The Choir is now accepting new members for the Spring of 2024 season.
Please use the Contact tab on this page for your enquiries.
Tickets available November 13 through Eventbrite for:
Saturday, December 9th
Sunday, December 10th
Christmas in the County
Command Performance Choir has been very busy putting together a concert that
will delight everyone this holiday season. The concert features 2 contemporary
composers- from the States, Daniel Pinkham, and from Kingston Ontario, Mark Sirett.
The music of these modern composers, because they are entirely different from
each other, creates a wonderful evening of contrast in genre and form and in an
intriguing way, each compliments the other’s work.
Sirett’s gorgeous harmonies and intricate textures are inspired and inspire the
singers to new heights. His ability to offer many styles will be celebrated when the men
sing the robust, Celtic Christmas in Carrick, the women enjoy his traditional Irish, The
Seven Joys of Mary and the choir’s Ensemble delights with his Spanish Tango, O
Brilliante Estrella, to name just a few of the beautiful Sirett collection the choir will offer.
Pinkham’s post-modern Nativity Madrigals are based on whimsical poetry about a
story that may have happened in the Stable, but one of which, strangely, we have never
heard. His glorious Christmas Cantata with Guest Artist Murray Baer on Organ will
finish the evening with glory and power.
The audience can look forward to fun, foot stomping pieces, juxtaposed with
gorgeous choral anthems and resounding, dynamic vocal offerings sure to shake the
rafters and feed the soul. Organist Murray will also contribute with some of his crowd
pleasing, wonderful Organ solos to round the evening’s Seasonal entertainment.
Audience sing-a-longs are a must, and some very delightful Carols will be
included in the program with Murray on organ, choir accompanist Sam Hirst on piano
and the choir joining in on the fun.
Be sure to be a part of this not-to-be-missed Holiday event being held at St. Mary
Magdalene Anglican Church, Picton, Dec. 9th at 7:30 or Dec. 10th at 2pm.
Make Haste!
We are now accepting new members! If you are interested in joining or re-joining, please use the contact us page. Please note you must be fully vaccinated per Ontario Health guidelines to participate.
Command Performance is Prince Edward County’s community choir, founded in 1988. The choir was formed by a small group of local singers who had come together with various artists and groups from as far away as Kingston to perform in the Quinte Summer Music festival. To date, we have fifty members from all over the County as well as from Trenton and Belleville.
The choir is committed to providing a variety of music for a Christmas and a Spring Show. The choir has always reached out to the community to sing at other venues and this year we have actively sought out opportunities to make such appearances.
Moira Nikander-Forrester, BA, B Ed.
The director since 2003 has brought to the choir a tremendous amount of energy as well as artistically challenging music with many different styles and genres. Moira has a wealth of experience as a music teacher in the County and Belleville schools and is very active in the Belleville musical theater field.
Sam Hirst,
Sam has been active in musical communities for thirty years and has a wide variety of musical skills across a spectrum of genres. She has played with an array of ensembles in the Toronto and Prince Edward County areas, ranging from Eastern European Folk music to Japanese Taiko Drumming to rock bands, performing on many stages, including the Harbourfront Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and Ellington’s Cafe.
Sam has been fascinated especially by the folk music of the Republic of Georgia and Eastern Europe. For 15 years, Sam studied this music in the oral folk tradition from traditional song masters. She has led choirs in this spirit, touring Georgia and parts of Canada and the United States.
Additionally, Sam has taught music for many years and acted as director for ensembles in the world music vein, including at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She also works as an Occasional Teacher with the local school board.
Since returning to her home base of PEC, Sam has found a home for her musical skills and is active in teaching music to both young and old. Sam has musically directed productions with the County Theatre Group and the Marysburgh Mummers. She is also currently co-leading a jazz/funk project and collaborates with both County-based and visiting artists on a number of interesting projects.
Sam holds a BMus in Musicology and Theory from the University of Toronto and a BEd from Queen’s University.
Rehearsals are held on Monday Evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. In order to ensure balance between sections we would need to hear your voice to ensure that there would be a good fit for both the needs of the choir and you as an individual. Please fill out the contact form if you would like to be on the waiting list and potentially join our choir.