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Choral Cacophony Podcast

Choral Cacophony Podcast

Stairwell Carollers

From live rehearsal audio with The Stairwell Carollers, each Podcast is 7 minutes or less. For singers who want to improve performance - solo or in chorus. Warmups, ear training, rehearsal and challenging vocal gymnastics with Director Pierre Massie are fun and engaging. Live and fresh, the Choral Cacophony Podcast will help any vocalist develop their range, enunciation, breath control and vocal quality. Sound advice for singers who want to improve their listening, rhythm and pronunciation for songs in multiple languages. Practice your ear training and vocal exercises along with the choir!
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Top 10 Choral Cacophony Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Choral Cacophony Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Choral Cacophony Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Choral Cacophony Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Choral Cacophony Podcast - Choral Cacophony Podcast #3 -  Warm up those Vowels!
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09/04/17 • 4 min

Our director, Pierre, leads the choir in a warmup to practice proper mouth positioning for vowels. French vowels are included. This episode can be used to improve your own mouth positioning for singing vowels and as a good general vocal warmup.
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - Choral Cacophony Podcast #2 - Fine tuning the Chorus
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08/30/17 • 3 min

"A Little Pretty Bonny Lass" is a sprightly Renaissance madrigal with tricky timing. Podcast recorded at the dress rehearsal for a spring concert at St. Barnabas. Pierre's attention to detail -- rehearse, rehearse, rehearse!
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - CCPodcast S.2#14 - "I Am Not Yours" - Sneek Peek
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05/21/18 • 3 min

Ottawa choral music fans are in for a real treat June 2nd. Pierre Massie and his award-winning choir The Stairwell Carollers will be celebrating the finale of their 40th anniversary season with a diverse program of six centuries of music sung in six languages. 2018 Spring concert Programme - Eya Eya The concert will feature a number of Renaissance gems from England, Spain, France and Germany, 19th century gems like Abendlied by Josef Rheinberger, and modern masterpieces by Lauridsen, Stroope and Gjeilo. In addition, Pierre has programmed his award-winning “Eya eya gaudeamus” – the title track for the concert – as well as a brand-new arrangement of a medieval song – “In natali Domini” – by fellow Caroller David Rain. Throughout their 40 years, the Stairwell Carollers have been singing in a humanitarian key. Net proceeds from concerts and CD sales have allowed the Carollers to present donations to dozens of local charities and music scholarships to local high school students totalling over $140,000. The Carollers are delighted to announce that this year’s $1000 music scholarship will be presented at their June 2 concert to Rayna Crandlemire, a talented singer, who also plays violin, clarinet and piano. Rayna attended De La Salle High School and will be continuing her music education at the University of Toronto this fall, where she has also been awarded a music scholarship. Congratulations Rayna! In addition, on June 2 a donation of $2000 will be presented to the Galilee Centre. The Stairwell Carollers have a soft spot in their hearts for Arnprior’s Galilee Centre, as their special 40th anniversary workshop was just held there in May, led by the inspiring Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor, a former member of the renowned male chorus Chanticleer, who will be singing in Ottawa in July. The Carollers will make an official presentation of the donation and scholarship grants at their spring concert “Eya eya gaudeamus” at Saint Barnabas Church (corner of James St & Kent St) on June 2nd, 7:30pm. Hope to see you there! Tickets are available at the door for $20, or in advance for $15 from The Leading Note, 370 Elgin St; Compact Music, 190 & 785 1/2 Bank St; Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave, or online at http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Concerts.html. David Rain, who sings tenor with the Carollers, has been taking his musical cues from the back of Pierre Massie’s head for 25 years. About our A cappella Choir: Pierre Massie started The Stairwell Carollers in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa University. We are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, Net proceeds of our concert, CD and cookbook sales are gifted to local charities.

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Choral Cacophony Podcast - CC Podcast S. 2 #7 - One Note Wonder

CC Podcast S. 2 #7 - One Note Wonder

Choral Cacophony Podcast

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02/26/18 • 6 min

As a singer, in a chorus especially, we have to shape our vowels correctly (and the way the director prefers!) But, how do we do that? Like most skill development, it takes practice and guidance. Practice making the sound, shaping the mouth, and - where does that darn pesky tongue go? Hint - The tongue should lay in the mouth, as if ready for a yawn, touching the back of the teeth. If you are lucky, you have a master music teacher on a mission leading your chorus. This weeks Choral Cacophony Podcast presents a vocal warm-up that's also great for ear training. About The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir way back in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales. Net proceeds benefit charity. Please DONATE to support our 40th year workshops!
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - Choral Cacophony Podcast #15 - Give me a Yawn!
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11/27/17 • 7 min

