An intimate church in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake is set to transform into a stage of surprises on Sept. 15.
The Autumn in the Air concert, now in its third year, will open its doors at 6 p.m., mixing classical selections with unexpected performances, said Nehassaiu deGannes, a Shaw Festival ensemble member in her second season and volunteer with the Boxhill Doherty committee.
Unlike a traditional program, each performer chooses their own piece — usually something meaningful or musically challenging, said deGannes.
“It’s not an event that is curated or directed by somebody,” she said.
Starting at 7 p.m. and going until around 8:30, the concert will be performed without microphones at St Mark’s Anglican Church — letting the building’s acoustics carry every note.
“The music just rings out in that space,” deGannes said, thanking the church for allowing the event to be held there.
New this year is a 6 p.m. toonie raffle to start off the evening, featuring small artworks and donated treasures from the community.
Attendees will see another side of people they thought they knew, deGannes said — whether it’s an ensemble member stepping into a new role or a neighbour revealing a hidden talent.
Shaw ensemble members David Adams and Shane Carty dreamed up the original idea for the concert, she said, but Adams and fellow ensemble member Jade Repeta are curating the music this year.
“Folks will have seen them on stage in Anything Goes and the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” she said.
“It’s this lovely, relaxed opportunity to connect with each other as Niagara-on-the-Lake residents,” she said. “For artists to sort of go into the treasure chest of their creative hearts.”
The evening doubles as a fundraiser for the Boxill Doherty Fund, which helps local theatre artists who are in need. It’s deGannes’ first year on the committee.
“I’m going to be there in a support role this year, as well as in the audience enjoying the music,” she said. “I attended the concert last fall, for the first time, and really enjoyed the event.”
She said the show will give residents a chance to engage with the local arts scene — one shared by community musicians and Shaw ensemble members.
“We’re treated to these amazing vocal selections and instrumental selections,” deGannes said.
But the lineup is kept under wraps until the night of the show.
“You get to unwrap the present of the concert the night of,” she said, clarifying it’s not an open microphone; all musicians were preselected.
“There really are these wonderful surprises,” she added.
Tickets remain $35 — the same price since the concert began. They can be purchased online at eventbrite.ca/e/autumn-in-the-air-tickets-1504811695289.
