History
In the spring of 1981 the late Alasdair Wallace, an English teacher at the local high-school, contacted Ontario Arts Council about the possibility of a community of 2200 people sponsoring a season of touring professional artists. With the encouragement and help of Larry Taylor from OAC, meetings began, questionnaires went out to the community, and unbelievably, even for those of us involved, our first board was formed and our first season began that December.
The First Board:
- Alasdair Wallace, Chairman
- Hubert Meeker, Secretary
- Michael Townsend, Treasurer
- Lynda Andrew, Elizabeth Buddle, Lenore Crawley, Programme
- Bryan Jones, Alex Robertson, Hall management, LCS liason
- Kate Krenz Hospitality
That first year also had a ticket- selling team managed by Del Facey. Each team member was responsible for selling a number of tickets, and we began with a sold out series of three concerts. A season’s ticket was $12.00, and our other income was $2000.00 from Ontario Arts Council.
The Tapestry Singers opened our series on Wed. Dec. 9 dedicating their second half to Christmas music. The local trio Tanglefoot entertained a full house on a blustery Sat. Jan 16. and our third concert was The Wonderfull World of Sarah Binks, performed by the late Stratford actor, Eric Donkin. On Fri. Apr 30 we offered a bonus concert to ticket holders, The Chisholm Trio, a trio of young, local musicians for an evening of chamber music.
Lakefield College School was our venue, with much support from headmaster Terry Guest. There was no fee then, but PAL always made a contribution to their theatre programme.
Heady with the success of our first season, PAL thereafter offered four concerts and later added a fifth.
We have presented mime, dance, story telling, comedy, theatre, choirs, all genres and combinations of instrumental and vocal music from all periods, illusionists, and some concerts beyond classification!
Milestones for PAL:
- 1st decade: Incorporation and charitable status
- 2nd decade: Operating without the OAC grant
- 3rd decade: Purchase of piano
- 2019-20: Season curtailed after 4th concert due to pandemic
- 2022-23 & 2023-24: Added a 6th concert
- 2024-25: Reverted to a 5-concert season
- July 9, 2024: Moved to new venue at Lakefield United Church and adopted new ONCA rules.
Past Performers Include:
- Music; Anton Kuerti, Mary Lou Fallis, Loreena McKennitt, Valdy, Nancy White, Colleen Peterson, Joe sealy, Anagnoson and Kinton, Michael Kaeshammer, Quartetto Gelato, John Allan Cameron, Murray Mclauchlan, Guido Basso
- Theatre; Rod Beattie in 2 of the Wingfield trilogie series, Martha Henry with Rod Beattie in Love Letters, Julia Mackey presenting Jake’s Gift
- Dance; Ontario Ballet Theatre, Formolo and Urban, Ballet Jorgen
- Comedy; Lorne Elliot, Wingfield Farm, Wingfield Unbound, Tomas Kubinek
Show History
1981-82
Tapestry Singers
Tanglefoot
The Wonderful World of Sarah Binks
Chamber Trio
1982-83
Repercussion (quartet)
Arrete Mime
Gordon Gosse (pianist)
Brian Browne Trio
1983-84
Formolo and Urban (dance)
Jim Buckman & The Toronto Jazz
Clarence Darrow – Fred Euringer
Keenan & Prior, harpsicord and flute duo
Prima Donna, Mary Lou Fallis
1984-85
Anton Kuerti
Helen Charmichael Porter – Story Teller
