The Moose Jaw Community Choir is enjoying the return of many members now that COVID is less threatening, although choir director Diane Rhodes said they can always find room for more male voices.
“We got started right after Labour Day, so we’ve been practicing about two months,” Rhodes said. “Last year, when we were practicing in the spring during the COVID pandemic, we only had about 30 people, and now we have 75 in our choir.”
Female voices — sopranos and altos — still make up the majority, and Rhodes is happy to have 16 male voices — tenors and basses — to provide the lower end of the vocal range.
“It’s more fun for the men, when there’s more of them. They have fun together,” she said. “We have a committee that runs the choir … and they’ve decided that we’re pretty full (for the fall season) as far as the women go. We’re sort of at our limit, but we’d always welcome more men.”
That being said, the Community Choir will start a new batch of songs in January — the second half of their year — and anyone who enjoys group singing, or who wants to learn, can come out then.
The choir is currently practicing in the basement at First Free Methodist Church on Hochelaga. Last year, they practiced at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which accommodated the Community Choir during health restrictions.
“We’re seeing the same welcoming attitude at First Free Methodist. Both churches have been extremely supportive of our choir and we’re very thankful for that,” Rhodes said.
Practices are Monday evenings. Rhodes teaches a sight-singing group class at 6:30 p.m., with the main practices running from 7 to 8:30. Being able to read music and sing straight from the sheet is a useful skill. She said she has 20 to 30 participants each night.
“Sight singing means just looking at the music and being able to sing what you see, without needing to hear it first,” Rhodes explained. “Those are the people who don’t have as much experience singing in choirs. Maybe they don’t read music or they don’t have experience looking at a new score and knowing how to approach it.”
The Moose Jaw Community Choir is signed up for the Rotary Carol Festival on Dec. 5th. They also have planned performances at several seniors’ homes and are hoping to perform again for the Wakamow Valley Festival of Lights.
“We have a joyful time. We really, really enjoy blending our voices together,” Rhodes said. “It’s not so much the idea of preparing a concert as much as the joy of providing an opportunity for people who love to sing and giving them the chance to join a choir.”
Contact Choir Director Diane Rhodes at [email protected] or at 306-640-8098 for more information.
