The encore! Group Golfing With Edmonton Opera

As stated elsewhere I volunteer occasionally with the Edmonton Opera and the encore! group. One of the perks of working with the organization is an occasional invitation to their fundraising events. This year I was lucky enough to join them for their annual golf tournament. Along with Paul, Stella and Kierstin we took on the challenging Glendale Golf and Country Club in a Texas Scramble.

  The course has many rolling hills and a periscope is required to judge whether it is safe to hit.

Swingers.

I was the most experienced golfer of the bunch (which is scary) and we often found ourselves in these types of predicaments.

We didn't fare much better on the greens and after missing an impossibly easy putt the penalty was pushups.

There was great representation from the sponsors and funders. Many cool little games and freebies were given out. I even met a nice Uptown Girl.

Swing camera GIF action of my form.

We finished with a new world record for futility in a scramble at an unfathomable plus 12.  But, Paul ended up getting rewarded for an extraordinary shot with an entry into a million dollar hole in one challenge. We waited with bated breath...just look at the nerves showing below ;)... but luck wasn't on his side.

Overall, though it was a fun day, with fantastic weather and great company.

Thanks Edmonton Opera, Can't wait for the season to start in the fall!

Encore Opera: Storm the Stage

(April Part 2) 

As mentioned before (See link) I am on the board of the Edmonton Opera Encore group and once a year we host a big party on the stage of an opera at the Jubilee Auditorium. In April, we hosted our party - Storm The Stage.

Basically, the whole premise of the party is to hang out on the stage, drink some beer, get a behind the scene tour, schmooze, listen to a dj, and play dress-up in previous opera costumes and wigs. Every year its a great time and this year was no exception. 

Christina and I playing dress up.

I think Chrissy looks like a Star Trek TOS red shirt in the right picture.

 The white snoop dogg pose to the left

 Family resemblance to a young Geoff and Monica.

Christina has got my back.

 What a sultry raven haired albino!

The rest of the encore group was looking good too.

My personal favourite picture.

The next Storm the Stage party is coming up soon on October 21,2011. 

For more information click http://www.edmontonopera.com/sts/ and follow @encoreopera on twitter.

The theme for this year is "atypical Edmonton" and we are having a film contest. Rules below.

Submit a short, 60 second movie, no spoken dialogue, any music (operatic music preferred). Think up and coming, unknown secrets of Edmonton, of opera in Edmonton, of art in Edmonton

Edmonton Opera Flashmob Performance

Due to my association with the Edmonton Opera: encore! group I was tipped off about a flashmob that was going to occur this past Friday at City Centre Mall.

I arrived on the scene at about 1:10pm and there was quite a large crowd formed. I couldn't get down to the floor level like I planned so I grabbed a spot along the railing near the big Christmas Tree. There were plenty of people milling about asking questions, "What's going on?" What is everybody looking at?"

Eventually the singing started and Hallelujah reverberated through the mall. It was quite an impressive sound. My co-worker Colin is in full throttle (just under the sign and 2 away from the escalator).

I recorded a shaky video excerpt of the song which you can see below.

This is the second Edmonton Opera flashmob in the last year. Unfortunately I missed the first one, but here is the video.

Edmonton Opera - La Boheme

As mentioned before here, and here I am a member of the board on Edmonton Opera: encore!, the young professionals branch of the Edmonton Opera. This past weekend marked the beginning of the new season. The first opera of the year is the much loved La Boheme. The night before opening night the encore! group got an on-stage and behind the scenes tour as a membership perk.

The stage was set with the bedroom of the opening scene. My favorite part was the effects done to the 'dirty windows', they were really just screens with extra plaster and perfect lighting that gave them the slightly abused look.

  The centrepiece of the 2nd act: Momus. This eventually is expanded into a huge set piece that

takes up the whole stage and is a marvel to see. 

 The technicians took some time to explain all the different lighting options they can do at the Jubilee Auditorium. Christina got the stained glass spotlight here.

 

I don't know why but I was completely enthralled by all the rope.

 Some really well done props to add authenticity to the Paris streets. 

 

I've been in the back of the Jubilee a few times and every time I see this wall of posters I just sit, stare and admire all the great pieces of art.

 The dressing rooms are pretty small, they must be just packed pre-showtime. Not good if you're claustrophobic. The costumes themselves are quite impressive; feather caps, heavy tapestries, and personalized wigs.

This Thursday I'm going to the show with the encore! group and I can't wait to see the spectacle of it all.