The joyful sounds of “Do You Love Me” by The Contours seep from a rehearsal room in the basement of George St. United Church, where the Peterborough Pop Ensemble assembles to make great music.
“Music is kind of like food for your soul,” the group’s business manager Susan Dunkley tells me. “It gets you going.”
That Motown Sound
Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough)
How much: $22 adults, $12 students
Celebrating 15 years together, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble is bringing the sound of 1960s-era Detroit R&B and soul to their upcoming concert “That Motown Sound” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Featuring special MC Linda Kash, the 17-member chorus, under the direction of Barbara Monahan, will be performing songs from some of the most influential soul and pop artists of the ’60s — including Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terelle, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Four Tops. and many more.
Declared as Peterborough’s Music Ambassadors by both Mayor Daryl Bennett and Police Chief Murray Rodd, the Peterborough Pop Ensemble maintains a busy touring schedule. The group performs at events throughout Ontario, but remain dedicated to promoting and supporting Peterborough.
“We are proud supporters of our community,” Susan says.
She points out that over the 15 years that the group has been together, they have supported more than 70 different charities with money raised from their concerts.
A portion of proceeds from “That Motown Sound” will go to support Camp Kawartha. Other charities that have recently benefited from Peterborough Pop Ensemble concerts include The Health Services Foundation, Kawartha Food Share, Hospice Peterborough and Senior’s Dreams.
Nominations for charities to benefit from future shows are currently being accepted at the Peterborough Pop Ensemble’s website at www.popensemble.com. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2015.
You can also get tickets while supplies last at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425), Cheslers Shoes (1135 Lansdowne St. W., Peterborough, 705-876-8739), Pammett’s Flower Shop (208 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-742-5093), Hi Ho Silver (392 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-8903), and Happenstance Books and Yarns (44 Queen St., Lakefield, 705-652-7535). For large groups (over 20), call the Peterborough Pop Ensemble office at 705-740-6052.
The Peterborough Pop Ensemble in rehearsal
kawarthaNOW’s Sam Tweedle had a chance to visit with the Peterborough Pop Ensemble as they rehearsed “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” for their May 2 concert at Peterborough’s Market Hall. This song, written by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label, first became a hit in 1967 when it was recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It became a hit again in 1970 when former Supremes frontwoman Diana Ross recorded it (it was Ross’ first solo number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award).
