The Floating Stage

1024 825 Ann Mortifee

One of the most memorable stages I performed on was a floating stage.

At the Elora Arts Festival in Ontario the stage was on a raft which floated in a gorge. My band and I got to the raft by rowboat. It was a hot summer afternoon and after the sound check we all dove off the raft and swam to the shore.

Elora Gorge

Ann enjoys an afternoon swim after the sound check at the beautiful, magical Elora Arts Festival in Ontario

When evening came the audience looked down from on high at us as we played and sang. The sound system and Marsha Sibthorpe’s lights were mounted on the cliffs and we all loved the strangeness of being on a raft, floating amidst the reflected light patterns on the cliffs and in the water. It was so mystical. As the lights flickered on the surrounding walls, I remember singing the song, Merlin. I was so carried away by the movement of the water, the lights below and on the cliffs, and the stars overhead, that when the song was over I didn’t know where I was!

It was an absolutely wonderful day and a stupendous evening.

Ann Mortifee

Singer Ann Mortifee is a genre unto herself. Blessed with a remarkable four-octave range and a gift for impacting hearts with her music and lyrics, her albums, concerts, full-length musicals, scores (ballet, film, opera, TV), and In Love with the Mystery book have generated national/international distinctions and awards. She is an Order of Canada Member, the country’s highest civilian honour. A world traveller, compelling storyteller, and sought-after keynote speaker for major conferences, Ann creates and facilitates inspiring arts and consciousness workshops and co-founded two foundations - for social innovation and for forestry conservation. Based in BC, Ann is the wife of the late jazz flutist, Paul Horn.

All stories by: Ann Mortifee