Jessica Lane and Sonja perform in The Old Maid and the Thief
Where the Summer (and Spring for that matter!) went, I have no idea! It’s already the middle of October and Winter and Christmas are coming up quickly. When I last wrote, we were gearing up for the London Fringe Festival with Diva Lounge Productions’ offering of Gian-Carlo Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief. We had a lot of fun and so did our audiences. The show was a big hit and the production received lots of positive reviews. I was particularly impressed with how quickly our cast managed to make major scene changes, hauling beds and chairs on and off of the stage with barely a breath to spare between phrases – what a workout! Bravo to the performers of this year’s Diva Lounge show!
After the frantic pace of the Fringe, July and August were relatively quiet with several weddings and private functions. I never tire of being part of a couple’s big day – it’s a true honour to be asked to participate in such an important event in people’s lives; after all, who doesn’t love to shed a tear when the bride is coming down the aisle?!
This coming weekend (October 21-23), I am off to the border to sing two concerts with the International Symphony Orchestra. As the guest on the season opener, I’ll be singing a variety of selections, ranging from Mozart’s Queen of the Night, to the torchy jazz standard Cry Me a River! Talk about contrasting repertoire! I think I will be up to the challenge though! It will be my third time collaborating with the ISO and I’m looking forward to a weekend of making great music with some great people.
- Sonja belts it out at the 2010 Stardust Lounge Gala
Another thing to get excited about – the 5th annual MS Society gala: Saturday Night at the Stardust Lounge! This organization is near and dear to me and I have been thrilled to lend my voice to such a worthwhile cause. Dr. Andrew Appleton is once again our charming host at The Great Hall at the University of Western Ontario on October 29th. It promises to be a glamorous evening, with a few fun surprises thrown in! I’d love to see as many out to support the event as possible, so please visit my website for complete details and hopefully you can join us! As it’s the weekend before Hallowe’en, we’re encouraging all who attend to have fun and get really dressed up – you can’t overdo it in my opinion!
Of course after Hallowe’en, it’s straight into the Christmas season – my favourite time of year! With several Christmas party bookings and concert appearances, it will be easy getting into the Christmas spirit! I’m thrilled to be appearing in concert with local choirs on the concert circuit, including appearing as soloist for Vivaldi’s Gloria with the King’s University College Chamber Choir under the direction of Janet Loo, who played the title role in Diva Lounge’s very first production, The Medium! Catch me also at any of several Maggies Jazz and Supper Club dates for some sultry jazz and Christmas cheer!
Happy Holidays filled with Comfort & Joy!
Of course, the Holiday season will also see the re-release of my double Christmas album. Don’t miss this opportunity to purchase Comfort & Joy for yourself and for family and friends, near and far – available online from now through December 31st on my website, and in digital format on iTunes and Amazon.com. It’s also available locally at Maggie’s Supper & Jazz Club, and at many of my live appearances. Additional retail locations will be posted on my website soon. I was so pleased to hear that the album made so many of you happy last year around the Holiday Season. It also makes a great gift and is sure to get everyone into the Holiday spirit!
I hope to see many of you out enjoying the wonderful music and arts our City has to offer and wish you the very best for a happy and healthy remainder of 2011!
Yours in music,
Sonja
