Submitted by David Warder
For the past three summers, I have attended a week-long Choir Camp in Owen Sound. From that first year, it has been a highlight of the year for me. A week with people who like to sing, some of whom like to challenge themselves by exploring different styles of music and singing, and some who like to stick with what they know. I never expected such an opportunity to be repeated, but it was!
The second year, without the feeling of desperation that I just had to try EVERYTHING, I paid more attention to how things worked at Choir Camp and what made it so successful. I felt less intimidated talking to the professionals. I felt like there was time to get to know them and learn from them one-on-one even outside of the organized sessions.
Imagine my surprise, when I discovered that one of my favourite workshop leaders actually lives in Bruce County! Yes! Bruce County! A professional opera singer, who has performed all over the world, lives in Bruce County! I had to get to know this guy. When I got up the nerve to actually speak to him, he was so down-to-earth, and friendly. Almost immediately, I knew I had to bring him to Lion’s Head to meet my choir.
So that’s what happened. Last winter, Matt Chittick made the trek north to Lion’s Head and spent 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon doing a short workshop with the Cantata Choir. He spent an hour talking to us and demonstrating a variety of singing techniques like breathing, blending, endurance, posture followed by an hour of listening to the choir sing and offering some suggestions to improve our singing – kind of like our own private music festival adjudication. This all happened in Lion’s Head! In the winter!
In the summertime, or leading up to Christmas, it’s quite a process to get all the musical performances on the peninsula organized in such a way as to avoid scheduling conflicts for both performers and audiences. But in February?!
So, I’m going to do it again, but this time I’m inviting other choirs and people who sing but not in choirs. With more groups attending, the workshop will last 3 hours (probably with a short break in the middle) to allow more opportunities for choirs or individuals to sing a piece (or part of a piece) for Matt in a series of mini-master classes.
This year’s workshop is scheduled for Sunday, February 22 (snow date is March 1) from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Bethel Evangelical Missionary Church, 18 Ferndale Road, in Lion’s Head. It is FREE to attend the workshop but donations will be accepted as there is a cost to have Matt come and work with us for the afternoon.
Please RSVP by February 15 to David Warder (519-793-4015) (davidcharleswarder@gmail.com) if you are a choir leader, or an individual, or small group wanting to perform for Matt. Performance opportunities may be limited depending on the number of requests. Please send a copy of the sheet music and/or a recording to help Matt prepare.
About Matt Chittick
Matt Chittick is a musician and multi-disciplinary artist who specializes as a professional Opera Singer and Musical Theatre Performer. He also works and performs as a Voice Actor, Voice Teacher, Music Director, and Singer/Songwriter.
Praised as having a “sparkling upper register” (Opera Canada), an “incredibly powerful voice” (519 Magazine), Matt has performed on stages throughout the world and has lent his voice to many audiobooks, commercials, and voiceovers of all sorts. He is passionate about bringing art to life, whether on the stage or off the page.
Throughout his career, Matt has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Opera, Portland Opera, Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera in Concert, Theatre Calgary, Victoria Petrolia Playhouse, Elora Singers, Tweed & Co Theatre, and many others.
Matt also gets to sing in some really great shows and concerts! A few recent highlights include: Tenor Soloist (Messiah), McQueeg (Oil Rush), Bill (Mamma Mia!), Camille de Rosillon (Merry Widow), Werther (Werther), Albert Lennox (Secret Garden), Tony (West Side Story), and Rodolfo (La Bohème).
When he isn’t performing, teaching, or writing songs, Matt loves spending time with his wife and their three highly energetic young boys! While drinking coffee to try and keep up.
