NEWS RELEASE
BRAD HALLS
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The concert series Mid-Day Music at Melville , presented by Fergus pianist and singer Brad Halls, returns for its 3rd season of presentations, commencing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, and continuing on each subsequent Wednesday until April 30 next spring.
Each concert runs from noon to about 1 p.m. and will provide audience members with the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing musical opportunity in the middle of what might otherwise be a busy day.
Last season, Mr. Halls took his audience on a musical journey through 100 years of Broadway musicals, commencing in 1923 and continuing until the present day. This season, Brad will lead a similar voyage through the past century of music composed for the world of the movies, beginning with the dawn of the “sound” film era, beginning in 1927. Each concert will present enduring songs from various periods of the history of the movies, with Mr. Halls’ commentary about the music and the films from which it comes, and the story of the music’s creators. The first performance on October 2nd will cover the years 1927 to 1929 and will feature songs from early sound movies such as the groundbreaking The Jazz Singer with Al Jolson, through music introduced by the early stars of “the talkies” – Maurice Chevalier,
Jeannette Macdonald, Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell and others. Come and enjoy enduring standards such as Blue Skies, Ramona, Louise, Am I Blue?, Happy Days are Here Again, Singin’ in the Rain and many more.
Brad Halls was born and raised in Fergus and returned to live in his home town a dozen years ago after living and practising law in Cobourg, Ontario for 35 years. Throughout his career, he has lived a sort of “double life”, as a lawyer by day and pianist, singer and songwriter by night. He was the producer of and principal performer in his music series “Words and Music” at Cobourg’s historic Victoria Hall for more 28 seasons and was the frequent music director of musical productions by The Northumberland Players, one of the most successful community theatre companies in Ontario. In collaboration with his lyric writing partner Paul Caldwell, the pair recorded three albums of original music for children and appeared for two seasons in their own television series for young people “The Corner Store”.
Since returning to live in Fergus, Mr. Halls has continued to remain active in the musical community. He has sung in the Guelph Chamber Choir for the past 12 seasons and served as President of the Choir for five years. He has performed regularly as part of the concert series presented annually at the Wellington County Museum and has served as a music director at Bethany United Church, and currently at both Barrie Hill and Speedside United Churches.
There is no admission charge for these performances, although there will be an opportunity to make a completely voluntary contribution on a “pay what you will” basis, with all proceeds going to Melville United Church to compensate for the use of the church’s beautiful sanctuary with its wonderful acoustics and its excellent grand piano.
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