Date: 17 May 2002, Issue 28 A Different Kind of Sing About Bill Bates Links to other "Interactive" columns View Feedback | Say "HI" Email Notification of (Feedback) updates!

Last month our district celebrated the First Place Hamilton Male Choruses' 60th Diamond Anniversary with a different type of concert. I think that you may find the format of interest and perhaps might want to try something like it for your district for some special event coming up.

The Hamilton chorus (Formerly Case IH MC) wanted to do something special to mark their 60th year. Since they were short of manpower, they considered an alternative to hosting a district sing which would require a great deal of organization they did not feel able to take on. In considering alternatives, they heard about the cabaret style sing that the Port Huron Schubert Club were planning for the Michigan District last year. It sounded interesting, so several of their members attended in order to experience the event. They returned enthusiastic about the format and after discussion proposed it to the Ontario Board of Directors as a way to celebrate their sixty years of singing. The proposal was accepted and plans began.

One important change they decided on was not to invite the general public, but to invite only Ontario chorus members and their families to celebrate with them. The implication was that there would be no profit made and costs kept to a break even level. This event then was not a "District Sing" in the definition as we understand it and so a fall Sing was awarded to the Kawartha group for the following October.

The Port Huron concert by contrast was a Michigan District Sing and did offer tickets to the general public but they also required choristers and their families to pay (at a slightly lower rate) to cover the cost of dinner. In the Port Huron case, the district and AMCA participated in the profit sharing, whereas there would be no profit sharing in the Hamilton cabaret "closed" event.

The concert was organized in a similar way to regular Ontario district sings, with a group of massed followed by individual chorus presentations, then a break followed by the remaining solo numbers and concluded with a group of massed. There were however, two unique differences - the break was for dinner and the first half included an entertaining look at the history of this venerable Hamilton chorus.

The history was related in a two-way conversational style by long-time members: Garth McElrea and Ralph Pawson. The audience was a third partly listening in and this technique was presented in a relaxed and professional manner which held the audience's attention from beginning to end. Perhaps the general public who did not know the chorus and their history as well as the choristers in attendance, might not have found this part of the program of interest to them. Probably one good reason for restricting the ticket sales to Ontario chorus members.

The evening started early and ended by 9:30 so that an overnight stay was not necessary and this suited the Ontario members as they are trying to budget for the very expensive trip (in Canadian dollars) to Lansing next April. The concert was held in a family operated Polish Hall and the buffet meal of roast beef and chicken was plentiful and enjoyed by everyone.

Our AMCA Scholarship Chair, Tom Rayner suggested that even though this was not classed as a district sing, we should consider taking up a collection for the scholarship fund during the afternoon rehearsal. The 120 singers present raised the generous amount of $446.32 Canadian in support of AMCA's program.

In conclusion, there was an obvious good feeling generated by the gathering and this was apparent by the fellowship and comraderie that was an obvious throughout the concert hall. It's fair to say that this spirit was a notch higher than what we experience at our usual Sings and Afterglows.

Everyone agreed that this was an appropriate way to join together to celebrate an important landmark in the life of our brothers in song! You might want to consider this type of cabaret-style concert to celebrate a special event in your district and having the public involved may just be suitable for you!

Bill