HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-07-16, Page 14PAGE 2A —GUI.)I:hit'l,f :, ; N111
.Jtt1.Y 16, 1986
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A KE COMING
The Festival of Arts , Crafts
Court House Park (East Side)
Friday, July 18, 1986
2:00 p.m.
Come , enjoy this
FREE Performance U'
(Rain location • Robertson School)
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SIGNAL --STAR
"We Need Your
Best Ideas"
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NOW'S YOUR CHANCE!
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"OPEN LINE"
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Communit°ArNs
Seniors' musical society was
brain child of Welsh conductor
BY BRUCE TWAMLEY
Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief;
Taffy came to my house, and stole a piece of
beef,
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was not home,
Taffy came to my house, and stole a
marrow -bone.
I went to Taffy's house, Taffy was in bed;
I took up a broomstick and flung it at his
head.
Were a Welshman to leave his country,
emigrate to Canada, and settle in Goderich
he would find here many things that would
remind him of his native land.
To the west he wouldd�aat fame a --
body of water so large that the far shore was
out of sight, he would find a thriving port,
and he could join a choral musical society
just as he could back home. ,
Whaaie could not see here would' be the
_mountains which are a prominent feature of
the Welsh landscape but to compensate he
would have the opportunity- of meeting the
leader and conductor of the local musical
society, Irla Stewart.
The musical society was the brain child of
Janet Kalbfleisch. It would not then have
been in existence if our Welsh friend had ar-
rived here before 1980. It was in 1982 that a
volunteer group of senior citizens first con-
vened in response to a call for choristers.
Kalbfleisch, then president of the MacKay
`Centre for Seniors, was prepared for the
group of singers, who assembled and in-
troduced them to their future leader, Irla
Stewart; a lady whose training, musical
background., and disposition made her an
excellent choice for the position.
Stewart was a teacher by training and by
instinct, had attended, in all, six Ontario
Department of Education courses in music
and had acquired her ARCT and Supervisor
of Music certificates. She had moreover a
facility in handling the choir and in fi eeting
the public which was to stand ter in good
stead.
The choir began to practise as a group in
1982, and since then the only direction it has
travelled is upward and forward, as we shall
The original group contained 24 members
of whom 16 were women, and eight were
men. The minimum age for admittance was
55 but the average age was over 70. '
The groriplaunched out on a 10 -week prac-
tice session in the fall and again in the late
winter and spring. The fee for each half ,year
was $10 and this included the enrolment fee
at MacKay Centre.
Since that time the number enrolled in the
course has risen to over 40, the average age
is now close to 75, while the entry fee has re-
mained constant. The choristers have at-
, tracted people over the age of 55 who like to
FEATURE
RFPORT
sing, who are interested in learning new
musical numbers and new techniques and
who are prepared to practise regularly.
In late 1983 the group adopted the name,
the MacKay Choristers, and a year later
-they--appeare.0 on--the_platfnrm_with _.their _
new uniforms, which consisted of a full-
length rose-coloured gown with maroon
jackets for the ladies, and maroon ties and
white shirts for the men.
In that year, too, the choristers ventured
farther afield, They entered the Kitchener
Choir Festival sponsored by the Kitchener
Park and Recreation Department, and end-
ed up in second place. In 1985 they sang in
the same festival and came in third. For this
drop in placings they got their revenge in
1986 when the Choristers took top honors and
first prize.
Next year the choristers are considering
the possibility of singing in London at a
festival sponsored by the New Horizons and
South-West Region of the O.A.C.A.O., a.
senior'sorganization. Here the idea is simp-
ly to sing for the pure enjoyment of singing
and not to compete for placings.
As well as competing in out-of-town events
the MacKay Choristers have delighted au-
diences at such places or events as The
Sound of Goderich, MacKay Centre Variety
Nights, Maitland Lodge, Huron View Lodge
and elsewhere.
Stewart emphasizes in tune and in har-
mony, pleasant words, music that inspires
the singer, tunes that are not too loud or too
high, themes that carry a message both to
the participa s and their audience.
The song a out Goderich composed by
Dora Washing on may be a pretty fair ex-
ample of the ords and music . that the
choristers. find• to their liking. And finally
the pleasant voice and assured manner of
that vivacious lady who wields the baton has
contributed more than just a little to the suc-
cess that this organization enjoys.
