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Summer's over, so it's time for the singing to start

Bowen Island Community Choir's 22nd season starts this week.
Community Choir
Bowen Island Community Choir's spring concert.

September has arrived and this is very good news for anyone who likes to sing. The Bowen Island Community Choir will begin its 22nd season this fall under the excellent direction of Ellen MacIntosh and with Sheilagh Sparks as our equally gifted accompanist. The Bowen Island Community Choir is a soprano, alto, tenor bass choir open to all adult members of the community who like to gather, join voices, make new friends or deepen old friendships, learn about music and generally make a joyful noise. There are no auditions for this choir. All you need do is show up at the first rehearsal and Ellen and others will guide you to the section that is appropriate for your voice.

And what kind of music does the Bowen Island Community Choir sing, you may well ask. Since this is our fall season, we will be rehearsing material for our Christmas concert. We sing Christmas music but we don’t sing Christmas Carols! Ellen carefully chooses pieces by composers such as John Rutter, Bob Chilcott and more. And if these names are not familiar to you, rest assured the repertoire is varied, mixed with stirring and beautiful pieces along with more jazzy and swing songs. 

There is a whole range of experience in the Community Choir. Some folks are just beginning to learn to sing and read music and others have been at it for years. Reading music in the Community Choir is an asset but definitely not a requirement. You will learn so much along the way, you will surprise yourself and your family and friends!

I’ve been a member of the Bowen Island Community Choir for close to twenty years. I keep going back each session because the music Ellen chooses is fabulous; the teaching Ellen provides us with is awesome; the sense of community is vibrant and, most of all, it is a whole lot of fun. 

The choir meets every Wednesday evening at Cates Hill Chapel at 7:15 p.m. We practice until 9:30 p.m. with a chance for tea, treats and visiting at a break in the middle of the evening. The fees are $140 for the session. We begin our fall session on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at Cates Hill Chapel. Please join is. All are welcome.