Award-winning children’s entertainer Rick Scott will be returning to the ACT with Kanaka Creek elementary Kid’s Choir.
The three-time Juno nominee and 2013 Children’s Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards will be performing with the 57-member choir, accompanied by his trademark Appalachian mountain dulcimer. Or, as the children like to call it, an electric snowshoe.
It will be an evening of song and story telling with Scott, who combines music and humour in a concert for all ages.
For over 45 years Scott has performed more than 1,000 shows in schools, festivals and concert halls in Canada, the U.S., Australia and Southeast Asia.
He has released 18 albums, including a four-disc musical audio novel and seven children’s albums.
The choir will be performing 12 to 14 of Scott’s original works and will be joined by 37 Kindergarten students for four of them.
Choir director Dawn Flanagan has worked with Scott in the past.
“One of the great things about Rick is that his songs are so much fun and he genuinely interacts with the kids,” said Flanagan.
“He came for a practice last week and it was like magic. They just connect with him.”
The choir has been practicing after school once a week since January for the concert.
Eh Canada! is Graydon Fuller’s favourite.
“There are funny parts for people who aren’t from Canada,” said the Grade 2 student.
Lily Austin, Grade 7, likes Angels’s Do.
“It’s for kids who are autistic and about them not being so different from us,” said Lily.
Flanagan first thought of moving the concert to the ACT following a performance with Norman Foote held in the school’s gym.
“If you’re last in the door, you’re not going to see your kid. You are not really going to hear them. It’s just packed,” said Flanagan. “To have it at a venue like the ACT, which is beautiful and it is part of our community, and get kids and families into the theatre, it’s great. It’s better seating, it’s better sound. They get the whole experience, the big stage. And it feels like a more professional show all around.”
The concert takes place at 7 p.m. on March 23 at the ACT, 11944 Haney Place, downtown Maple Ridge.
Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $13.00 for seniors, youth and children.
For more information go to http://www.theactmapleridge.org.