An organization of over 40 members that
meets every week in the fall and again in the
late winter and spring season, that handles
requests from both local societies and out-
of-town organizations, that handles sums of
money, that copies with 40 copies of. every
selection that is sung,' must have an ex-
ecutive or chaos would ensue. The officers
for 1986 include: President, Eileen Har-
riston; Vice -President, Flo Warnock;
Secretary, Shirley McMillan; Treasurer,
Marjorie Henderson and Librarian, Marion
Shaw.
The MacKay Choristers of Spring, 1986 in-
clude: sopranos who are Margaret Alton,
Betty Bodaly, Madeleine Edward, Eileen
Harrison, Joy Harrison, Marjorie Render-.
son, Mary Henderson, Maria Hohner, Janet
MacRae, Leda McAlister, Margaret
McHolm, Barbara McWhinnie, Jean
Smith, Celia Taylor, Irene Todd, Annie
Vanden Heuvel, Ruth Walker and Flo
Warnock.
The contraltos are: Roxie Adams,
-K-ath ka--1,orranee,—Jean Handy, Gertrude ._.
Kaitting, Janet Kalbfleisch, Helen Lindsay,
Josephine MacKay, Shirley McMillan,
Margaret Pritchard and Marion Shaw.
The tenors are: .Herb Bridle, Charlie
Dankin, ' Duncan MacKay and Don.
McMillan.
The Bass section includes: Russel Alton,
Jim Baird, Harold Bettger, Ralph Hender-
son, Stan Jones, Bert McCreath, Norman-
McHolm, Stan MVlcllwain, Allan McTaggart
and Harry Mitchell.
The director is Irla Stewart and the ac-
companist is Joan. Henwood.
While the MacKay Choristers -were bring-
ing fresh laurels to Goderich, MacKay Cen-
tre continued its merry round of social
events throughout the month of May.
The initial event was the pot -luck lun-
cheon organized by Janet Kalbfleish and an
interesting movie shown by Everett Sparl-
ing. This was followed a week later by Bingo
Night with Herb Bridle in charge.
In mid -month Margaret McMillan and
Agnes MacEwan presided over a card party
in which the euchre winners were Vi Mon-
tgomery and Dave Harman, the 500 winners
were Ella Bogie and John Moss, and the
door- prize winner was Russ Alton. On Fri-
day, May 23, Gord Harriston and his band
provided music for dancing for seniors from
Ripley, Wingham, Kincardine, Lucknow,
Clinton,, and Goderich. Doug Young whose
name was omitted in last months,account of
the dancer's led the way in • the violin
section,
The end of the month event was the Varie-
ty Program arranged by Janet Kalbfleisch.
It featured the usual round of delightful
.choral music sung by the MacKay
Choristers, a lively presentation on flute and
violin played by Abbie and Andrea
Smallwood, a talk by David Harvey of the,
Department of Communications and Social
Services on the role of seniors in our society,
and a combination film and slide arrange-
ment on "Browsing Thru Britain"
presented by Ed and Donella Snell, visitors
from. Michigan.
Martha thinks the Santa Claus
parade is pretty important
After I' was so enthusiastic about getting
the work on the parade started early - real
early - I happened on old Signal copy of a `.
few years ago, where I must haile been say-
ing the same things same words — "Every
year people have good intentions - just don't
get started soon 'enough."
The apparent answer is to understand that
people don't want to do these things while
the weather's nice. As I have said before _
f
But
I', not an organizer, just a disturber! be
everyone_ Chows that when the Rec. Office
puts out the date, titles and other info're: the
Parade, we will be all so busy that no one
wants to do anything -about it.
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With Martha Rathburn
.I_hapA.en-to think. the Santa Parade is, pret-
ty important and now when there have been
so many good -floats seen on T:V. and other
people's parades - there are a lot of ideas
afloat that'wemight use. • -
I know I -have referred back to 1967 when it
was a terrific parade - but it was summer
and the government had been sending info
for us - in fact I have a booklet with sketches
we might use for big '86 - but I haven'tthe
faintest idea where I have stashed it.
So if, you have any ideas - that aren't too
difficult, let's send them to one place - the
Recreation Office - and we can see them
there at any time. Good idea? Good!
