We can all use a dose of happy music in our lives, and choral music has proven to be an uplifting experience for both performers and audience members alike.
The Almaguin Choral Society wants to “Sing the World Better” and is encouraging people to attend their June concert which is a benefit gala for Ukraine.
“We’ve all had Ukraine on our minds for more than a year now, and not knowing really how to help. So, we thought with a benefit concert we could give some of the proceeds back to try and help in some way,” explained choral director, Gloria Kidd.
A portion of each $20 admission ticket sold will support United24, Medical Aid.
“We really searched for a charity and there are the usual ones but with this one apparently there is no middle person, there’s nobody taking a fee for operating the fund. So that’s why we chose it,” Kidd added.
Additional donations will also be gratefully accepted on the night of the performance.
“We provide a refreshment for everyone, they do not have to pay for it but in this case, because of it being a benefit gala we will have donation boxes if people want to give a little bit more and we’ll also have a photo booth where they could get their photo taken with fun props and we will have a donation box there,” Kidd stated.
The choir society performs two concerts a year, one at Christmas and one in June.
“I hope that when people leave the auditorium, that they are humming one of our tunes, that they come away just feeling a little closer, a little luckier to live in Canada. We’re not dealing with war and displacement and being a refugee.”
The performers have been hard at work since March to perfect its selections, with songs focusing on themes of friendship, love, working together, and peace, including a new one to the choir, “If We Hold on Together.”
Established in 1989 under the leadership of founding director Nathaniel Lee, Kidd has been choir director for 33 of its 34 years.
The four-part community choir is comprised of 40 to 50 men and women from a number of communities.
“It has soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. And you put the four parts together and you get lovely harmonies.”
Members find great joy in performing.
“We have some in their 80s and we have some that are just young working lads and lasses. But they put up with us old folks and seem to think we’re fun sometimes,” laughed Kidd.
The average age is 60.
The secret to the choral society’s longevity is simple.
“Once you’re a part of the group and you sing with us for a year or two, you become part of the choir family. There’s quite a camaraderie within the group. We support each other in good times and in bad times, we celebrate birthdays, we celebrate milestones,” Kidd explained.
“It is not just come out and sing and go home. There is more to it. It’s magic. There is a beautiful feeling when you’re in the group. I just love watching them improve each week until they’re performing and smiling and dancing, moving around on the stage. It is just a wonderful transformation to go from the very beginning to the performances.”
The concert will be held at Land of Lakes Theatre in Burk's Falls for two nights, Thursday, June 15, and Friday, June 16, starting at 7:30 p.m. both evenings.
Tickets are available at Zak’s in Sundridge, Kwik-Way Burk’s Falls, Kwik-way South River, and Powassan Drug Mart Powassan.
