Prairie Queer Companion

Holding space for one another's stories

Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 7:30 pm St. Stephen's Anglican Church 1121 - 14 Ave SW

Adolescence is a challenging time for many of us, not least for queer youth. It sometimes includes being the victim of taunts, rigid social norms, and fear of letting others know who they really are. It can also be a time of self discovery, of first love, and of recognizing that the diversity of the human experience is something to celebrate. For some of us, these coming-out epiphanies happen much later in life, with every bit as much self-recognition, relief, and joy.

One Voice Chorus proudly presents “Prairie Queer Companion” , a concert featuring two musicians whose work explores what it’s like to grow up queer on the Canadian prairies. The choir will perform Regina composer David L. McIntyre’s Watershed Stories I, eight songs based on the coming-out experiences of members of his Prairie Pride Chorus. OVC will complement this suite with the world premiere of a brand-new movement the choir has commissioned from McIntyre to add transgender and gender queer perspectives to his work, entitled “Myself”. Joining OVC on stage will be award-winning Canadian musician, songwriter, and author Rae Spoon. Rae's seventh solo album, My Prairie Home, describes their upbringing as a queer youth in a Pentecostal household in Alberta. The album was nominated for the Polaris Prize. Spoon's latest album, Armour, is their look forward to the future. Spoon's music and writings give a voice to a new generation of queer youth and have made their shows a beacon for the queer community.Prairie Queer Companion will be an evening about sharing our own stories and holding space for others to tell theirs. Prepare to be moved. And prepare to continue the storytelling over coffee and treats, amongst friends, following the concert.Guest artist: Rae Spoon