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Langley music school faculty take to the stage

Six instructors from different disciplines present an afternoon of song this Sunday.
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Rachel Button

Typically, they’re working behind the scenes, getting Langley music students ready to go on stage and perform in public.

But this weekend, it’s the faculty’s turn to step out on stage and share their talents with the world – or at least a local audience.

Langley Community Music School’s latest Concerts Café Classico event is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2:30 p.m.

And the afternoon concert features LCMS’ own contemporary music faculty ensemble with vocalists, Rachel Button, Alisia Lyne, and Liana Savard, as well as musicians Tim Stacey (bass), Jean-Marc Stacey (piano), and Bruce Henczel (drums).

It promises to be an afternoon filled with contemporary music favourites from jazz instrumentals to pop standards to Dolly Parton with many points in between, said LCMS artistic director Elizabeth Bergmann.

“I am looking forward to this concert with much anticipation,” she added.

The evening will feature some well-known popular songs, as well as some original songs written by Button, an acclaimed singer-songwriter and faculty member. They’ll include “Long Way Round” and “Roll It Way.”

Some of the other music to be featured includes Lyne’s arrangement of “Down to the River to Pray,” as well as “Love Makes the World Go Round,” “I Want You Back – Lake Street Dive,” “Lost Mind,” “You Are My Sunshine,” and Dolly Parton’s “Little Sparrow.”

“The program promises to be refreshingly different, showcasing a lively and inspiring mix of known tunes as well some original material. It is always a pleasure to hear a new take on some standards, as well as listening to and discovering newly written music that is very personal to the performers. It is a wonderful way to kick off Canada Music Week.”

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Who are these musicians?

As a LCMS vocal coach, Button is also a professional singer-songwriter, and international performer and recording artist with a master’s degree from the London College of Music.

Her 10-year career includes recordings in Nashville, with the likes of Grammy award-winning producer Paul Worley (Lady Antebelum, Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride), award-winning producer David Kalmusky, (Journey, John Oates, Justin Bieber, Emerson Drive), and producer Bobby Holland, as well as background vocals with Darius Rucker for the movie ‘Life On The Line’ starring John Travolta.

Rachel’s song ‘Heatwave’ was nominated for ‘Best Song of The Year 2015’ at the Manitoba Country Music Awards and her song ‘If You Met Me Now’ was released on Fiona Culley’s album in 2016.

As a LCMS vocal coach, Button is also a professional singer-songwriter, and international performer and recording artist with a master’s degree from the London College of Music.

Her 10-year career includes recordings in Nashville, with the likes of Grammy award-winning producer Paul Worley (Lady Antebelum, Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride), award-winning producer David Kalmusky, (Journey, John Oates, Justin Bieber, Emerson Drive), and producer Bobby Holland, as well as background vocals with Darius Rucker for the movie ‘Life On The Line’ starring John Travolta.

Rachel’s song ‘Heatwave’ was nominated for ‘Best Song of The Year 2015’ at the Manitoba Country Music Awards and her song ‘If You Met Me Now’ was released on Fiona Culley’s album in 2016.

Lyne is a singer-songwriter and LCMS vocal coach, as well.

She had the “great fortune” to work with many of the music industry’s finest including Dave Pierce, Bob Rock, Richie Sambora, Jann Arden, Jim Byrnes, Brad Turner, Jodi Proznick, Jimmy D. Lane, Miles Ramsay, Dee Daniels, Dal Richards, Salome Bay, Corlynn Hanney, Jillian Lebeck, Bria Skonberg and Bob McGrath to The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

Her original recordings have been played on Indie radio stations in Europe and in the U.S. and her original song ‘Always Be There For You’ won best songwriter by the BC Country Music Association.

She has won vocal competitions here in Canada and in the U.S., and has appeared on various television and radio programs including The Vicki Gabereau Show, CBC Spotlight on Vancouver, Shaw Cable and Washington State’s KAPS 660 Radio.

Also rounding out the six-person ensemble is Savard, a LCMS educator, singer, and director.

She has been an active music performer for the past 16 years.

Savard holds a master of music degree in choral conducting from the University of Alberta, and a bachelor of music degree in jazz studies from Capilano College.

In addition to teaching at LCMS’ vocal studio, she serves as artistic director of the Vancouver Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

Tim Stacey, a bass player and LCMS teacher, has played and recorded with numerous orchestral ensembles, musical theatre productions and jazz groups, including the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, and Ballet BC.

Trained at the University of Victoria, York University, and Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music, Stacey has also worked with Hagood Hardy, Dame Vera Lynn, Dal Richards Orchestra, Michael Buble and Michael Kaeshammer.

Pianist and LCMS faculty member Jean-Marc Stacey, Tim’s son, is a versatile musician, soloist, and accompanist with more than 15 years of performing experience.

Trained as both a classical and jazz pianist, Stacey has studied under Ellen Silverman, Eva Solar-Kinderman, Alan Matheson, and Sharon Minemoto and holds a bachelor of applied music from Vancouver Community College and a diploma of performing arts from Douglas College.

Henczel is the drummer, a performer, composer, soloist, chamber artist, clinician, and teacher with a master of music in Percussion Performance from the University of British Columbia.

With two acclaimed recordings and internationally-distributed print music, he was chosen to represent Canada with an original composition for the 2016 International Handbell Symposium.

Henczel has performed as the concerto soloist with the Vancouver Philharmonic, the West Coast Symphony, Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, and the Kwantlen University Wind Symphony and Chorus. He performs regularly with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, and has performed with Winter Harp, Plastic Acid, and Symphony of the West.

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Where to find tickets

The event starts at 2:30 p.m. with the traditional pre-concert conversation with the performers. Bergmann, hosting the discussion, will explore some career anecdotes and highlight “insights into the selected repertoire.”

Following a brief break for coffee and refreshments, the concert will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Tickets for this event are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for students, and available at the school box office at 604-534-2848, or in person at 4899 207th St.

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Liana Savard
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Bruce Henczel
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Alisia Lyne
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Langley Community Music School faculty ensemble


Roxanne Hooper

About the Author: Roxanne Hooper

I began in the news industry at age 15, but honestly, I knew I wanted to be a community journalist even before that.
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