapidly grow-ing popularity, it didn’t take long for all the ma-jor record labels to come courting, culminating in their signing of a world-widerecording deal with Capitol Records in 1985.

Changing their name to Glass Tiger, their de-but album, The Thin Red Line quickly became an unstoppable force, rock-eting up the charts to become the fastest sell-ing debut in Canadian history, spawning no less

than five hit singles.

Leading the charge, was the now-and-forev-er iconic, Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone), a song that is etched into the very fabric of popular music’s history.

Grammy nominated and five-time award winners of both The Ju-nos and Canadian Clas-sic, the band has shared stages and recording performances with some of the world’s leading

acts including; Rod Stew-art, Tina Turner, Bryan Adams, Journey, Julian Lennon, and Cheap Trick (to name a few).

So now, ladies and gen-tlemen, the celebration of life and music con-tinues with Glass Tiger’s latest offering…please welcome “33” Glass Ti-ger’s 5th studio album. Produced by Glass Tiger founding member Sam Reid and UK, singer, songwriter, Andrew Cole, “33” is an unapologeti-

cally raw, mature, eclec-tic, statement that states simply: “This is who we are today and this is how we see the world around us.”

Glass Tiger will head-line the final day of the 2020 Kemptville Live Music Festival on the grounds of the beautiful Kemptville Campus, just a 30 minute drive from downtown Ottawa. Tick-ets on sale Monday, De-cember 23, 2019 at www.kemptvillelivemusicfes-

Set your sing-a-long party apartChristmas carols

became part of holiday celebrations roughly 200 years ago. Initially gaining popularity in England before becoming holiday traditions in the Americas, carols are part and parcel of modern holiday celebrations.

One popular holiday party theme is a sing-a-long.

Although door-to-door caroling has long been a holiday staple, celebrants

can enjoy staying in and singing as well. To make your sing-a-long party unique, include some of these ideas in the celebration.

Rent or borrow karaoke equipment

Increase the performance factor by securing a karaoke machine. Many are preprogrammed with holiday standards. Various karaoke services exist online as well. For

a small fee you can sign up for an account and access lyrics and music that can be streamed over a computer or any device with an internet connection.

Pair picture-drawing with singing

Combine singing sessions with a game of “guess the picture.” Guests select a holiday title out of a basket and then have to draw their interpretation so others

can guess what song is being drawn. Afterward, everyone joins in to sing the tune.

Provide bound carol books

Give each guest a custom-designed book of Christmas carols, complete with sheet music or just lyrics that they can use to follow along while joining in singing. Afterwards, this book can be a take-home present and memento.

Glass tiger will hit the stage Sunday, July 26, 2020.