Allison Crowe's Nanaimo Tidings featuring a Talent Cavalcade

"Allison Crowe's voice is as much a manifestation of Christmas spirit today as Bing Crosby's was in 1942. It's as warm as an open fire; as gorgeous as snow-frosted evergreens; as tender as that hug you give your mother on Christmas day."

That’s some press from the final concert of Allison’s Tidings tour last year (atop Whistler Mountain, BC). In 2012, the excitement and fun continues.

Tidings stirs together Christmas carols, and not-so-traditional songs, to reflect the multi-coloured emotions of the fest ive season and deck us in comfort and joy whatever life’s circumstances.

Along with sharing musical tidings of comfort and joy, Tidings underscores the importance of the community's teachers and mentors - those who nurture the creativity and support the goals of young people. Allison Crowe says she'd not be who she is without such figures in her life - including singing teacher Andrea Bertram, (Andrea Bertram Studio), and stage, concert and tour band leader Rick Becker (Woodlands Secondary).

Just as elders here at home inspired Allison to a rich life through music, the process continues. This annual Tidings show helps raise funds and awareness for The Mind's Eye (NYSA) youth newspaper and Woodlands Secondary School Basketball and Band Programs - well-springs of a new generation of athletes, musicians, writers and more.

Opening this year’s Tidings musical program is a cavalcade of terrific home-grown talent:

Chelsea Peckett

Chelsea is the official accompanist of the Andrea Bertram Studio. She has trained as a collaborative pianist and is a veteran of many music festivals, concerts, cabarets, dinner theatres and the Allison Crowe "Tidings" concerts. She also teaches piano and accompanies the AVIVA women's choir. The Studio would like to take this opportunity to recognize how much Andrea and all the students appreciate Chelsea's expertise, dedication and support. They could not do this without her!

Daniel Knapp

Daniel is 13 years old and attends Nanaimo and District Secondary School. A true triple-threat performer, Daniel has studied acting, dance and voice. He has performed in Red Room productions of "Aesop's Fables", "Cats", "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", "High School Musical" and "Aristocats". He was in the Bard to Broadway 2009 production of "Oliver". He has 9 years study in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, and Hip Hop dance at Tempo Dance Academy, performing in "The Grinch" and "It's a Charlie Brown Christmas" at the Port Theatre. Daniel also performs in the vocal section of the Upper Island Musical Festival with the guidance of vocal teacher Andrea Bertram, receiving many certificates and honing his vocal skills for dinner theatre and cabarets. He is very excited to be performing in the "Tidings" concert for the first time.

Paige Hughes

Paige is 17 years old and a Grade 12 student at Nanaimo and District Secondary School. She is a veteran performer of the Andrea Bertram Studio Cabarets,concerts and dinner theatres. She also excels on the soccer and ball field as a Provincial level athlete and these experiences enable her to show her leadership abilities to the younger students in a group vocal setting as an example of dedication and determination. After attending the "Tidings" concerts many times, Paige is thrilled to be participating in this event. With a natural and warm contralto sound, Paige lends her voice to this year's festive gathering.

Raymond Salgado

Raymond is 14 years old and attends Nanaimo and District Secondary School. He is a veteran of completions, festivals and concerts. He was chosen to sing at the Upper Island Musical Festival's Honours Performance in April 2012. He is a winner of "Pinoy's Got Talent" and was selected by the adjudicator as the Junior Musical Theatre representative from the Upper Island Musical Festival to the Performing Arts BC Provincial Finals in May 2012. This is Raymond's second opportunity to perform at "Tidings" and he is truly grateful - and the feeling between artist and audience is mutual.

Kaleigh Hargrove

Kaleigh is a Grade 12 student at Cedar Community Secondary School. She has a wealth of creative experience of many stages including Cedar Idol, Songbird, and many Cabarets, Concerts and Music Festivals. She has performed with her former band "Youth With No Name" at the Bathtub Celebrations. Kaleigh is currently working on her guitar skills and is the veteran "Tidings" participant among the students from the Andrea Bertram Studio. She
appreciates the opportunity to perform and will take us back in time with a classic song in the evening's repertoire.

Emily Blake

Emily is a grade 12 student at Woodlands Secondary where she loves being in Jazz band,Tour Band and Choir. Her instruments include piano, saxophone, (both alto and tenor), flute, trumpet and vocals. She is active on Student Council. Emily is also very active with theatre at school and in the community. She recently has performed roles in productions by Nanaimo Theatre Group, Schmooze Productions, and Bard To Broadway. For this year's "Tidings", Emily sings and accompanies herself on piano.

Following intermission - With her voice, guitar and piano, Allison Crowe cooks up an organic blend of rock, jazz, folk, gospel and soul. Favourites It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, In the Bleak Midwinter, What Child Is This, The First Noel, Silent Night, and O Holy Night are performed with rare artistry and passion alongside the modern canon of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Lennon & McCartney and original song selections (including the elegiac “Arthur”, and the epic, foot-stomping, “Disease”).

Drawing themes of faith, hope, sorrow, joy, redemption, transcendence and more from an abundant well of music delivers a show much-loved coast-to-coast. Rejoice with Allison as she melds the sacred and secular in "songs of the season" and spirit.

"Allison Crowe is a stunningly talented performer. Her voice celebrates the music with a bluesy rock-gospel intensity; her controlled vibrato, silken rasp, and powerful projection rivet your attention. This is no casual background music... be prepared to be amazed." ~ ChristmasReviews.com

http://music.allisoncrowe.com/album/tidings

Peace on Earth ~ goodwill toward all.

Featuring: a cavalcade of the island's finest young talent ~ to aid Woodlands Secondary Band & Basketball programs and The Mind’s Eye (youth newspaper)

St. Andrew’s United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam, Nanaimo, B.C., Canada V9R 3A6

Music 7:00 pm (Doors 6:00 pm)

Nanaimo Tidings ~ full details tba

Tickets @: Andrea Bertram Studio; Mind's Eye - NYSA; Lobelia's Lair; Tom Lee Music; House of Indigo; West Coast Classic Floral; Fascinating Rhythm; & Thrifty Foods - Port Place, Brooks Landing Mall, and Longwood Station locations; + online in Allison's Box Office @ http://www.allisoncrowe.com/shoptickets.html