MOOSE JAW — The Friends of the Forces Fellowship annual musical revue concert at the Timothy Eaton Centre featured local talent from the community and from 15 Wing.
The concert is intended to showcase talents from these two places.
Rev. Doug Shepherd and Heather Shepherd kicked off the concert with a rousing medley of songs that included an old Irish drinking song.
Snowbird pilot Capt. Rich MacDougall, once in the top 10 of the David Foster Talent Hunt, and accompanied by guitarist Justin McCrae, sang modern country songs.
MacDougall has performed at many Fellowship concerts, but this is his last year with the Snowbirds.
He did a surprise duet with Alethia Stafford, singing the Shania Twain hit From This Moment. They have practised at karaoke.
Stafford is working on a music career with her band Fame Fatale.
Her one-year-old band was nominated for best rock band in Saskatchewan. She writes ad copy, composes music and does voice-overs for Rawlco radio stations in Regina.
Stafford and her mother Kim Churko were surprise vocalists accompanying Roger Blager, a local singer and keyboard player who has weekend gigs at the Grant Hall and Hopkins Parlour.
Indigenous dancer and army cadet instructor Wayne Fisher shared his culture’s dance and colourful regalia to rousing approval.
In her first solo performance nine-year-old Avary Klinger from a 15 Wing family got a standing ovation singing the inspiring song, A Million Dreams.
Peacock Collegiate student Joachim Tyrie’s songs included a breakup piece and the cowboy song The Calgary Roundup.
Fourteen members of the recently formed Cornerstone Christin School Vocal Jazz Choir under the direction of Josh Carley were well received.
The afternoon closed with toe-tapping to Kelly Sapergia’s accordion. His rendition of the Chicken Dance found a number of people unable to resist performing the dance.
15 Wing Commander Col. Dan Coutts said many veterans choose to retire in Moose Jaw.
Co-master of ceremonies Starla Klinger said her family will be sorry when posted elsewhere later this year.
Phi Adkins, also co-master of ceremonies, said the Fellowship is not producing a car show this year.
About 115 attended the eighth concert produced by the Fellowship.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
