Community Choirs: Come Sing With Us! - theHumm September 2018

September is singing time, as community choirs throughout the area start their fall rehearsals and begin gearing up towards holiday performances. If you’re ready to expand your performance venues beyond the shower and car, here are a few for you to choose from…

Goulbourn Male ChorusStarts New Season

The Goulbourn Male Chorus has been entertaining patrons in the west end of Ottawa and the Valley for a number of years through two annual concerts and appearances at events and seniors’ homes. Audiences love the deep rich tones and harmony of the all-male chorus, and the variety of music put together by musical director Scott Auchinleck.

As the chorus embarks on its new season it welcomes all newcomers and is looking for male singers in all vocal ranges, but in particular the chorus would like to hear from tenors! While being able to sight read music is an asset, it is not a requirement, and coaching is provided to assist with understanding the music. The GMC rehearses every Tuesday evening in the beautiful Trinity Presbyterian Church on Richardson Side Road in Kanata at 7pm. The first rehearsal for this season is on Tuesday, September 11, and they guarantee you will be made most welcome. Give them a try! Learn more at goulbournmalechorus.com .

Almonte’s “Workshop Choir”

Did you know that there is a workshop choir in Almonte? This is a group of experienced singers who sing together weekly on Thursday mornings, exploring a variety of music. We are not a performing choir, but just sing for our own enjoyment and to develop our choral skills. To balance our choir we are looking for tenors and basses this fall. Reading music is definitely an asset. For more information, please contact director Cheryl Woods at 256–1874.

Town Singers of Carleton Place

Tuesday, September 4 marks the beginning the Town Singers’ 11th season. Rehearsals run from 7–9pm in St James’ Church Hall at 225 Edmund Street in Carleton Place.

The director for the season is Paul Norris, a Carleton Place resident and recent graduate of Ottawa University with a Bachelor of Music degree. He discovered his love for music at CPHS. While Paul was at Ottawa U., he focused his studies on tuba and volunteered as a brass coach with the OrKidstra program. He also studied choral singing and conducting with Lawrence Ewashko, a well-known Ottawa choral director.

The choir is pleased that Peter Brown is continuing as the accompanist. Peter is a well-known, and busy, jazz pianist and piano teacher.

The choir’s Christmas concert will be held on December 2 and 4 in All Nations Church in Carleton Place. The program will include traditional hymns like Silent Night, modern classical works like Nimrod, and popular works from Disney’s Frozen and the Beatles. There will be a special tribute to honour the late Kristine MacLaren, the founder and director of the choir from its inception until June 2017.

If you would like to sing with them, you are welcome to check them out on September 4. They are a non-auditioned choir whose singers come from all over the county and beyond. A desire to sing and the ability to sing in tune is important. Some skill at reading music is helpful but not a prerequisite. All of their music is available on their website for listening and practising at home. You will be amazed how much you will learn to enhance your music skills. The fees are $40 from September to December. For more information, please contact Liette Carpentier, the current membership coordinator, at liette57@hotmail.com or 284–5932.

Almonte’s Valley Voices Choir

Altos and basses (and all other parts)! Almonte’s original community choir is beginning its 17th year and will be starting up again in September. Specifically, Thursday, September 6 at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum.

Do you enjoy singing? Meeting people? You don’t need to know how to read music to have a fun time. Their repertoire spans everything from Liszt to Queen. They meet every Thursday at 7:30pm at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum (using the entrance on Carleton Street).

There are some very exciting things in the works for this year and they’re off to a running start. Now is also the best time to bring your friends, as everyone is learning together. For more information, visit them on Facebook at ValleyVoicesofAlmonte .

A Celtfest Call to Action
- theHumm September 2018

By — Susan Ryan

To say that Almonte Celtfest 2018 was a success would definitely be an understatement, and the organizers couldn’t be prouder. The weather gods were definitely on our side this year as we welcomed ......

Community Choirs: Come Sing With Us! - theHumm September 2018