The Orillia Vocal Ensemble (OVE) is an adult community choir dedicated to the joy of singing together and raising funds for local charities. The OVE was formed by founding Musical Director, Roy Menagh, in 2011 and, after a pandemic pause, continues under the current direction of Blair Bailey.
The OVE vision is simple: a partnership between the arts, businesses and local organizations to the benefit of the whole community. Every year, local business sponsors cover the cost of OVE concerts. To date, sponsors for this 2023-24 season include John Mayo and the December 16th “concert sponsor,” Thor Motors.
This generous support from the business community makes it possible for admission to all OVE concerts to be free. However, during each concert, a free-will donation to a designated charity is requested of the audience. The Christmas concert will raise funds for the Sharing Place Food Centre. Since 2011, with this format, the OVE has raised over $150,000.00 for local charities.
(NOTE: Requests from local charities for a fundraising concert in the Spring of 2024 are now being accepted through the e-mail listed below.)
The OVE rehearses every Tuesday evening, 7:30 – 9:30 at St. Paul’s Centre. Membership fees are $125.00 per half-year term or $250.00 per year. Secondary and post-secondary students are welcome and pay no fees for participation. The choir also has a policy of subsidizing or waiving fees based on individual financial need.
Another initiative of the Orillia Vocal Ensemble is the Roger Andrews Memorial Scholarship. This fund was established by Kathy Andrews in the name of her late husband, Roger Andrews, the founding president of the OVE. Annually, an aspiring student pursuing a post-secondary education in Music/Vocal studies receives a $500 grant to help pursue their educational and career goals. Each year’s scholarship recipient is invited to perform at an OVE concert.
Our current scholarship recipient, Matilda Wilson, pictured with OVE section leader Anne South, is completing her Music Therapy degree at Wilfred Laurier University. Matilda continues to sing with the OVE and will perform at the December 16th concert.
If you love to sing and this sounds like a choir you would like to be part of, come out to the October 3rd rehearsal and see how it feels! Arrive early to meet choir members and pick up music.
For more information on the Orillia Vocal Ensemble visit orilliavocalensemble.com or e-mail orilliavocalensemble@gmail.com.
