Our Story
Since 1971, the choir has been sharing the joy of song with each other and with the Georgetown community. Membership has grown, at times, to more than 100 men and women, many of whom have made lasting friendships founded on a common love of singing.
Few choirs can boast of a history that stretches back more than 50 years, a substantial accomplishment on its own. The pandemic prevented our 50th anniversary celebrations and kept us from meeting in person for 2.5 years. But thanks to a dedicated group of leaders and singers, our history now includes surviving the Covid years. Special mention goes to our former Artistic Director, Chris Dawes, who navigated the challenges of Zoom rehearsals and arranged for special guests, inspiring us to stick together, while apart.
Under the musical leadership of our new Artistic Director, Eleanor Wallace, we plan to welcome many new singers, grow back to our pre-pandemic numbers, update and refresh our style and lay the foundation for another 50 years.
Each year, we present two major concerts starting with a Christmas concert in December. Our spring concert themes have ranged from musical theatre (Give Our Regards to Broadway), milestones (Canada 150, eh?), folk (Choral meets Bluegrass) and war years (VE Day – 70 Years), to Coronations and the Queen’s favourite songs (Crowning Glory), among so many others. Our first post-pandemic spring theme was United We Sing: songs of love and hope for humanity, chosen and planned, ironically, before the pandemic.
Ever popular, we’ve also returned to fundraiser shows in a smaller, more intimate setting that sell out faster each year. These cabaret-style events are a hoot, ranging from maritime music, and roaring twenties “soirées” to romantic “chocolate & roses” evenings featuring soloists from our members who choose their own costumes for these events. We are delighted to raise money for some of the many organizations that support our community.
Of course, our repertoire has also included popular classics such as Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, and Handel’s Messiah. Learning music can be both challenging and rewarding. And having fun is part of the mix while we do the hard work to prepare and deliver the top-notch performances our audiences have come to expect.
Some of our shows have been presented at various venues both at home and abroad. In past years, the choir has performed at such prestigious locations as Roy Thomson Hall and the Ford Performance Center in Toronto, the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, The Lincoln Centre in New York City, and has travelled to perform in Holland, England and Ireland.
If you know someone who loves music, let them know about us. They just might want to be part of our future and become a part of Our Story either in the audience, or on stage. Maybe that someone is you!