Natural boss Cap College’s Lars Kaario began his conducting career at the age of 23 at Capilano College into a crescendo of three burgeon- [ N FOUR years Lars Xaario has turned a no-name choir ing choruses, one of them so large he can rarely find a room to hold 130 bodies — let alone their booming voices. . And the North Vancouver con- ductor shows no sign of slowing down {think there’s tremendous “potential for choral music’ in :Vancouver, Kaario says of the ‘growth in the number of choirs :and the size of their audiences. * Choral music is hugely popular ‘in Europe, and Kaario is delighted ‘it has finally caught on here. Van- ‘couver in particular is home to -some of this country’s most tal- ‘ented choruses, and Kaario is see- “ing a tremendous growth in school choirs. —~ . It's a whole different world from ‘when he began singing, when be- ing eight and: male meant baseball . and hockey — not white gowns and high C’s. Kaario sang in his elementary school choir and was “coerced” by a girlfriend into joining his high school choir. His was the lone male voice. “It wasn’t easy being the only zmale voice, but my friends didn’t ‘tease me. | wasn’t in the choir . because !was a wimp, | used to ell them, but because | enjoyed Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE With perseverance, Kaario went on to sing with the Vancouver Chamber Choir and the Van- couver Cantata Singers as principal tenor. When he was studying to become a voice performance ma- jor at UBC, and later at the Uni- versity of Western Washington, he was fortunate enough to hook up with some of the brightest lights of Vancouver's conducting world: Jon Washburn, James Fankhauser and Bruce Pullan. . “4 did my conductor training with Fankhauser,’’” says Kaario. “He's a very intense, demanding — man. Bruce Pullan (Kaario studied under Pullan at Western Washington University) is a brilliant, gentle and very musical individual. He had a major influ- ence on me.” From there he undertook everything from solo recitals to opera to musical theatre. Conducting came naturally. By the time he was 23 Kaario was conducting his own chamber choir, the Paragon Singers. “Being a natural boss, } needed people to boss around,”’ he jokes. He's got plenty of students to “boss” around now. Kaario teaches voice at Capilano Coliege and is the current director of the Capilano Community Choir, Capilano College Singers and Capilano Children’s Choir. Made up of students and com- munity members, the community choir is a beginner/intermediate ensemble open to anyone who enjoys singing. It began with 60 voices, grew to 90 iast year, and See College page 36 SEWING CLUB VALUE HOTLINE Lower Mainland 875-9244 Chilliwack 858-0053 Abbotsford 855-0945 ‘ALL FABRICS ~ 15G6m Cones, Sewing Ciub Reanbe 4S - Reg $349 - 50% OFF PATTERNS .. “VOGUE, McCALLS; "BURDA: ‘and Butterick. : an ih sloc k patterns Buy: 4 Lay) FREE ve alter, Wednesday, March 11, 1992 - Norih Shore News -— 35 SPECIAL DINNERS FOR '2' our tasty & crispy 1. ROASTED DUCK OR 2. ROASTED GOOSE w/red cabbage, pot dumplings, spectal sauce, stuffing & cucumber saiad. HOMEMADE SOUP at ul haaae price to TAKE- OUT —' $10.00 OFF With this ad per coupis Explres March 26/92 707 ‘queensbiary Ave Noith Vancouver, 988: 133i Tonn nan. 550,000 peopie work hard to protect Canada’s endangered species. You can help too. p, For more information contact: 1673 coring Avenue Ottawa, Onfarlo K2A 324 (643) Sosa “ENTER TO WINE “ONE OF FOUR Reg. value $2.98 m - $4.98 m OFF ALL FABRICS Reg. value $5.98 m - $7.98 m OFF ALL FABRICS Reg. value $8.98 m - $11.98 m OFF ALL FABRICS Reg. value $12.98 m - $16.98 m OFF ALL FABRICS Reg. value $17 98 m- $34, 98 m4 NEWS photo Cindy Goodman ae Cex ° fel onl “BASICALLY f just hustle a lot. If you interest people in what : . we N RTH va - ABBOTSFORD + VANCOU Od vegst Eb Waldes RICHMOND 792 Addecbiage Way * E NEW SURREY - . Wry Ohh Avs. you're doing they catch the fire,’’ Capilano College conductor [iG Lars Kaario says of his success as a choral music specialist. [sims HOO JOSS. inyTe. ST Kaario will lead the Capilano College Singers and the communit a : choir in a pertormance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem on fe NO RT H" ah a April 12 at Centennial Theatre. They'll be joined by guest soloists soprano ingrid Suderman and baritone Bruce Pullan. plage Lea -coQurr.al ¥.