An expected sell-out concert in Fort 91原创 next weekend will help the 91原创 Ukulele Ensemble get to Hawaii this summer.
The students have been rehearsing six hours a week for the past month and a half to prepare for this spring show, their 鈥淎ll You Need Is Love鈥� concert, coming to the Chief Sepass Theatre stage on Saturday, May 25, said senior ensemble director Paul Luongo.
鈥淭his is our big fundraiser performance for our much anticipated 27th annual tour to Hawaii and our performance residency at the Sheraton Waikiki,鈥� Luongo said, noting the spring concert usually raises about $4,500 to $5,000 towards the $80,000 cost of the trip.
However, this show 鈥� thanks to venue sponsorship from BMO Willoughby 鈥� is expected to generate a little extra. Typically, the ensemble fundraises about half the cost, leaving the students and their families to cover the rest. This year, there are 26 students from the senior A ensemble making the trek.
The group has been performing at public and private shows throughout the year and selling their merchandise to raise money while sharing their music, Luongo noted. But the biggest fundraising push of all is typically this concert, which he shared late last week was nearing capacity.
He promises what he calls a musical odyssey for the audience.
鈥淓xperience a captivating musical journey, where melodies echo messages of love, happiness, hope, and peace,鈥� Luongo elaborated.
By infusing those messages into their song selection, the audience will hear a blend of soulful gospel, folk, modern pop and rock.
鈥淥ur program not only resonates through your ears but also delivers a heartfelt aspiration: empowering youth as catalysts for change to overcome historical and present-day challenges,鈥� Luongo added, noting the show will feature both the senior A ensemble with a special guest performance by Paul鈥檚 father, Peter, and his senior B group 鈥� a total of 50 kids performing that afternoon.
鈥淏etween the music telling a nice story and the video [edited together by one of the ensemble students], I think it鈥檚 going to be a real uplifting performance,鈥� said Luongo, an ensemble alum who took over the helm of the organization back in 2013.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an entire repertoire, or set list that is new to the kids. There are very, very few tunes that fans will have heard [the ensemble play] before. It鈥檚 lots and lots of new music,鈥� Luongo promised.
鈥淛oin us as we harmonize the tunes that are a powerful narrative of positivity and transformation,鈥� he concluded, noting the concert is only being performed one other time 鈥� the following weekend 鈥� in Ladner. Many of the songs will also be performed this summer during their July trip to Waikiki.
In the meantime, the May 25 91原创 concert is a matinee, with all 305 seats expected to be filled for the 3 p.m. performance.
Tickets for the spring concert range from $12 to $20, and are available through the ensemble鈥檚 website at: .
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