In this episode, Pierre leads us in an open humming exercise. I know, your mouth is closed when you hum so - open?? Wait for it - all will be explained. He asks us to yawn, then close our lips and hum - while keeping the open space in the throat that the yawn creates. Got it? Go! _ *PleaseDONATE to support our 40th year events ! *_ All Donations receive a charitable receipt. About The Stairwell Carollers: * * Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir in 1977 while a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also aid local charities with our concert,CD and cookbook sales. * *
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - CCPodcast S. 2 #12 - Be like Fonzie

CCPodcast S. 2 #12 - Be like Fonzie

Choral Cacophony Podcast

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04/09/18 • 5 min

In this week's Choral Cacophony Podcast, The Fonz from Happy Daze fame and spaghetti are featured. Pierre uses both these vivid examples (and others) to illustrate vowel quality and production. He runs the choir through the vowel sounds with his own brand of colourful descriptions of how the sounds should come out and what shape they should take. This rehearsal group included a number of auditioners back in August 2016. A few voices stick out and were subsequently not chosen for the choir. Blending voices is a primary requirement to join the Stairwell Carollers. Enjoy the practice!
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - CC Podcast S. 2 #5a - Working out Laud
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02/12/18 • 6 min

In this weeks Choral Cacophony Podcast episode (Second of two parts) we work on a piece called Resonet in laudibus. It's a latin Sacred composition from the 14th century, transcribed by our director, Pierre Massie. About The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir way back in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales. Net proceeds benefit charity. Please DONATE to support our 40th year workshops!
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - CC Podcast S. 2 #5 - Resonet in Laudibus Rhythm
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02/05/18 • 7 min

In this weeks Choral Cacophony Podcast episode (the first of two parts) we rehearse a piece called Resonet in laudibus. It's a latin sacred composition from the 14th century, transcribed by our director, Pierre Massie. Please DONATE to support our 40th year events! All Donations receive a charitable receipt. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concerts and CDs ! The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions.
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Choral Cacophony Podcast - Choral Cacophony Podcast #17 Singing like the Angels
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12/11/17 • 4 min

As Pierre always says, vocal strength, power, quality and control is in the diaphragm, not the throat, lungs, vocal chords or some mysterious chest muscles. In this simple exercise, Pierre leads the choir to focus on diaphragm control to release notes gently yet powerfully. To sing like angels A concert not to be missed! Come hear the Stairwell Carollers sing “A Canadian Christmas” at Knox Presbyterian Church, 120 Lisgar Street, 7:30pm on December 15th. The Stairwell Carollers will present a special 40th anniversary donation of $3,000 to the Shepherds of Good Hope on the 15th - a result of their first ever “Sponsor a Song” fundraising campaign. *Tickets are $20 at the door, * $15 in advance at * *http://www.stairwellcarollers.com/Concerts.html; The Leading Note, 370 Elgin St; *Compact Music, 206 & 785 1⁄2 Bank St locations; * Books on Beechwood, 35 Beechwood Ave. Hope to see you at Knox Presbyterian on the 15th! _ *PleaseDONATE to support our 40th year workshops! *_ All Donations receive a charitable receipt. About The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked alongside the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help out local charities with our concert,CD, and cookbook sales.
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Looking at this now from the perspective of 45 years singing - through the pandemic - it was so much simpler then! We were younger and no one cared about the jostling crowds - the more the merrier! We are still singing!

This Christmas 2022 we have two live concerts coming up in Ottawa, Canada's Capital.

Saturday Dec 10th at Southminster church 15 Aylmer Ave, Ottawa at 7:30pm. TICKETS

Wednesday December 14 at St. Columba Church, 24 Sandridge Rd, Ottawa at 7:30pm TICKETS

Pete put together this video compilation for our 40th anniversary 1977 - 2017! A loving overview spanning the Stairwell Carollers 40 years of existence. Compiled and edited together by Stairwell Caroller Director and creator, Pierre Massie. Photos property of the Stairwell Carollers and Holly Massie, all rights reserved. Video clips property of the Stairwell Carollers, Holly Massie, Pierre Massie unless otherwise credited. Thanks to: Joel Haslam and CTV and Regional Contact, CBC Radio and TV, Canada's Dominion Carillonneur - Andrea McCrady, Parliament Hill, all the wonderful venues we have sung at, all the lovely people that we have met and helped us out along the way and, of course, all the Stairwellers now and in the past -- some, sadly, no longer with us.

xo Holly and Pete

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FAQ

How many episodes does Choral Cacophony Podcast have?

Choral Cacophony Podcast currently has 37 episodes available.

What topics does Choral Cacophony Podcast cover?

The podcast is about How To, Podcasts and Education.

What is the most popular episode on Choral Cacophony Podcast?

The episode title 'CC Podcast S. 2 #13 - SSShort and SSSweet' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Choral Cacophony Podcast?

The average episode length on Choral Cacophony Podcast is 6 minutes.

How often are episodes of Choral Cacophony Podcast released?

Episodes of Choral Cacophony Podcast are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Choral Cacophony Podcast?

The first episode of Choral Cacophony Podcast was released on Aug 29, 2017.

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