Kathy @randystreat gave me the challenge of taking a picture of the choir warming up or practicing. (Frank and I have been in Canada, in Banff and Calgary, this past week with the North American Welsh Choir.) These are not particularly good or well-composed, and are fairly random pics — they don’t show actual practicing or warming up because obviously I would also be practicing, not taking pictures, but taken during breaks in rehearsal time or pre-concert. The top two were just before the beginning of our first rehearsal time on Tuesday at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity—choir director, Mari Morgan, in the upper left. That evening we gave a performance at a small church in Banff. The lower left was a break during rehearsal at the Calgary Central Library, where we sang at noon on Thursday. The lower right was pre-performance Saturday evening at Grace Presbyterian Church in Calgary.
Hello, everyone!
I had the pleasure of attending the final show in Calgary on Saturday evening and I must tell you how much I enjoyed it!
The choir is amazing - so professional and talented! They really added emotion to the old hymns and sparkle to the newer numbers they performed.
I am so impressed how members of the choir who came from 13 different states, 2 provinces in Canada, and one lady from Wales could blend so harmoniously without practicing in person regularly!
Nice Mary. I understand the reason you couldn't take a photo of the choir warming up or practicing, but especially the top left photo shows the someone trying to give instructions, even though there are at least two not paying her any mind.
@farmreporter Thanks for the review Wendy. So glad that you and Mary were able to meet up.
@randystreat@grammyn@jacqbb Thank you! The woman in the upper left photo is our director, Mari Morgan. She's from Wales originally, but now lives in the U.S. and is a citizen. The woman who came over from Wales that I assume is who Wendy mentioned, is Kim Lloyd Jones, our accompanist on piano and harp. She can be seen in the lower left photo standing at the left at a keyboard. In addition to her, one of our tenors, Dan Rowbotham, came over from Wales for the tour. Besides being a member of the choir, he is one of the folks teaching Welsh classes via Zoom and I'm in his class. He is in the upper right photo, clear to the right, in a blue shirt, looking down--maybe at his music. Jacqeline and Katy, yes we all wore masks during rehearsals, performances, and when on the bus together -- black masks for performances. A good number, Frank and me included, bought and used the Vocalease masks that Mari recommended. Some wore masks most other times as well. I did in some instances and not in others--outside particularly. When we had our meals and were eating, we of course took them off. An example of the Vocalease mask can be seen most clearly in the upper right photo on the woman facing this direction (third woman in). They give more room and don't muffle the voice as much as an ordinary mask, but are made of a kind of foam rubber and my face got very damp with no way to dry it during performance. @farmreporter Wendy, I'm so glad you enjoyed that Saturday evening performance. Thank you so much for coming and bringing your husband and friend. I had a great time getting to know you on Friday, when you and I went over to the library and then, with Frank, to Studio Bell. You definitely need to get down to the library with your camera, and get a library card while you're there. What an amazing place! I hope the move into your house at the end of next month goes smoothly.
It's great you were able to meet up & perform. Over here very few people wear masks - I prefer to on public transport & inside buildings but not many bother. For your Get Pushed challenge what do you think of circles. It is part of a "Make 30 photos" I will be starting in July.
@summerfield I'll suggests it to our director. The choir went to Prince Edward Island, but neither Frank nor I were on that tour. Frank went with the choir up into Canada a fairly long time ago. I thought it was Toronto, but he says no, it was pretty much a straight trip north from Manhattan (KS), and can't remember the name of the city. I didn't go on that one--just Frank. Guess we'll just have to meet up in Louisville for the great 365 Pig Fest (whenever that happens!)
June 30th, 2022
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I had the pleasure of attending the final show in Calgary on Saturday evening and I must tell you how much I enjoyed it!
The choir is amazing - so professional and talented! They really added emotion to the old hymns and sparkle to the newer numbers they performed.
I am so impressed how members of the choir who came from 13 different states, 2 provinces in Canada, and one lady from Wales could blend so harmoniously without practicing in person regularly!
@farmreporter We are so excited that you got to attend
@farmreporter Thanks for the review Wendy. So glad that you and Mary were able to meet up.
@farmreporter Wendy, I'm so glad you enjoyed that Saturday evening performance. Thank you so much for coming and bringing your husband and friend. I had a great time getting to know you on Friday, when you and I went over to the library and then, with Frank, to Studio Bell. You definitely need to get down to the library with your camera, and get a library card while you're there. What an amazing place! I hope the move into your house at the end of next month goes smoothly.
so, mary, when is the choir going to perform in toronto?