After months of gathering and singing together, Winnipeg’s Low Voice Collective is set to share their inaugural in downtown Winnipeg this weekend.
The concert, titled Queer As Folk, will, as advertised, feature folk music from a variety of traditions ranging from Irish and Scottish melodies to Canadian folk music from the eastern and northern regions.
“It’s been a lot of fun, a lot of work, a lot of laughing, a lot of chit-chats,” shares conductor Aaron Hutton. “There’s been a lot of collaboration on decisions within the music, and it’s just been really positive.”
Folk music representing inclusion
Because the Low Voice Collective is an inclusive ensemble intended for gay, transitioning and non-binary tenors and basses, Hutton wanted to ensure that the repertoire they perform matches the group’s values. “Most of the [tenor and bass choir] catalog is connected to Christianity,” he elaborates.
“What I have discovered in the catalog of tenor-based choral music is that there’s a lot of great folk music to choose from,” he continues, “and so, that seemed like the obvious choice.”
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One of the standout pieces for Hutton will be an arrangement of the James Gordon classic “Frobisher Bay” originally shared by Vancouver’s Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. “It was actually a piece that I heard in my research that made me want to conduct a low voice choir,” he says. “I hope it’s going to be a highlight because it certainly was an inspiration of mine in the early planning of this ensemble.”
Guest artist adding flare to debut
The Low Voice Collective will be joined for their debut performance by prominent Winnipeg drag artist Lady Muse, who will be adding folk stylings of artists like Janis Joplin to the mixture of Queer As Folk. “She is a terrific performer in the city who is a very skilled musician in her own right,” shares Hutton. “It’s a really interesting component to see someone looking so fabulous and then sing in a range that’s similar to mine.”
Lady Muse’s performance will underscore the inclusivity that the Low Voice Collective is championing into its next chapter. “It’s a diverse group, a gender-diverse group of people,” says Hutton, “and Lady Muse is part of that. The art of drag is kind of gender-bending.”
Winnipeg’s Low Voice Collective will take the stage at Club 200 on Garry Street in downtown Winnipeg at 7 p.m. on March 29. Admission is free for all patrons. More information can be found on the group’s social media pages.