Pipestone Flyer
“Women in Song” will present their annual spring concert as a special celebration of their 10 years of making great music together at the Wetaskiwin Mission Church at 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 15th. This concert will be longer than usual, with favourite songs from each of their 10 years together as a choir, and with selections from each of the musicals they have performed. There will be an intermission. Tickets are $12 in advance at the Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum, or $15 at the door. This will certainly be a most enjoyable evening of great music.
One of the things that will make the evening so enjoyable is the eclectic tastes of the choir. Joyfully and with spirit, they sing classical, religious, pop, folk, African, and modern music in many styles and moods. Everyone will be sure to hear some of their favourite music exquisitely performed.
Ten years ago, the choir began as a class in choral music taught by Audrey Dowler at the request of the Fine Arts Society. All found it so enjoyable that it has just kept going. They participate in the local music festival, and this year received a mark of 93 and a nomination to compete at the Provincial Music Festival in Edmonton. The choir belongs to the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society, and works with the Waterworks Players on musical dramas. Through the years, they have done charity concerts, sung at events held by the museum, the library, the theatre society, entertained in the seniors' homes, and have been an outstanding musical resource for the community. A parallel group, “Men in Song,” has frequently joined with, “Women in Song” to enhance performances and have been a real help in doing so. The men's group has dwindled to five, but remains a great help. “Women in Song” maintains a membership of not over 25 singers who love to sing and to communicate to an audience the music they enjoy so much. Mostly working women, they often come to practice tired, but leave feeling energized by the music. They also know and enjoy each other, making it easy to convey happiness through their music.
Audrey Dowler, the choir director, has an extensive background in music, including soloist, adjudicator, and pianist as well as teacher. The pianist for the choir is Cheryl Deckert, one of the fine performers in a very musical family. Jackie Nichols, a long time member of the choir, graduated from the Augustana music program last year and is now an assistant director of the choir.
When “Women in Song” present their celebration of 10 years of making joyful music on May 15th, it will be an evening to enjoy and remember.