The power of the human voice is unmatched, with tones and words uttered capable of bringing people together.

And, as evidenced in the Baltic91裸聊视频檚 following perestroika, the voice can spark a revolution.

Latvian-born and Vernon-based composer Imant Raminsh uses the human voice for choral beauty, founding the AURA Chamber Choir in 1979.

But after nearly four decades of choral excellence, director Raminsh is preparing to pass on the torch to one of two new directors who will be put to the test at AURA Chamber Choir91裸聊视频檚 Nov. 18 to 19 performance, Welcome To All The Pleasures.

91裸聊视频淭he concert is essentially an audition for our upcoming directors,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淏asically, I wanted a smooth transition, and, in my heart of hearts, I wanted there to be some kind of continuity.91裸聊视频�

Featuring longtime AURA accompanist Marjorie Close, Welcome To All The Pleasures brings forward Tami Harker and Terry Pitt-Brooke as guest conductors, vying for the role of director. The eclectic program showcases pieces chosen by the two conductors.

Both with Vernon roots and extensive musical and choral experience, Pitt-Brooke and Harker bring different aspects to the table. The evenly-matched duo won91裸聊视频檛 make the decision easy for the choir, though.

91裸聊视频淔resh ideas are always good for an organization,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really looking forward to this. I think it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a very different choir.91裸聊视频�

And it won91裸聊视频檛 be a torch that is easy to pass.

91裸聊视频淚 think you have to go into it realizing there will be bittersweet moments. If it91裸聊视频檚 been set on the right track, it will take on its own identity.91裸聊视频�

Raminsh founded AURA Chamber Choir, a not-for-profit society boasting 40 members from across the Okanagan-Shuswap region, shortly after arriving in Vernon to find the teaching job he had been offered hadn91裸聊视频檛 materialized.

91裸聊视频淲hen I arrived here with my wife, we were a little bit at loose ends,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淚 was looking for a way to make a living because the job I had been offered suddenly didn91裸聊视频檛 exist.91裸聊视频�

To pay the bills, Raminsh began instructing violin at the Vernon Community Music School 91裸聊视频� a position he has held since 1977, and for a brief stint Raminsh served as choral director of the Okanagan Symphony and later conducted the Okanagan Youth Symphony Orchestra.

91裸聊视频淚 thought, well, I really wanted to sharpen my skills and I felt there was a need for a small chamber choir,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淎URA started when there were really few choirs around.91裸聊视频�

So, with the help of co-founder Valerie Witham, AURA Chamber Choir was born. Now, 39 years later, the choir91裸聊视频攚hose repertoire reaches from the Renaissance period to works from Raminsh himself91裸聊视频攈as garnered international appeal, having played Raminsh91裸聊视频檚 Magnificat and Missa Brevis alongside fellow B.C. choristers at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

With a music diploma in violin from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, a bachelor91裸聊视频檚 of music degree from the University of Toronto and training from the Austria91裸聊视频檚 Universit盲t Mozarteum, Raminsh91裸聊视频檚 compositions and choral work led him to win two biennial Canadian National Choral Awards in Outstanding Choral Work for Magnificat (1990) and Veni Sancte Spiritus (1994).

While he has achieved international renown, the 74-year-old musician remains loyal to his roots.

Fleeing recoil from the Second World War, Raminsh, who was just a boy at the time; his mother, a trained concert pianist; his father, a forester, and his siblings sought refuge in Canada.

91裸聊视频淗aving not much more than the clothes on our backs, my mom thought one way to support our family income was to teach,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said, recalling the strong influence music had on his family.

91裸聊视频淎ny refugee family, they take advantage of whatever opportunities are available.91裸聊视频�

It was then that Raminsh91裸聊视频檚 love of music was born.

91裸聊视频淢y exposure to music was really from an early age,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淚 happened to latch on to the violin.91裸聊视频�

Despite his long connection with the string instrument, Raminsh concedes that there is a more powerful instrument available: the human voice. And the Baltic region91裸聊视频檚 connection to singing is unmatched.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a very powerful tradition, not only culturally but spiritually and politically,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said, referencing the June 10 to 11, 1988 Singing Revolution 91裸聊视频� an event that greatly influenced independence from Russian influence in the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

And it91裸聊视频檚 a choral history that Raminsh has brought with him to AURA Chamber Choir.

91裸聊视频淚 feel happy about the work that I have done and I feel confident that it will be put into good hands, always recognizing that there will be moments of nostalgia,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淚 always felt that I was their conductor, but it was not my choir.91裸聊视频�

His time with the choir isn91裸聊视频檛 over yet, and before he goes, Raminsh will have a night dedicated to his original compositions, though it won91裸聊视频檛 be his last.

91裸聊视频淚 didn91裸聊视频檛 want to finish with all my self-works, because that91裸聊视频檚 a bit self-serving,91裸聊视频� Raminsh said. 91裸聊视频淢y last official appearance we will be doing the Bach B minor Mass. It91裸聊视频檚 a really monumental work.91裸聊视频�

While Raminsh is preparing to pass the torch, AURA Chamber Choir will forever bear the humble musician91裸聊视频檚 mark.

Aura Chamber Choir91裸聊视频檚 Welcome To All The Pleasures, featuring guest conductors Hark and Pitt-Brooke, plays at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 and 1:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the All Saints Anglican Church, 3205-27th St.

Tickets are $18 adult and free for students, available from choir members and at the door.

For more information, visit .