Actress, singer and graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts, Kiera Johnson, returns home to perform as a guest artist at the 10th annual Parade of Choirs taking place this Sunday at Cariboo Bethel Church.
The daughter of Cariboo Men’s Choir conductor Carl Johnson, Kiera now lives in Burnaby where she works as a background actor in a variety of movies and TV shows.
Most recently, Carl says Kiera held a principle acting role in the movie Behind the Glass, which stars actor Jason Isaacs.
As a member of the Vancouver Pops Choir Kiera will also be performing musical excerpts in the choir’s spring concert at the Chan Theatre in Vancouver.
Kiera’s sister, Caroline, will be performing with Kiera at the Parade of Choirs.
Caroline holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Victoria and is a public school music teacher now living in Delta.
In addition to being a fine pianist, Caroline enjoys playing many other instruments including a variety of percussion instruments: accordion, Irish flute, and violin, Carl says.
As well as being the choral assistant for the Vancouver Pops Choir, Caroline is the tympanist for the Vancouver Pops Orchestra.
“Caroline and Kiera have performed together since childhood and have developed a sound that melds into an amazing vocal blend,” Carl says.
Kiera and Caroline will collaborate in performing Summertime from Porgy and Bess; Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man from Showboat; I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables; and Gimme Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie.
The Parade of Choirs features performances by four local choral groups culminating in an ensemble performance of Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen in recognition of the passing of Cohen and Canada’s 150th anniversary, Carl says.
Quintet Plus, directed by Michelle Erlandson and accompanied by Heather Froese, will perform Molly Malone, Down to the River to Pray, Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, Can You Feel the Love Tonight and the old Irish Air, Danny Boy.
The Seniors’ Choir, directed by Sherry Taylor and accompanied by Lorraine Baker, will perform Siyahamba, Let’s Go Fly a Kite, When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along, The Storm is Passing Over, and Send Me Rains.
The Cariboo Men’s Choir, directed by Carl and accompanied by his wife, Sherry, will perform Ave Maria, Mornin’ Train, He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and Bring Him Home.
Eclectica from 100 Mile, directed by Marilyn Buyar and accompanied by Donna Forward, will perform J’entends le Moulin, Woodsmoke and Oranges, Stompin’ Tom Connors’ The Hockey Song, and EXPO 86’s This is My Home.
The annual Parade of Choirs takes place Sunday, March 5 at Cariboo Bethel Church starting at 2 p.m.
Admission is by donation at the door with proceeds going to the Hough Memorial Cancer Society which purchases needed cancer detection equipment for Cariboo Memorial Hospital.