Central Alberta Classical Singers return for second season Oct. 2
Published 1:23 pm Wednesday, September 23, 2026
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The Central Alberta Classical Singers are set to kick off their second season.
Nine singers, five pianists and a trombone player are set to perform at “Italiad: A Celebration of Italian Art Song,” at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (4929 54 St.) at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.
“Italian music has its own unique flavour of songwriting,” said David Gibbons, Central Alberta Classical Singers artistic director.
“There’s a lot of poetry based on tormented love and jilted lovers. There’s a lot of passion in this music. … There’s so much vibrato in Italian music. There’s a melodic sweep to it that you won’t hear in German or French art song. It’s going to be an interesting evening for people who like classical voice.”
Performing will be sopranos Nicole J. Brooks, Hayley Crittenden, Sandy Edey, Joyce Emms, Melrose Randell and Tracie Skeet-Brook; mezzo-soprano Sharon Braun; tenor David Gibbons; trombonist James Bicigo; and pianists Nicole Bartolay, Annette Bradley, Cheryl Cooney, David Garwood and Allyson Hamilton.
“I started producing these concerts to try to bring local singers together,” said Gibbons.
“Central Alberta has always had immense amounts of talent, we’ve seen that over and over again. But Red Deer is known for being a rock and country music sort of city. But there’s another type of music out there that’s rewarding and impressive.”
The concert is admission by donation.
“All donations will be going to St. Luke’s Anglican Church’s community music program, which basically helps them maintain their organ and piano,” Gibbons said.
Gibbons said he’s excited that the Central Alberta Classical Singers have returned for a second season.
“There’s a thriving group of fans for orchestral classical music (in Central Alberta). There haven’t been as many opportunities for voice and piano, which is sort of its own genre,” said Gibbons.