Residents at Rainycrest Long-Term Care Home are rehearsing every Wednesday afternoon, getting ready to put on a choral show in December.
Diane Maxey, Kiwanis Club member and longtime organizer of the Fort Frances Choraliers, said she started the choir at Rainycrest when a resident who she knew pitched the idea.
“I’m on the Rainycrest Auxiliary,” Maxey said. “I got to know a lot of the residents through the years.”
Maxey said the choir started six years ago, and took place every Christmas, where residents sang 10 to 12 songs.
Rehearsals started on Nov. 3, and they have been rehearsing every Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. for an hour.
Since Maxey has been the longtime organizer of the Fort Frances Choraliers, residents at Rainycrest had a special request to make.
“My choir is called the Fort Frances Choraliers and of course they wanted to be the Hallet Hall Choraliers,” Maxey chuckled. “It’s so cute.”
The concert is on Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 1:30 p.m. Maxey said they are hoping that friends and family of the residents will plan to attend. It will be a nice hour of singing after which refreshments will be served, Maxey added.
This is not a professional choir, Maxey said, adding that nonetheless they are thankful they are able to be together and have some families be with them.
“The Rainycrest Auxiliary buys the folders for them and I get the music put together,” Maxey said. “Thankfully we can get some of the families to be with them.”
The auxiliary also bought light up necklaces for the residents. The lights will be flashing before the concert, but Maxey said she will shut them off before the singing begins.
“We put them on their necks and they get to keep them,” Maxey added. “It’s a little treat and something more than singing along.”
Maxey said she is looking forward to a fun afternoon with residents and their families.
“I was very happy that I was allowed to come in and work with the residents because we have not been able to do that for two years,” Maxey said.
