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Thank you to all who took part in our Virtual Holiday Concert! We had 100% of our choruses participate. With everyone's extremely busy schedules and timelines it was amazing to have this video come together.
If you missed its airing on YouTube, here is the link to it:
https://youtu.be/HI0thFPTTUE?si=zknKY3DneA5sa-gW.
Please feel free to share this video link with your friends and family.
Happy Holidays and see you in 2024!
Vanessa Echlin
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Communications
A New year... and with it comes new beginnings. Some exciting changes are on the horizon for Sixteenth Notes. We wanted to give you a heads up on a modernized and streamlined new design that is currently in the works. As part of this revamp, starting next month there will be a reduction in the size of our chorus articles and a more concise selection of pictures. We believe this will not only enhance readability but also provide a more focused and enjoyable reading experience for our readers. I anticipate introducing further refinements as we see how it all unfolds.
Despite these modifications, our commitment to delivering the latest of our choruses' news remains unwavering. The newsletter will continue to provide you with the highlights and updates you've come to expect, ensuring that you stay well-informed.
So please stay tuned as we embark on this journey of transformation and see where it takes us!
Jacqui Barron
RMT Communications Coordinator
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In Loving Memory of those Who are Forever in our Hearts
Pam Warkentin, Founding Director, Bytown Beat
Barb Mearns - Former member of North Metro
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North Metro wishes you all the very best as once again we all set our compasses to a new year and celebrate all that is good in who we are and everything we do, sharing our music with love and light.
It was very special to be on the stage again in December as we presented 'Tis the Season. All our hard work was worth it to share our message of hope and love, of strength and courage, of friendship and family, and most of all gratitude for all we share in this rewarding and nurturing chorus of ours.
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click on image to enlarge.
Our chorus end-of-the-year holiday party was a huge success, full of fun and laughter. Organized by Linda Keyes and her team, and cleverly and creatively emceed by Belles & Whistles. Ladies, you
ROCK! Thank you for all that you did to make this a special and memorable evening.
Click on image to enlarge.
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Our most talented, Sandy Macdonald, presented June, Erin, Lynn and Robyn with (barbie) dolls wearing some of our former costumes. Sandy has dressed our replica mini models to memorialize all our gold medal performances. They are housed and lovingly cared for in the SAI headquarters Hughes Gehrke Champion Showcase and are included in a historical tribute to all previous International winners. Click on image to enlarge.
Thank you, Donna Wilkie, for heading up a foodbank donations project to help others less fortunate enjoy the season. Donna made the time to deliver three full shopping carts of non-perishables to those in need.
As the old year passes into the memory books, we take time to reflect on all the events of 2023, Regional competition, chapter installations and recognition of all those on and off our boards who seemlessly and selflessly contribute to the success of our choruses, the FMS, welcoming our new members, our year-end shows and chorus parties where we celebrate a year well lived and loved. As always, we are full of gratitude for the many nourishing aspects of what we do through our music, who we are, and especially who we are together!
2024..... and we're OFF and RUNNING as we set our sights to Kansas City.... here we come!
Jacqui Barron
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A very merry HO HO HO with our jingle bells in tune for the many seasonal performances and parties happening! YHC was privileged to perform in five community events in November-December this season! Our members just love to visit and harmonize for the likes of our local hospital, and private and public venues like Black Creek Pioneer Village! Bringing joy to adults and kids in a candlelit church, in a hospital, or smaller community gatherings gives a warm and fuzzy feeling to all of us at Christmas time!
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Who doesn’t love a party! YHC members and family are always up for a yummy buffet, socializing, entertainment and of course a room full of love and song. On December 12, we wined, dined and were wowed by a talented saxophone player, ukelele duo, hula hooper, and two quartets. Four talented voices in YHC’s On Track performed amazingly with two great holiday tunes. Thanks Jen, Meaghan, Sue and Cheryl! | |
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Introducing our newest quartet ‘FOURTITUDE’- with their formal debut at our festive gathering; formed with two YHC members, bass Jill Gillespie, and lead Marion Campbell, who teamed up
with Sylvia Lichti, from Harmony North chorus as baritone, and tenor Barb MacKenzie from Barrie Soundwaves chorus. Their name inspires strength of harmony, purpose in music, courage to learn, and spirit of friendship.
