The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-03-16, Page 15-t.- %I*
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ND CIMINO DAY$
{ard work and enjoyment go hand in hand
,
• BY Shelley McPhee
To :sing.* a WWI Or church choir is an
excellent learning experience and an op,
portunity to share fellOWSMp and interest
with people devoted to music
Talented singers m this part of Ontario
also have a rare opportunity to Sing with a
large community .choir that is steadily
gaining recognition and acclaim as one of
the finest choirs in the area. '
The Blyth Festival Singers have been
practicing and performing at the Blyth
Centre for the Arts for three years now and
Lynda Lentz enthuses, "The choir has a
• history of sold -out concerts and. tremen-
dous community support."
Mrs. Lentz. of Londesboro is one of the
founders off the Blyth Festival Singers and.
the enthusiastic president of the choir ex-
ecutive.
Enthusiasm and excitement iS. running
particularly high this week as the 85 -voice
the prepares for this Sunday's double
concert presentation. In the works for the.
past two -and -a -half months, the choir will
be presenting an all -Canadian concert in
two shows, at 3 and 8 p.m. •
The concert will give choir members an
opportunity to present a new repertoire of
music, as well as face the challenge of per-
forming back-to-back shows.
AccOrcinig,to Mrs. Lentz, it is this excite-
ment and enthusiasm that makes the choir
a rare and wonderful experience.
"We're firmly cemented by the love of
music. It's a bond that's hard to describe,"
she said, explaining "There's the thrill of
preparing for a concert and working with
such a great director."
The success. of the Blyth Festival
Singers is largely due to the director,
Laurie Rowbotham of Listowel.
Direct& of the Listowel high school
choir for .the past 10 years, Mr.
Rowbotham has led the students' choir to
national acclaim and last week the school
hosted a 'weekend event, Youth Choirs in
Concert, a province wide happening.
As well, Mr. Rowbotham recently led a
twb-day choral workshop in Clinton for
high school students from Clinton • and
Goderich.
Mrs. Lentz can only sing praises of the
Blyth Festival Singers director, "We made
an incredibly fortunate choice," she ex-
- claimed—"Laurie strongly supp_orted.„the
Blyth project. He was equally enthusiastic
to start a choir. .Few directors have the op-
portunity to start a choir from scratch."
The • idea to form a choir came about in
1980. In September rehearsals started, 66
people turned out, and wording to Mrs.
Lent, "We never looked back after that,"
Coming from a 40, Miles radius, froni, as
far away as Huron Park and li4ewel• the
Festival:Singers now average a member-
ship of 80. They MVO in Blyth each Mon-
day night for a two hour rehearsal. Choir
members have established a close rela-
tionship and they hold social nights once a
month.
For the choir, hardworic and enjoyment
go hand in hand, or as Mrs. Lentz explain-
ed, "Laurie works us and we love it.”
She noted that thechoir is an educational
experience, as good as private singing
lessons; allowing local people the oppor-
tunity to sing in a well disciplined at-
mosphere.
The Festival Singers is not an auditioned
choir. Mr. Rowbotharnbelieves everyone
should have the opportunity to join the
choir, and he will develop each voice.
"Laurie is amazed bow advanced the
choir is," Mrs. Lentz said. "He has the un-
canny knack of knowing how far to take us.
He's democratic and open to suggestions."
In the area, and outside the district as
well, the Festival Singers are earning a
respected following.. Their concerts attract
capacity audiences to the 491 seat Blyth
Memorial Hall.
People from. as far away as Lindsay and
Peterborough have attended the concerts,
but Mrs. Lentz explained that the choir's
appeal is largely to the local area. She
noted, "People like to hear their neighbors
sing and they want to enjoy good music."
The choir has developed a large reper7
toire of songs, however, financial con-
straints have occasionally limited them
trom buying more sheet music.
Mrs. Lentz proudly stated that the
Festival Singers have managed to finance
their own way, without extra assistance
from the Blyth centre for the Arts board,
The Festival Singers operates as a
separate organization within the Centre.
Mrs. Lentz is president of what she calls a
"fantastic executive.!' Choir members
Who also assist Mrs. Lentz with behind the
scenes work are: vice-president, Judy
Morton of Belgrave; treasurer, Louise
McGregor of Londesboro; secretary,
Carol Stuart of Exeter; uniform co-
ordinator, Marie McClure of Blyth; social
co-ordinator, Annette Lindsay of Walton;
music librarian, Ion Perrle of Walton;
fund-raising, George Ribey, of Seaforth;
stage manager, Don Dunbar of Ethel.
Last, but not least, is one of the most vital
members of the Festival Singers, accom-
panist Arlene Darnborough of Goderich.
.•
* .
Laurie Rowbotham directs
.e ••.
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• GODERICIIISIONALATAR, WIATESPAY, MACH 10,1003 --PAGE
artydraws ei
TheetiChre card party held
. -
Colborne Township Hall
Thursday, March 10 drew an
upendanee of eight tables or
players with the winners
being EVA Etzler and
Beatiiee Nivins and Pave
Harman and Charles
Johnston. The next game
will be Thursday, March 24.
