Choir Practice
The Millbrook Community Choir, a COVID casualty, is back up and singing, thanks to the energy and drive of Annette Simpson and Beryl Cable-Williams, two longtime members of the choir.
The success of the choir’s renaissance is assured with the willingness of Alexia Preston and Mary Taves to direct the new choir that has grown in just a few weeks to over 20 voices, with more always welcome.
Rehearsals for the choir began in late September, focusing right away on preparing for a December concert. The program for ‘Tis the Season’ on Sunday afternoon, December 15, features the new choir along with a special guest, the Jubilate Handbell Choir. With a smile, co-director Alexia advises, “be sure to bring along your voice to join in a few singalong numbers.”
Conductor Mary Taves was a joint founder and the conductor of the Mariposa Singers and Players, an inter-generational community music group in the Lindsay area. She also regularly conducted the choir at Cannington United Church and has appeared as a guest conductor with the Peterborough Singers. Mary maintains a private teaching studio for voice, piano, saxophone, and music theory. She is the vocal teacher at Lakefield College School and teaches sight singing and musicianship classes for the Peterborough Singers.
Photo supplied.
Pictured are members of the resurrected Community Choir that has welcomed former members as well as some newcomers to this group which will showcase their talents at a concert at Centreville-Harmony Church on Sunday, December 15th at 3pm. New members welcome!
Accompanist Alexia Preston is the music director at Centreville-Harmony Church, a shared Presbyterian-United ministry, and is the accompanist for the Peterborough Singers. Formerly a member of the teaching faculty at the Royal Conservatory of Music, she is still a senior examiner with the Conservatory. Alexia is also on the faculty of Lake Field Music, a music program for adults of all ages held at Lakefield College School.
Many of the choir members, including Annette and Beryl, have enjoyed singing with the Millbrook Community Choir over the years. The fun and the friendships formed while making music together brings them back. Beryl and her husband Craig joined the choir back in 1996 when Ruth Warburton, who started the choir in 1990, was the director, and Ann Rich was the accompanist. Over time, the choir grew to be 50 voices strong.
Annette recalls joining in 2007 when her daughter Tammy moved up to the adult choir from Joyful Noise, the children’s choir also founded by Ruth Warburton. “I decided to join because I love singing and it was something I could do with my daughter. I also enjoyed the social aspect of the choir; they were an awesome bunch.” Tammy and Annette are both excited to be able to spend time together again in the soprano section.
Choir members and directors alike are delighted with their new location, at the historic Centreville-Harmony Church, where both the acoustics and the ambience are conducive to making good music. The church, built in 1863, on land donated by Cavan Township founder John Deyell, features a wraparound balcony and is beautifully preserved. It also has the advantage of having a large parking lot adjacent to the church at the corner of County Road 28 (one concession south of the roundabout) and Zion Line.
‘Tis the season! All are invited to share in an afternoon of music on Sunday, December 15, 3:00 pm, at Centreville-Harmony Church, which is fully accessible. Tickets for the concert are $20, with children admitted for free. To reserve your tickets, or for information, email Annette or Beryl at millbrookcommunitychoir@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.
By Celia Hunter