NEWS photo Mike Wakefloid CHOIRMASTERS Erkki Pohjola (left background) from Finland and Rupert Lang (right background) of the Vancouver Children's Choir look on as Kreetta Hannula of the Finnish Tapiola Choir and Jennifer Halfhide of the Vancouver Children’s Choir rehearse for an Expo con- cert, Both choirs performed recently at St. Andrew’s Westley United Church. Muffys Talk About Variety! You Just Can’t Get Enough! Featuring: * Over 30 varieties of yummy donuts made fresh daily from top- grade ingredients and 100% vegetable shortening. * 100% Colombian coffee — fresh, rich, full-bodied » Muffins — large variety, freshly baked daily * Lunch and snacks featuring soups, sandwiches, meat pies, sausage rolls and ice cream. NUFFY'S DONUTS ARE IRRESISTIBLE PARTY SNACKS! You can get quantity discounts when you order 5 dozen or more. Take advantage of it for your meetings, parties & get- togethers. Call today for our special prices. 1034 Marne Unve fat Mackay Worth Van 980-3595 MD bouts 765 Marine Drive North Park Royal West Van 926-3351 Onen 7 days a Ch THE NORTH Shore based Vancouver Children’s Choir (VCC) is harmonizing its way to the forefront of iocal choral music circles. By TIMOTITY RENSHAW News Reporter Made up of girls and boys rang- ing in age from eight to 13, the choir was founded in 1983 by West Vancouver’s Rupert Lang. A West Vancouver native, Lang has a music degree from England's Cambridge University. He is, in his lighter moments, one half of Voiceworks, a musical duo that performs such esoteric selections as Elizabethan songs and such origi- nal peculiarities as Duelling Tubas. Under Lange's talented and perceptive direction his choir has grown in size and stature. Thirty- seven children currently sing with the choir, 27 in concert, the re- mainder in the choir’s training wings. LOCAL MEMBERS Though the VCC is made up of children from all over the Lower 15 - Friday, July 25, 1986 - North Shore News Homes made safe PAGE 21 ‘MUSICAL EXPERIENCE Mainland, Lange says most of its members are from the North Shore. Recent highlights for the choir include a Christmas °85 perfor- mance at the Vancouver Art Gallery, providing vocals on Pass- port, Joelle Rabu’s new album, and giving a private performance for Prince Charles and Lady Diana “If you give them a challenge, kids will rise to it. The training is strict and intense, but I also make sure the children have fun and enjoy what they are doing.”’ the royal couple was in Vancouver to open the world’s fair in May. Reputation of his choir, Lang says, has travelled quickly around musical circles, primarily by word of mouth. hei Rant al Sy e {ts quality, he says, stems from the commitment of its participants: “The training is very extensive and the repertoire is very demanding.”’ BEST CHOIRS Lang says both are characteristic of the world’s best choirs. “If you give them a challenge, kids will rise to it,’’ he says. ‘‘The training is strict and intense, but I also make sure the children have fun and enjoy what they are do- ing.”” Members of the VCC recently played host to the internationally renowned Tapiola Choir from Finland when it appeared in Van- couver to perform at Expo 86 and make a small tour of the Pacific Northwest. The Finnish choir’s 60 members were billeted to the homes of children in the Vancouver Children’s Choir. “It was a wonderful opportunity for them to meet children from another country and another choir,’ says Lang. ‘‘Tapiola is known internationally. It was an honor.”’