NEWS RELEASE
BRAVADO! SHOW CHOIR
********************
Bravado! and Friends are excited to announce their latest virtual project, Rise Up, as our way of thanking the community’s countless front-line workers for their heroic efforts and hard work during the pandemic.
Over 50 singers from our extended community have come together to recognize the resilience and caring spirit of health-care workers including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, speech therapists, addiction outreach workers, mental health peer support workers, personal support workers, as well as police officers, teachers, grocery store workers, and truck drivers, to mention only a few.
The soundtrack will be accompanied by a video featuring many of these wonderful people from our community.
Director Marianne Derow chose Rise Up, Andra Day’s gospel anthem, for its stirring lyrics which apply so aptly to the dedication shown by workers in our community who rose every day to the challenges presented by the pandemic to keep us all safe and connected.
Here’s what some singers had to say about the project: “The lyrics to Rise Up inspire me to continue being a positive person, which is sometimes a challenge,” and, “I sobbed with joy that I was able to be part of this project.”
Rise Up will launch on March 31 on YouTube. Viewers’ donations will be forwarded to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Simcoe County branch, in recognition of the effect the pandemic has had on mental health.
A survey by CMHA Ontario indicates that one in four people (24 per cent) has sought help for mental health challenges. This is a significant increase from 17 per cent last winter and nine per cent almost two years ago. The CMHA has numerous programs that address issues such as food insecurity, housing, court support, and addiction, all of which have been impacted by the pandemic.
Rise Up will be released on Bravado’s YouTube channel on March 31 at 12 p.m. for your listening pleasure and without charge — no PPE required! To enjoy the show, follow the link found on our website, www.bravadoshowchoir.com.
Even bigger news is that will be back to live performance with a show we call Bravado! Lite. We are busy carefully rehearsing with singers masked and a plan for a 60- to 75-minute show, with no intermission, as a cautious step back to our musical extravaganzas. This will take place on May 13 and 14 at Midhurst United Church. Tickets will be on sale soon.
Bravado Show Choir is generously sponsored by the City of Barrie, Storage Mart, Barrie Charity Bingo Association and Currie Truck Centre.
********************