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What a cool festive idea- thank you to Vanessa Echlin our RMT Marketing Coordinator for spearheading the Regional Virtual Holiday concert! You can view our entry on YHC Facebook page, click here. | |
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YHC is especially proud of our committee and all volunteers for a very successful "MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS' show November 25! That’s a wrap until next year - 'When Christmas Comes around’ (is that a pun?) hee hee. We bid each other farewell until 2024 when we will return to rehearsals with a renewed gusto for our barbershop craft, newly fortified goals for an individual and group focus towards becoming “next level”!
YHC wishes everyone in Region 16 and their kin a joyful, healthy and blessed special celebration or Christmas and New Year!
Carol Richard
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Canadian Showtime Chorus is so excited to announce that Julie Sykes is officially our new Director!
Julie has been on the risers with us since 2012 and is part of our chorus family as an "insider". She is a talented quartet singer and performer. She is a dog Mom to Georgie, her Cavalier Spaniel. She is an inspiration to all our members since she jumped in when we needed her and led us to International in Louisville. And she has plans for our future!
We look forward to working with Julie and her upbeat, and often humourous approach. It will be a happy New Year.
Here is Juliie's bio: https://canadianshowtimechorus.com/director.
Nancy Lambrechts
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Harmony North’s annual “Holidays in Harmony” was a great success. “We Need a Little Christmas “ was ringing through the rafters of Collingwood’s First Baptist Church. A beautiful space to entertain the full house of family and friends who certainly appreciated our effort to entertain them all. A big thank you to Jan Shortt for coordinating and fitting our wonderful costumes. Nancy Waddington worked tirelessly, not only scoping out the show location and figuring out how the space would accommodate our show, but also managing ticket sales. Not to forget Marion Boyd, Sylvia Lichti and Wanda Ree who did a bang-up job on choreography. Our guests enjoyed fabulous refreshments thanks to a very new member, Jean Lougheed. We thank all the volunteers, we couldn’t perform this event without them. |  | |
We ended our year with a holiday bash, being fed by the talented chefs at the Larder, a Secret Santa and a wonderful performance by Sylvia’s Lichti’s new quartet “Fourtitude”. It was great to meet Jill Gillespie, bass and Marion Campbell, lead, both from York Harmony and Barb MacKenzie, tenor from Barrie Soundwaves. Pictured L to R:
Barb MacKenzie, Jill Gillespie, Marion Campbell, Sylvia Lichti
We now look forward to practicing our competition songs and attending our retreat at the end of January.
Happy New Year to all.
Janice Moses
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Greetings from Durham Shores Chorus!
December is definitely the busiest and some may say the most stressful time of the year, but it's also filled with joy and happiness!
DSC experienced a magical, joyful feeling on December 2 when we presented our first Christmas show since 2018 entitled, A Christmas Message. We received compliments and accolades with pride thanks to these amazing women, along with our talented directors Rob Snoulten and Alana Regular! We are small but mighty indeed!
How awesome was that Region Sixteen Christmas video !! We were thrilled to be the first chorus featured, singing a beautiful rendition of Mary's's Little Boy Child.. Many thanks to Vanessa Echlin for bringing this project together..
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We ended our chorus 2023 year with a wonderful dinner at a local Oshawa restaurant, Harpo's, that graciously opened up especially to accommodate us. We would definitely recommend this business. It was fine dining at it's best as we broke bread and sang some of our favorites for the staff.
On behalf of DSC, wishing all our sisters and brothers in song a healthy and prosperous new year as well as success in all your endeavors. We all look forward to 2024, getting ready for the upcoming April competition and meeting up with you all!
Happy New Year!
Raymonde Dupuis
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Acapella North Chorus
We’ve started a new qualifying chart to see which voice part can get all their members qualified on our songs first! We’ll start off the new year by beginning work on our competition pieces for the spring, and we have a coaching session scheduled for late January with Katie Taylor, a private and ensemble vocal coach, and 32 year barbershopper.
