When a vocal ensemble comes together, magical things happen.
On Monday (May 26), AbZolutely Choir Peterborough-Kawartha will share their magic with the community — and GreenUP — in a year-end concert doubling as a fundraiser for GreenUP Ecology Park’s native plant propagation program.
Concertgoers can expect an uplifting and engaging evening featuring beloved hits by Gordon Lightfoot, Toto, and indie artists like The Lumineers and The Strumbellas. New to the lineup are guest dancers, soundscapes, and even a little vocal improvisation.
Led by artistic director Abby Zotz, this inclusive non-auditioned choir consists of women from all over Peterborough city and county, coming from every walk of life and musical experience level.
“It’s such an exciting thing to watch our sound and confidence evolve as our singing year progresses and as we try new and different ways of exploring the music we perform,” says Abby. “There is such an atmosphere of support and kindness among these women.”
Since its inception in 2021, the group has sought to bring people together through music and purpose by performing at events, and with retirement, hospice, and arts communities. Previous year-end concerts benefited local non-profits Kairos Homes and One City Peterborough.
As to why GreenUP was chosen this year, Abby shares, “I have always wanted to support this fantastic organization, and to include environmentally focused groups in our fundraising efforts.”
“As the partner of an ecologically-inspired farmer, it’s also a personal passion of mine to see soil, habitat, and life restored to a devastated area,” she adds.
Climate events are becoming more intense, and the March ice storm on top of the 2022 derecho greatly altered the local canopy. Trees are habitat, they improve air and water, cool with their shade, support complex ecosystems, and are the original effective means of sequestering carbon.
In 2024 alone, GreenUP worked with community groups and residents to plant over 1,600 trees in the Peterborough region. Donations such as the one from AbZolutely Choir will enable the environmental non-profit to plant even more in 2025.
Supporting GreenUP’s native plant propagation project increases local capacity to start native plants and trees from seed, including the American chestnut and black oak that the organization has already started this spring.
“Trees are needed now more than ever, and this gift will support our work locally to restore rare and significant native species devastated by recent storms,” says Tegan Moss, GreenUP executive director. “We are so grateful to AbZolutely Choir Peterborough-Kawartha for choosing GreenUP to benefit from their concert this year.”
GreenUP Ecology Park will use the funds to build air pruning beds and plant cages to grow native species, offer more volunteer opportunities by providing staff capacity and buying additional hand tools and safety equipment for planting and for invasive species removal, and replant rare and regionally significant native species to replace trees that were damaged by the ice storm.
When asked what the best long-term outcome could be from the fundraiser, Abby says, “Ultimately, we do a little bit to help make the air cleaner, the awareness deeper, and the passion greater to preserve and grow our precious Earth.”
“GreenUP has been an excellent partner in this process, and has inspired me to write and seek out more music celebrating and advocating for the environment,” she says. “Look for that in future concerts.”
The AbZolutely Choir Peterborough-Kawartha Year-End Concert in support of GreenUP happens Monday, May 26 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at Murray Street Baptist Church at 175 Murray Street in Peterborough.
Tickets cost $15 in advance from a choir member or $20 at the door ($5 for children 12 and under). To purchase tickets in advance, email ptbo@abzolutelychoir.ca.
Learn more about AbZolutely Choir at abzolutelychoir.ca. To donate to GreenUP, visit greenup.on.ca/donate-now.
