MOOSE JAW — The Moose Jaw Community Choir will soon host its fourth annual “Spring Sing” concert, which will showcase not only chorists’ vocal ranges but also a song that a member wrote.
The concert takes place on Saturday, May 10, at 7 p.m. at Zion United Church at 423 Main Street North. Tickets are $15, are available until May 10, and can be purchased online at SaskTix.ca or the Temple Gardens Centre — formerly the Events Centre — box office.
Tickets are limited and will not be available at the door. Also, children under 12 are free when attending with an adult, while a reception with refreshments and treats will follow the hour-long concert and give attendees the chance to chat with choir members.
“We’re all excited about (the concert). We have a number of different kinds of music that we will be singing,” said Bob Laing, a choir committee member, such as sacred/religious, folk, pop, classical, Broadway, doo-wop, show tunes and more.
One song, “Set You Free,” was written by member Rosemary Schick and focuses on leaving behind bad feelings and setting oneself free, he continued. Schick wrote the song a few years ago but is debuting it at this show.
While the choir will sing most songs as a group, some songs will be sung by soloists and small groups, the committee member added.
The Community Choir will use some of the concert revenues for scholarships for music students and will provide those bursaries through the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Boosters, the Band and Choral Festival and the Moose Jaw Music Festival.
“So, if you like to help out in the community, especially time to get younger people interested and give them opportunities, (please attend the concert),” Laing said.
The choir will use most of the concert revenues to purchase music since each piece costs $2 to $4, and with 80 members requiring a copy of the 10 tunes, it can become expensive, he pointed out. Other expenses include rent for its practice space, insurance and an honorarium for piano accompanist Jennifer Watterson.
“We’re (also) just very lucky to have Diane Rhodes as our director,” he added. “She chooses the music and gets us practising (two hours every Monday night at the First Free Methodist Church).”
The Moose Jaw Community Choir began in February 2017 when nine people decided that residents should have an opportunity to sing for fun; the group decided to sing four-part harmonies in various styles. Thirty-eight people joined that first year, while it has grown to 80 members.
Laing moved to Moose Jaw in 2018 and joined the choir “right away” since he enjoyed singing.
“It’s a wonderful group of people … (and) I get to stretch my vocal cords,” he added. “It’s (also) a chance to get out and meet people with similar interests.”