A special thanks to 1183R
Block for the generous
donation of styrofoam cups
which will came in • very
handy and. are greatly ap-
preciated.
Birthday Party
Mrs. Catherine Riehl of
Goderich, formerly of
Colborne Towns*, was
honored by family" and
friends at -th.i home of r
ion, .Andy'• Riehl on, -Wed-
nesday, March %to c,elebrate
her 72nd birthday:
After a delie us supper,
Mrs. Riehl as presented
with many gifts and good
wishes and all enjoyed the
friendly get-together.
Mrs. Riehl's many friends
in Colborne and district wish
her many more such happy
birthdays.
Social News
Mr. and Mrs. John Feagan
of Colborne also attended the
100th birthday party of. Miss
Mary Mae Glen at
Alexandra Marine and
. • 1 1,,
' •
Gertrude kaittingis 15164-1111:3701
General Hospital February
26.
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Jerry
have returned home from
their pleasant holiday in
Florida.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon
Kaitting visited Mrs.
Kaitting's sister in Zurich on
Wednesday of last, week.
Mrs. Beatrice. Geiger .had
just returned home from two
months in Florida and
reported the weather was
perfect.
Mr. and Mrs. Ted Pope of
Smiths Falls have returned
home after visiting the past
two weeks with Mr. Pope's
brother, Richard Buchanan,
Mrs. Buchanan and his
mother, Mrs. Lottie Pope, a
patient in Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital.
Sincere sympathy is ex-
tended to Mr. and Mrs. Allan
Stoll and family in the
passing of Mrs, Stoll's
mother, Mrs. John Hamilton
of Thedford.
Tiger Dunlop Women's
Institute meeting will be
Thursday, March 24. Guest
speaker will be Tony
Mcquail, President of the
Huron County Federation of
Agriculture and Mrs. Linda
Bisset will explain the
course, "Dollars and Cents."
Guests will be members
from Dungannon, Auburn
and Goderich Township
Institutes. Plan to attend.
At Colborne Central
School, the mid -winter break
will be next week, March 21-
25. In the basketball tour-
nament March 11, the
Colborne boys' team were
runners-up.
In looking at TV Monday
night and Tuesday noon, I
noticed that John
Amigoulick spoke a, few
words and was sitting at the
conference table at the First
Ministers Confeience in
Ottawa representing Native
People. John trained as a
pilot at. Sky Harbour Airport
in the 1960s and has been on
TV several times in regard
to aboriginal rights. Several
in Goderich and district will t
remember him.
UCW holds potluck dinner
• Worship Service at
Holmesville United Church
was well attended on Sunday
with the Upper Sunday
School singing an anthem.
Gordon Lobb and Wayne
Tebbutt received the offer-
ing. '
The U.C.W. met on Tues-
day for a potluck dinner. The
ladies were very busy
quilting, doing a large quilt
and crib quilt that day, and
donated them to the Children
Services. Phyllis Cox presid-
ed for the business meeting
and each lady donated $1 for
the St. Christopher home in
. China.
The May meeting will in-
clude a talent auction. .The
Thank Offering meeting is
• . • •ft.:•,.••
•. .•••••••••:-
HOLMESVILLE
NEWS
Blanche DOOVIDS. 482-3383
on April 5. Do bring a friend.
The Enterprising Seniors
are to meet early at the Com -
!nullity Centre to go on a trip
to Schilbe's 'Sugar Bush and
return to the hall for pan-
cakes and maple syrup. •
The Goderich Township
W.I. held a successful card
party last Thursday. evening
with 10 tables. playing. Win-.
ners were: Ladies' high,
Mrs. Bruce McClinchey;•
ladies' low, Mrs.. Ernie
Brown;. Men'al'high;Pouglas
Bland; MOO' low, Jim
StOner; lone hands, Harvey
Dolmage.
The next W.I. • card party •
will be March 24 at 8 p.m. at
the CoMmunity Centre.
.. ,
•"'
Fiower Fcis
Fresh, Silk & Dried Flowers,'
Tropical Plants - Flowers for all occasions
166 THE SQUARE, GODERICH
ions
UNITED
PLOWEEMST-WIRE
CANADA LTD.
IS&
g.7-111
11,
vow
Ph: 524-8761
Royal Bank Block - Beside Campbell's
ND OPEN
• WEDNESDAY thru SATURDA
Evenings ph: 524-7243
MARCH 16117, 18 & 19
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Opening
Sale
Something special lust for coming to see us,
FREE FLOWER GIFT
WHEN YOU VI* OUR STORE \\
DURING GRAND OPENING DAYS.
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Wednesday,
is
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CITIZENS
DAY
with •
1 04% OFF
EVERYTHING
IN OUR STORE
EXCEPT
SALE ITEMS.
POTTED
FLOWERING
PLANTS
Mums, Rieger Regonlat ,
Gloxinias, Daffodil Pots.
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'a.`•%).,;.,t4,.,- I
Hyacinth/ and many, many mare.
Reg. '8,95 to *10.95 -
Grand Opening $ 5•
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Sale
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