Moebius (mime)
Genre (pop tri0)
1985-86
Loreena McKennitt
Canadian Piano Trio
Laush with Leacock (Barry Belchamber)
Elykim Taussig & Enemies
1986-87
Valdy
Canadian Piano Trio
Peleg, Domb, Kenedi-Peleg Trio
Nancy White
1987-88
James Keelaghan
Cambridge Buskers
Classical Cabaret
Jest In Time
1988-89
Ontario Youth Choir
Anagonson & Kinton
Ontario Ballet Theatre
New Orleans Connection
1989-90
Robert Minden Ensemble
Big Girls Cry – Heather Edson
Vaghy String Quartet
Shakin’ Like A Leaf, A Tribute to Danny Kaye
1990-91
Wingfield’s Folly
Anton Kuerti
Pepper
A Night at the Grand
1991-92
The Elmer Iseler Singers
Naughty Ladies of the Night
Gerald Laroche
Quintessence
1992-93
Great Lakes Brass
The Toronto Consort
Theatre Beyond Words: Night Train to Foggy Bottom
Colleen Peterson
1993-94
Norbert Kraft and Bonnie Silver
Canadian Content Theatre
Ballet Jorgen
Quartetto Gelato
1994-95
The Relyeas
The Oriana Singers
The Michael Mitchell Band
The Lenny Solomon Trio
1995-96
Lorne Elliott
Tamarack
Ensemble Anonymous
Love Under The Lights
1996-97
Tom Kubinek
Love Letters
Joe Sealey
Canadian Chamber Ensemble
1997-98
Murray McLauchlan
Orpheus Chamber Choir
Toronto Percussion Ensemble
Ioan Herea
1998-99
J.P. Cormier
Charly Chiarelli
The Bush Ladies
Cu’Fu?
Puirt A Baroque
An Evening of Gershwin and Kern with Gene Dinovi
1999-2000
John Allen Cameron
David Morris
The Tallis Choir
Peter Togni Trio
Barachois
2000-01
Lorne Elliott
New Berlin Chamber Ensemble
The Pierre Schryer Band
Motus O Dance Theatre
Tyler Yarema and His Rhythm
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
Jeff Healey’s Jazz Wizards
Lynn Kuo
The Wailin’ Jennys
Al Simmons
The Whitney Smith Big Steam Band
2005-06
Elmer Iseler Singers
Marie-Andrée Ostiguy
The Royal City Saxophone Quartet
Bellows and Brass
The McDades
2006-07
The Tokai String Quartet
Marie-Andree Ostiguy
Ian Thomas
Polyjesters
The Amazing Kreskin
2007-08
Van Django
The Voices of Showtime
Patricia O’Callaghan
Romanza
David Jalpert & Denise Djokic
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
Cantabile- The London Quartet
Tyler Yarema
Triple Forté
Schumann Letters
Andrew Craig
Diana Panton & Friends
2011-12
Papa Duke
2012-13
Fathead
Red Chamber
Heather Bambrick and her Stellar Band
Marcus Nance
2013-14
Treasa Lavasseur
Ensemble Vivant
Africville Stories
2014-15
Cantabile – The London Quartet
Amanda Martinez
Three
Broadsway
The Happy Pals New Orleans Party Orchestra
2015-16
The Amstel Quartet
Shakura S’Aida
Sultans of String
Alex Pangman & Her Alley Cats
The Weston Silver Band
2016-17
Quartetto Gelatto
Christmas Home with Project Aria
Duo Percussion
Micah Barnes
Barbara Lica
2017-18
Valdy
The Happy Pals New Orleans Party Orchestra
Motus-O Dance Theatre
Weston Silver Band
Penderecki String Quartet
2018-19
Viva Trio
Ensemble Vivant
Lemon Bucket Orkestra
Robi Botos/Paul Novotny/Daniel Barnes Jazz
Okan
2019-20
Jordan John
Alex Pangman
Look Ahead
The Gryphon TrioThe Dreamboats – cancelled due to pandemic
2020-21 – cancelled due to pandemic
2021-22 – cancelled due to pandemic
2022-23
Papa Duke
Sara Hagen
Amanda Martinez
Patricia O’Callaghan
Sultans of String
The Dreamboats
2023-24
Payadora
VC2 Cello Duo
Laila Biali
Royal Wood
The Fretless
Jordan John
2024-25
Caity Gyorgy