A lady, while looking at ply paintings, said
she has no time for sports or crafts but she
would like to go jogging with her husband -
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Moo. to 'Mutt, 9;311 a.m
Fektlytt0 30`s t to 6:00 p.m. .
Saturday 9:30 aril .12 noon
but she was afraid to mention it.
--d suggested he would probably like her to
go along, they do hate to see you lose your
girlish figure - and if you lose yours. they'll
just look at other girls -.
Jogging, walking or whatever - you just
have to make and take the time for it.
Something has to give! Staying young with
your family is important to all of you. Think
about it. ^
Staying young also depends on staying
- -youthful-on-the-inside --the-;Hind, heart and.....
spirit. Don't let grey hair or wrinkles bother
you. Your body grows old - but that's not
you.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, --"We-do --
not count a man's years until he has nothing
'.'else to count." Hang onto your dreams,
there's not much left when your dreams are
gone.
"'Stay cheerful, .;`-a merry heart doeth good
like medicine, but a .broken spirit drieth the
bones." Don't know the quoter !
Take time to get your mind out of the old
ruts. Enjoy your family and let them enjoy
you! Enjoy the summer parades. Get some
ideas down on paper.
Love Martha.
abaret features
Aggie Cekuta Alliott
"Bernstein On Broadway" celebrates the
glorious talents of Leonard Bernstein
featuring the fabulous voice of Aggie Cekuta
Elliot. This musical evening highlights
Bernstein's most famous tunes including,
songs from "West Side Story," "Candide",
"On The Town" .and "Wonderful Town:"
"Bernstein on Broadway" is featured at
Playhouse II from July 15 to 26.
A veteran member of the Stratford
Festival's Gilbert and Sullivan company,
Aggie , appeared with Caralyn Tomlin .. as
Mabel in "The Pirates of Penzance" last
year. Most' recently,. Aggie appeared in
Toronto in "Evita" and in Toronto Free
Theatre's rock and roll space musical,
"Thunder," "Perfect Mind" at the
studies. at the Faculty of Music at the
University of Toronto. She is the recipient of
the 1983 and 1984 Tyrone Guthrie Award.
Huron Country Playhouse audiences will
remember Aggie in the role of Luisa in "The
Fantasticks, ' "The Music Man" and the
cabaret "An Evening with Aggie." In 1981,
she made her professional stage debut at
Huron Country Playhouse with repertory
productions of the Young Company which
included "Ten," "Stardust" and "The In-
credible Magical Delfodil".
The music of Leonard Bernstein has
delighted audiences for decades. Known as
an American conductor, composer and
pianist, Leonard Bernstein began piano
lessons at the age•of ten and later studied at
McLaughlin Planetarium Harvard UaiVersity.- -He has -composed
Elliot is a seasoned cabaret performer music for ballets choreographed by the
who has appeared in several revues in- legendary Jerome Robbins and the music
chiding her one -woman show, "Aggie". for a number of musicals such as "West Side
Born in Toronto of a Slovenian theatrical Story", "Candide", "Peter Pan" and "On
family, she pursued instrumental and vocal The Town".
Theatre workshop planned
Point Perms Provincial Park's beach has
been a popular spot recently with people en-
joying July's sunny days. On July 6 a very
successful sandcastle contest was -he d with
many original castles and sculptures being
entered.
This week's program 'starts on Sunday,
July20 with a jog on the fitness trail at 10
a.m. A church advice Will be held at the
barn at 11:30 a.m., and at 2 p.m. there will
be a mime -and theatre workshop for
^ children with 'Jennifer Slack from
Goderich. The Sunday Pilin >+ estival will
b at 8 p.txl, ssrepresent the familyflioVle��,%ltils�r GO HOW,. this pane's per ear day use pass,
How � ..
h n
>Mulltiay at. au a.0;. aasci c a. a.....,a3 011 the
beach. Join us at the ball diamond at 3 p.m,
for a game of softball. There are horse-
drawn hay rides at 8 p.tn.
Bring the children out on Tuesday at 10-
a.m. for a morning (if games, songs and
stories, in the children's program. We will -be
driving to 1 kNeil's dairy farm'at 4 p.m. for
a farm visit andln the evening at 8:30 p.m.,
there> will be' a campfire.- . ° .
Everyone is welcome Wednesday evening
at 7:30 pm. in the barn for a puppet show.
. .411 'visitor services events are included in