HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-11-26, Page 31New choir director leads
'Festival Singers' Sunday
While the Blyth Festival Singers
Christmas concert this Sunday has
become a regular tradition for
many Huron county residents,
there may be a few butterflies for
one of the performers.
For Angus Sinclair, the choir’s
director, it will be the first time he
has been on a podium before an
audience in Blyth Memorial Hall.
He took over earlier this year from
Laurie Rowbotham who was the
director of the choir since its
founding.
Not that Mr. Sinclair is new to
the business of directing a choir.
He had directed choirs in Water
loo, Stratford and Mitchell before
he saw the advertisement that the
Blyth choir was looking for a new
director. It’s just that his newest
choirhasatotally different pro-
gramfromhisothers.The Blyth
choir has a much wider-ranging
repertoire than the other choirs, he
says. Those attending the Sunday
concerts (at 3 and 8 p.m.) can
expect a bit of the unexpected. At
those concerts popular Blyth Festi
val star David Fox will also give
readings and the junior choir from
the Exeter Public School 90 voices
strong, will perform.
So far, Mr. Sinclair says,
working with the 40-voice choir is
“a lot of fun, which is what a
community choir should be.”
Mr. Sinclair grew up in Mitchell
and lives in Stratford now. He
earned his Honour Bachelor of
Musicfrom Sir Wilfred Laurier
University in Waterloo majoring in
organ. He was organist and choir
master at Church of the Holy
Saviour in Waterloo. He’s present
ly director of music at Knox Church
in Stratford. Under his baton are
three vocal ensembles at the
church including a chamber en
semble. In summer there are
noon-day recitals and there is also a
year-round concert series at the
church.
He is also director of the Gallery
Singers which performs chamber
music, such as 16th century
madrigals. As well, he is accom-
panistfor the Stratford Concert
Choir and he is chairman of the
Stratford Centre of the Royal
Canadian College of Organists and
a member of the national council of
the organization. He also gives
organ recitals across the province,
his favourite being a concert in
Toronto’s St. Paul’s Anglican
Cathedral based on composers
with a Stratford connection.
As if all that wasn’t enough, he
gives private music instruction in
voice, organ and piano to a select
few students.
Mr. Sinclair is looking forward to
the challenge of leading the Blyth
choir. Since the Festival Singers
are associated with the Blyth
Festival which produces Canadian
plays, he would like to see more
Canadian work in the choirs
repertoire. There will be, for
instance, some Canadian music in
each and every program of the
Festival Singers.
In addition, he hopes in the long
run to be able to commission some
original Canadian work for the
choir. He also wants to make use of
the entire hall and its facilities. In
the meantime, hard work contin
ues for this Sunday’s concerts and
beyond that for a March 29 sacred
music concert at Ontario Street
United Church in Clinton and a
May 23 final concert of the year in
Blyth. Once the weekend concert is
over, he said, new members would
be welcome to join the choir.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986. PAGE 31.
Angus Sinclair, new director of the Blyth Festival Singers, will see his
choir perform for the first time in public under his direction Sunday for
its annual Christmas concert. Mr. Sinclair had wide experience with
other choirs before taking over the Blyth choir in September.
Jim Thomas, Beaver co-ordinator for the district congratulates Dianne
Higgins and Brenda Burkholder after they were invested as leaders of
the Blyth Beaver Colony November 18 at Blyth Public School.
New Beavers, leaders
invested in Blyth
The first Blyth Beaver Investi
ture was held at the Blyth Public
School, November 18.
Six new Beavers became Eager
Beavers. Receiving their scarfs
and woggles, with the assistance of
their parents were David Craig,
Jonathon Cucksey, Matthew Laf-
fin, Joey Schmidt, Justine Sauve
and Brent Sauve.
Other Beavers in the Beaver
Colony this year are Mark Wilson,
Mark Nesbitt, Shawn Clark, Jeff
ery Ferguson, Shane Burkholder,
Ronnie Abel-Rinn, Matthew Arm
strong, Aaron Bromley, Tim Cald
well, Corey Shannon, Dennis
Higgins, Steve Stewart and Joey
Watkins.
Scouter Jim Thomas from Vana-
Triple K
Restaurant
Bartliff's
Bakery
stra was on hand for the investiture
of two new leaders, Rainbow -
Brenda Burkholder and Sunny -
Diane Higgins said the Scout
Promise and received their scarf
and woggle. They have success
fully completed their Part I Wood
badge on November 1 and 2nd in
Clinton.
Other leaders in the 1st Blyth
Beaver Colony are Rusty - Sharon
Wilson Tic-Tac - Connie Bromley
and Dino - Maureen Montgomery.
All the beavers received a Lodge
Badge, Huron District Badge and
Registration strips. Some activi
ties planned for December include
Christmas Carolling for the resi
dents of Huronview and a Christ
mas Party to end the year.
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