Catherine Lippitt and Ron Bennie have been performing together since 2008, and one of the many gifts stemming from their collaboration, is a rich affection for the music of Ivor Novello.
In addition to being an actor of stage and screen, and a singer, Novello was a composer during the golden era of British Stage Musicals. It has been a labour of love to unearth some of these rare pieces, many of which are no longer in print.
Come and join us for some enchanting music that is certain to become new, old favourites!
Soprano Catherine Lippitt holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Music from the University of Western Ontario, both in Vocal Performance. In addition to choral music, Catherine also enjoys singing Opera, Oratorio, and in Recital. She is currently the Soprano Section Leader for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus and has performed as an alternate with Pro Coro Canada professional choir, in Edmonton. Catherine is a founding member of La VIe, a ladies vocal ensemble, with five other local singers.
Pianist Ron Bennie has been an active musician in Calgary for over twenty years. He has extensive experience coaching aspiring vocalists in musical theatre, art song and opera. Originally from Union Bay, B.C., he received his early musical training at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. He attended the University of Western Ontario and the University of Victoria, earning a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance. He has been highly active as a collaborative pianist from a young age and has consistently worked with prominent voice teachers and students in Victoria and Calgary. For nearly ten years, he was the accompanist for the Calgary Opera Chorus and was a repetiteur for a number of opera productions and concerts. Ron is a mainstay with Cowtown Opera’s summer opera program, COSA . Since 2002, he has been an accompanist for Cantare Children’s Choir and has toured Canada, Germany and the U.S. with that ensemble. Ron is currently on staff with the Mount Royal University Vocal Academy and enjoys playing an active part in Calgary’s singing community.