‘Rejoice’ with the Achill Choral Society

November 20, 2015 · 0 Comments

When conductor A. Dale Wood rehearses with the Achill Choral Society, he often separates the voices: bass, alto, soprano, having them practice individually. After they regroup, Wood mixes the sections so that sopranos may find themselves singing by alto, bass by tenor. “It’s pretty hard”, chuckled Malcolm Wall, to sing tenor when your ear is hearing the soprano next to you”. The result, seen in this year’s finished Christmas season concert entitled “Rejoice”, is strong harmony and outstanding tone, an evening not to be missed.
“To see all those great people every week has been a joy as well as the joys of singing,” said Fran Wardle, a founding member who has been with the choir for 33 years. “Dale deserves a lot of applause, a lot of thanks”.
Music selections are searched internationally, from Muskoka to Australia, with concert selections chosen by a three member music committee and four volunteers led by music teacher Paul Delsnyder.
“We have a wonderful librarian on our music committee,” said Wall. “‘Rejoice’ features traditional folk songs, lullabies, carols and is highlighted by John Rutter’s ‘Magnificent’, a composition of biblical teaching, poetry, and prayer combines piano organ and percussion accompanying the entire choir, eighty voices strong. “It’s always a challenge to find a place for eighty people in the area to sing”, commented Wall. “We are quite a diverse group, fairly young 20 year olds up to seniors, and we all love to sing. That’s what keeps us going”, contributed Wardle. Singers arrive from Schomberg to Alliston, Orangeville to Shelburne, and the choir is always on the lookout for more singers.
“It’s amazing what music can do for someone.”
As a nonprofit charity inspired by the generosity of philanthropist Martin Mayer, Achill shares the Christmas spirit, benefitting groups such as the Habitat for Humanity and inviting children’s choirs and local musicians such as the Golden Bells to join their concerts.
Achill’s kindness is returned with sponsorships by local businesses, individuals, and professionals with a special love for music.
In their 33 years of song they have reached their voices across the world: including concert tours in the Netherlands and England, and at home, in Roy Thompson Hall and the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. With generosity, they have given free concerts to retirement homes in Alliston, Orangeville, and Beeton through their two yearly community concerts, one at Christmas time and another in the spring. Plans are already in process for a special celebration for the sesquicentennial in 2017.
“The Achill Choral Society is a wonderful group of joyful singers striving for excellence under the guidance of an exuberant craftsman and community builder,” says Daniel Lichti, recording artist and teacher. Come and hear for yourself, purchase a CD as a remembrance of a wonderful evening and add their gift of song to a season of joy and gladness.
‘Rejoice’ can be heard this year on November 28th & 29th and December 6th, in Christ Church Anglican in Bolton, St. James Roman Catholic Church in Colgan, and St. Mark’s Anglican Church in Orangeville, with tickets available by calling 705 434-2253.
For further details and to order tickets online visit their website at www.achill.ca. You will ‘Rejoice’ that you did.

By Anne Ritchie