At the end of the evening following choir practices, members usually take a couple of minutes to socialize before locking up the doors of Cates Hill Chapel and calling it a night. One evening, I approached choir director Ellen MacIntosh with a series of questions for an article to be published in The Undercurrent. MacIntosh, of course is not only our director, but is also - as many of you know - the General Manager of the Ruddy Potato, and mom to Molly and Annie. With the expansion of the store this spring, integrating a new computer system and prepping for her daughter’s grade twelve graduation (many of you can relate to this I’m sure) she sighed that she was very short on time at the moment.
Instead she suggested I write something sharing my experience as a fairly new choir member. As I was standing there trying to figure out who would be interested in that, she continued voicing her thoughts ...
Ellen: Did you know that this is the longest running community association on Bowen Island?
Me: I did know that the choir had been running for 22 years but I’ve only been on island for the last two of those years, so no, didn’t know that. That’s quite an accomplishment. I guess I could talk about how when I joined and saw ‘no experience necessary’ I had anticipated a fairly loose group of people trying their best to sing. My first rehearsal with the group set me straight on that.
Ellen: Some of the songs we’re doing are pretty advanced level choral works. That’s pretty amazing. It’s really not so much about individual voices, it’s more about what they bring to the overall sound of the choir. I listen to the mix and then it’s about blending voices and finding the balance in shaping the songs. If you break it down into smaller manageable parts it’s not so daunting.
I realized she’s dead-on in that description. When you look at some of the songs at the start of the season, it’s easy to be skeptical on how the task can actually be accomplished, but Ellen has a way around music and by the end of the season, we’ve got it.
Then Ellen said something that really resonated with me.
“This choir is my community. When you are involved with soccer with your kids and it’s over, so is that gathering of friends and family. This choir continues each season over many years. It’s a harbour for the continuum of growing friendships and network of islanders young and old.”
That statement is true for me as well. It’s been a big part of my community since moving here. Beyond making some great friends, this season I also participated in singing at the funeral of one of our beloved choir members and just a few weeks ago we celebrated a member’s 50th at the Rustique Bistro.
It’s a perfect blend of community, music and song - that’s what the Bowen Island Community Choir has to offer. Come and see for yourself at our May 3rd Spring Concerts: 2 pm and 7:30 pm. at Cates Hill Chapel.
Tickets at Cates Pharmacy or the door.
PS: We will offer concession goodies for FREE at intermission of both concerts.
PPS: Ellen said not to tell because it’s a surprise but I’m going to go out on a limb here and give you a little hint... we’re doing something that has to do with cups and a band called Lulu and the Lampshades (just saying...)
