Choir of the Sound honors retiring director Judy Filibeck with NW Premiere on Mar 12 and Mar 13

Saturday, March 12, 2011, 7:00 p.m., Sunday, March 13, 2011, 3:00 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th Street SW, Lynnwood.

Judy Filibeck

Choir of the Sound marks the retirement of Artistic Director Judy Filibeck with a concert to remember, featuring the Washington state premiere of In the Shadows of the Forest, a suite for steel drum band and choir by Edmonds composer Gary Gibson. 

"There's nothing like the sound of raised voices and steel drums to end those winter blues!"

Get your tickets online or by phone 1-800-838-3006 at Brown Paper Tickets.

So how did Choir of the Sound get chosen for Gary Gibson's In the Shadows of the Forest? Artistic Director Judy Filibeck explains:

"A few years ago I was responsible for finding a panner (someone who plays steel drums) to perform with the Northwest Division of the American Choral Directors Association Women's choir for a convention in Vancouver, B.C.

Gary Gibson

"Since panners often don't read music, it was necessary to find someone who did. I had the good fortune to discover Gary Gibson who proved to be an amazing panner and musician who made the performance a wonderful success. 

"

Last spring Gary and I had occasion to chat again and he mentioned in passing that he had written a work for steel drum band and chorus. I was very intrigued and asked for more information. His work, In the Shadows of the Forest, was based on folklore from Trinidad and had been commissioned by the San Jacinto Community College Central Steel Band and Choir in 2010. After hearing the work and studying the score, 

"I was excited about the possibility of COTS performing the Northwest premier of this unusual and exciting work. Gary was also excited about the work being performed in the Northwest, as he lives in Edmonds, and so our collaboration began. COTS will present the Washington premier of 'In the Shadows of the Forest' at our March 12th and 13th concerts."

From the March 2011 COTS Newsletter