January is often a time of new beginnings, and a few community groups are giving you the opportunity to start something with them.
The Orillia Vocal Ensemble (OVE), Orillia’s pay it forward choir, directed by Blair Bailey, starts rehearsals Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 7:20 p.m. at St. Paul’s Centre’s Great Hall. Fees are $125 but can be waived if there is need. Members will be rehearsing for a concert in May.
The OVE concerts raise money for designated charities, so joining the OVE is a great way to give back to the community and have fun singing in a group at the same time. You don’t have to be a professional singer to join, and all you have to do is contact choir manager Carol at [email protected] to get started.
Orillia’s SING IT choir is directed by Julia Johnston and you can try out the choir on Monday, Jan. 13 at 6:45 p.m. at Creative Nomad Studios. For this choir, you need no formal education in music, just a love of music and singing. Come try it out next week!
Orillia’s Old Dance Hall Players are hosting some beginner and intermediate improv classes from Jan. 14 to Feb. 18 at St. Paul’s Centre, from 7 to 9 p.m. You can learn to make people laugh, be a quick thinker, and play lots of games at these entertaining classes. Cost is $80 and you can register or get more information by emailing [email protected].
Fierte Simcoe Pride (FSP) is hosting drop-in creative socials monthly at the Orillia Public Library, the second Tuesday of the month, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is a creative gathering, and materials will be provided, or you can bring your own creative project. It’s an opportunity for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies to get together, chat, and get to know each other in a supportive environment.
All materials are provided, as well as light refreshments, and there is no cost to attend, or registration. Come drop in and enjoy meeting members of the community.
The Orillia Concert Band and Orillia Silver Band are also starting rehearsals again in January. Although they typically don’t send out a call to new members for January, if you are a brass, woodwind or percussion player and would love to hone your chops, reach out to a band to see if they have space for you.
January is typically a quieter month for events as we are either digging ourselves out or freezing, but there are a few on my radar I would like to pass on to you.
The Third Age Learning (TALL) lecture series for the winter gets started next Wednesday and runs weekly until Feb. 12, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Centre. The topic is Stop the Clock! Time is Running Out.
This series of lectures will focus on the urgent environmental issues facing our planet: human impact, barriers, trajectory, and potential solutions. The cost for the series is $60, or you can attend a single morning for $15. For more information and to register, click here.
Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. come enjoy Paint Nights by Lori at Wild Wing Orillia. The cost is $50 for a large, pre-drawn 16“x 20“canvas. The fee also includes all the supplies you need and step-by-step instructions. For more information, message here.
Saturday, Jan. 18 come out to Lone Wolf Café for The Brownstone is Closed event, an open mic throwback to those amazing open mics at The Brownstone Café, pre-pandemic. The fun starts at 8 p.m. I am hoping Timmay Kehoe will be playing!
Save the date for the first Mariposa Arts Theatre Film Night of 2025, on Jan. 22. More details next week!
Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH) exhibits are only on display until Jan. 11 and 18, respectively, so if you haven’t been in to see them yet, now is your time! Tradition Transformed and the Gillian Lowry exhibit get switched out Jan. 18 while Teachers and their Enduring Legacy goes Jan. 11. Stay tuned for what comes next!
The OMAH Winter Gala is Saturday, Jan. 18 but it is sold out. Contact the museum if you want to be informed of any last-minute cancellations.
Live from the Met, your chance to see and hear incredible live opera performances from the Metropolitan Opera at our local cineplex, presents the classic Verdi opera, Aida, on Jan. 25. Showtime is 1 p.m. It will be amazing!
Live music this week? Jeremiah Hill Friday, Chris Lemay Saturday, at Couchiching Craft Brewery. Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., Madison Mueller at PICNIC. Friday from 9 to 11, Dav Dickson, Saturday Sean Patrick and John MacDonald, at Hog n Penny.
Have a great week and stay warm! If you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
