EVOLUTION - 4

The choir participated in the annual Spring Concert in May, performing selections from our repertoire, selected by the choir members, to celebrate our six years as a group. Next on our performance schedule is a concert in the United Church in Springhill in early June.

The choir performed at Springhill United Church along with two other choral groups and some other solo and group performers at a concert to help raise funds for the church choir. The performance was well received and the choir had a great deal of fun, as usual.

The choir once again performed at the Ottawa House to help celebrate Canada's Birthday. All selections this year were meant to encourage audience participation, having them join in the singing. Also included was a medley of ww I songs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, which was well received by all. A tremendous honour to be included in this celebration of our nation and our freedom.

Old Fashioned Saturday Night has a long tradition here and usually features crowds of people, walking up the middle of Main Street, looking over the vintage cars (all angle parked like they used to), meeting and talking with friends, enjoying bbq or ice cream from various vendors, and of course, listening to music. This year started with the unveiling of a new sculpture in the town park near the band stand and the choir stopped by to witness that and then carried on down the street where they performed a number of old rock'n roll songs to the delight of many. A great, fun evening.

With the cancellation of the Christmas concert due to incredibly foul weather, the choir did not get to 'use up' the programme worked on so hard during the autumn months. On the plus side, with only a little bit of brushing up, we are now ready for next Christmas which will give us some extra time to work on some new repertoire.

However we continued on working, singing and having fun and made preparations for the annual Spring Concert which was held in late May. The choir performed several pieces and received many, many complimentary comments on how improved the sound was while the whole group still radiated the joy of singing.

After the concert at The Hall the choir then participated in what is becoming an annual festival of song at the United Church in Springhill. This year featured an additional treat for the audience as the concert closed with two numbers being performed by all of the participants in a massed choir of approximately 80 voices. The rafters rang with the magnificent sound.

We dedicated the performance that evening to our first accompanist, Joyce Murray, without whom this group would not exist, as we sadly lost her to us about a week before we were due to appear. She was a wonderful inspiration to us all and will be missed.

Returning to rehearsals in September, the choir spent the autumn brushing up the performance pieces for last year's cancelled Christmas concert and taking on several new and challenging pieces of music. This opportunity to get a 'head start' on the spring repertoire proved to be extremely beneficial as the Christmas concert performance was commented on by many as the best yet, while still permitting the group to prepare several pieces for the Spring concert and a possible future appearance at the annual concert in Springhill.