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Picture: L to R: Clara Simmons, Carole Raymonda, Leah Finlayson, Donna Kleist, Laura Kleist, Amber Spinner, Marcia Ten Eyck, Jo Ann Zenger, Colleen Grant, Jill Ford, JoAnn Snider, Patti Francis.
Laura Kleist
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Bytown Beat Chorus has had a busier than usual holiday season. In November we had our "It's the Most Sing-able Time of the Year" on the 18th - which was a sold-out holiday show. | |
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It was our first ever Community Chorus and also our first pairing with the St Andrew's Ringers. The St Andrew's Ringers is a local hand bell ringing group who are very skilled. Our Community Chorus was such a fun experience with a few people possibly joining us in the new year. Overall it was an amazing evening of holiday cheer!
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In December, we had joyful moments. First, our chorus had a team building event where we all went to Choir! Choir! Choir! and sang Holiday songs. Lots of us lost Whamageddon that evening via a singalong to Wham's Last Christmas. Next, we recorded our "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" video complete with a dancing director, Janet Cadman, in a hippo costume. And then we had our sing-out in the Byward Market where we were recorded on the news. And lastly, we had our end-of-year potluck. It is the most talked about event each year with chorus staples such as: Janet PZ's famous Santa bread, Katie's Millionaire's shortbread, and Darlene's non-alcoholic punch. We even managed to record a version of White Christmas for Sweet Adeline International Faculty Debra Lynn's holiday concert.
Click on images to enlarge
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Though we are saddened to say that the last two months haven't been without our shared heartache. On December 2, our beloved founding Director Pam Warkentin passed away. It shook us all to the core. We all had seen Pam in our audience at our show in November. She was happy, singing, and smiling away. When we finished the show, she was the first to congratulate us all. For lots of us that was our last memory of Pam. We dedicated a week on our Facebook to our memories of her. From photos, videos from contest, and a memory video. It's just a small token of what she was to us. We don't have any news of a service at the moment. We believe the family might be holding a celebration of life in the spring when everyone can gather. We will share the information as it comes available.
Vanessa Echlin
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Orangeville Show Chorus
Orangeville Show Chorus had a blast at their Christmas party as you can see from the photos! They wish all of Region 16 a Most Happy and Healthy 2024, full of ringing chords with your friends!! May the gifts of the season – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love extend into the new year.
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Anne Richardson
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Circle of Harmony Chorus would like to wish Region 16 a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We had a blast singing at the annual Kerr Village Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony this year! Following that was our 25th Anniversary Alumni Reunion and Party. It was so special to look back on the last 25 years, reminisce, and sing with past members. We had a few more performances at some local churches followed by our annual Holiday Party! We also had the chance to donate gift cards to Food Share Oakville this season. Click on image to enlarge.
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Picture: 25th Alumini Reunion Party, COH founding members, 25th Anniversary celebration, and donations to Food Share Oakville.
As we wrap up the year with friends and family, we wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and joy in the new year!
Deline Anthonypillai
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The Heartland Singers enjoyed a busy December. We were privileged to be invited back to Ian Anderson Hospice for their tree lighting ceremony. We sang along with the Children’s Choir from Ste Anne’s Anglican Church. As was most of December, it was a rainy day but we were lucky to have a short dry spell and audience participants had candles that stayed alight while we were singing. | |
THS members decided to donate to Fare Share food bank this year. Lori Johnston graciously took the time to deliver the donation, representing the chorus and our sponsor Delta Bingo. All year round, food banks need our support.
Congratulations to the Region 16 team who put together our Virtual Christmas Concert. It was lovely to listen to all the contributions that our choruses provided.
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We ended the year with our annual Christmas party potluck. All our members were encouraged to bring a sample of the traditional Christmas fare of their heritage. Many of our members took a few minutes to share something about the dish they provided and why it was special. We are truly blessed to have a very diverse chorus with many different traditions. Adding to the fun and food.
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THS was excited to welcome three new members to the chorus. Melanie, Kay and Yvetta participated in our Open Auditions event and have now joined us officially.
The Heartland Singers wish all Region 16 members and their families a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! May we all continue to enjoy ringing chords in 2024.
In Harmony,
Amy Smith
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