Well, not exactly, but awfully close. And if it’s late June, that means it’s time for the first announcement for the annual July 1 concert!

On July 1, the Lakeshore Chamber Orchestra will be giving a free (yes, free!) concert as part of the overall Canada Day celebrations with Pointe-Claire Village. We do this every year, and it’s always terrific fun.

This year’s programme includes:

Symphony no. 5, first movt – Beethoven
Symphony no. 5, first movt – Schubert
Symphony no. 40, first movt – Mozart
Suite from Evita – Lloyd Webber
Memory – Lloyd Webber
Suite from A Chorus Line – Hamlisch
Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffman – Offenbach
Overture, Orpheus In The Underworld – Offenbach

I’ll have to verify the start time for you all, but it’s usually 19h30 or 20h00. As always, this concert is being held at St Joachim Church in Pointe-Claire Village, below Lakeshore Road, right on the waterfront; you can take the 211 bus from Lionel-Groulx metro and it drops you right at the corner of Sainte-Anne and Lakeshore, and you just walk down Sainte-Anne to the lake and the church. Here’s a map to give you a general idea. I usually encourage those facing public transport to get together and coax a vehicle-enabled friend along by offering to buy them an ice cream or something. It works nicely, and it’s fun to go with a group. And hey, you can’t beat the price.

Free classical music! Soul-enriching culture! And as an enticing bonus, the fireworks are scheduled for ten PM, right after we finish, and the church steps are a glorious spot from which to watch them.

Write it on your calendar, and tell all your friends! The more the merrier!