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Cariboo Men’s Choir celebrates 10th year with Mother’s Day concert

The Cariboo Men’s Choir will celebrate its 10th anniversary this Sunday with a special Mother’s Day concert.
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The Cariboo Men’s Choir performs during the choir concert held in conjunction with the Cariboo Festival last month. The choir will host a Mother’s Day Concert this Sunday at 2 p.m. in St. Andrew’s United Church to celebrate their 10th anniversary and as fundraiser to help the church buy an elevator.

The Cariboo Men’s Choir will celebrate its 10th anniversary this Sunday with a special Mother’s Day concert.

The idea of a men’s choir got its start in the fall of 2004, when the Vancouver Mens’ Welsh Choir performed in Williams Lake.

That performance was well attended, received great reviews, and set in motion the creation of our own local mens’ choir.

After that concert, retired administrator Bill McDonald, local teacher Carl Johnson, and a few others began wondering why Williams Lake could not form its own men’s singing group.

Carl volunteered to be the musical director. Bill agreed to manage the group, and they found an accomplished pianist in retired teacher Jerry Tickner. The word went out through newspaper advertisements and by word of mouth. At the first meeting, 17 interested men showed up, and the idea became a reality.

In those early days, their first set of songs came from an elementary school songbook, and all the singing was done in unison.

Now, 10 years later, the choir maintains a healthy average membership of 25.

It routinely performs pieces involving four and even five part harmony.

Its selection includes songs which are often difficult and complex, and it has become well known for the quality of its performances throughout the Cariboo. Every year, this choir competes in the Cariboo Music Festival placing with consistently good results.

This year the choir performed The Rose and Homeward Bound, and received very high praise.

Other noteworthy performances have included the annual Tuba John’s Christmas Concert, The Williams Lake Pipe Band’s Ceilidh, annual Remembrance Day services, the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration, and several more.

The public is invited to celebrate with the Cariboo Men’s Choir at their 10th anniversary concert to be held on Mothers’ Day, May 11 at St. Andrew’s United Church starting at 2 p.m.

Admission will be by donation and all proceeds will go toward the St. Andrew’s elevator fund.

Come out and enjoy a great selection of songs, some in unison and some in multi-part harmony.

Selections will range from old favourites such as Away from the Roll of the Sea; Song for Mira, and Amazing Grace, to Canadian Classics such as This Land is Your Land and Hallelujah, to hit songs from Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady, On the Street Where You Live, Ol’ Man River, Bring Him Home and more.

Special guest artist at this concert will be Kiera Johnson. Kiera has been studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Oak Bay near Victoria. She was featured in the choir’s fifth anniversary concert and returns this year to add to this Mothers’ Day musical treat.

The Cariboo Men’s Choir meets and practices at the Williams Lake campus of Lake City Secondary School on Saturday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Auditions are not required and all men are welcome to join the choir. New members do not need anything more than a willingness to sing.

Men of all ages are invited to come out, learn to sing in harmony, and earn to read music. It’s a great way to keep your brain active, live longer and enjoy life.