"Life is a Highway" and Orangeville Show Chorus has been riding full tilt since the spring when we jumped on our bikes and took to the stage this year in the Open Division at Contest as 'Biker Chicks'! What an experience we had and we gained so much in how we perform and put the message across the footlights. This has been a goal for a couple of years and we are so glad we pulled it off and had so much fun doing it.
On our route after contest, we finished learning a new song... "Come On Get Happy"... in record time in May so that we could perform it under the direction of Leila Brown at Orangeville's Blues & Jazz Festival on
June 3rd. Leila (Assistant Director) has chosen a new highway to ride and this was her final performance with the Chorus. She has been a most valued member, Bass Section Teacher, Assistant Director, quartet member (competing Internationally), mentor, leader etc. for many years and we will miss her a whole bunch! She is still a 'Sweet Adeline'...will still be serving on the Regional Team, and will continue to coach when the opportunity presents itself. We wish her All The Very Best!!!
Our Blues & Jazz performance was to a 'packed TD Tent' and we sang many favourites along with Leila's new song. Quartets took part as well, and a new addition this year was our 'Acappellooza Kids'. A YWIH Workshop was offered by OSC the day before and 20 young people...girls and boys... took part. They learned 3 songs in one day with the help of 9 of our chorus members and successfully sang these the next day at our performance. We plan to make this workshop an annual event and pair it with the Blues & Jazz Festival to give these emerging barbershop kids a chance to 'strut their stuff'!
Along our highway this spring we have said 'farewell' to some other members...Jeanne moving to England to be nearer family, Carolyn moving to B.C. (we know there are choruses she will visit there!), Holly to the Niagara area where she has become part of Buffalo Gateway's front row, Chris to a well deserved retirement after many many years as a Sweet Adeline with North Metro and Orangeville, Karen H. to join her new quartet in Region 2, as well as Karen S. Anne K. Fay and Sharon J. moving on to new adventures in their respective lives. They will all be missed for the wonderful contributions they made to the chorus, individually and collectively. We sent them off with cards and hugs and a few tears!
Joining us on the risers we welcomed Barb G, Elizabeth, Mena and Nichola, and just recently Mary, as new members of our chorus.
New music abounds, new folks on our Board, new goals being developed and new outlook for what comes next on our travels along this wonderful highway we travel to seek new chorus adventures! Orangeville Show Chorus wishes you all a great summer! Keep a song in your heart!
...Anne Richardson, Orangeville Show Chorus.
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