Children’s chorus off on right key

What started out as an idea from a friend came to fruition Monday as the Emo Community Children’s Chorus met for their first rehearsal at St. George’s Anglican Church.
Two boys and 18 girls, hailing from Crozier to Stratton and ranging in age from eight to 13, have signed up under choir director Renée Martin, a recent graduate of Lakehead University in Thunder Bay.
“I was hoping for a widespread turnout,” she said. “I’m happy that I’m reaching more kids and reaching more families.”
Martin started her choir Monday on “partner songs” (songs which are sung at the same time as other songs) but not until she taught everyone how to breathe properly first.
The next step will be to get them used to singing in two-part harmony, she said.
“I want to start working on a Christmas repertoire,” Martin noted. “I’m hoping to do a small Christmas concert [in December].
“Next term will be more contemporary music. The light-hearted springtime music,” she added.
The children also have varying degrees of experience with singing.
Allison Williams, 12, has taken private vocal lessons with Martin, and has been singing for some time before being recruited for the chorus.
“My mother thought it would be a good idea to do more singing than just my lessons and sing with other people,” she said. “[I sing in groups] at school and at church sometimes but other than that, I sing by myself.”
“I think it’s just going to be fun,” noted David Barron, 10, of Barwick, who enrolled in the chorus with his 12-year-old sister, Lisa.
“I like to sing,” she agreed. “I hope to be able to sing better.”
Even though Martin initially was hoping to attract 20 kids to the chorus, she noted it’s not too late for parents to register their children.
“If they can phone by Friday, it would be greatly appreciated,” she said, adding she was leaving Saturday for Winnipeg to pick up the sheet music.
“The absolute cut-off is 4:15 p.m. Monday [Oct. 5],” she stressed.
The cost for enrolling in the chorus is $25 per child for the school year, with the money going to cover the cost of the sheet music. Martin can be reached at 482-3055.
“My only rule is respect,” she said. “That they respect each other and respect the place they are in.”