Westcoast Harmony Chorus
After a relaxing summer in 2023—well somewhat relaxing, with a four-week break, but Westcoast never really relaxes!—all of us at Westcoast are focused on International 2024 in Kansas City. We’ll be starting in a few weeks with coaching from Lori Lyford and Jana Gutenson (Scottsdale Chorus), followed by Erin Howden (North Metro Chorus) and Ryan Heller (Alamo Metro Chorus). We have also brought in the world-renowned visual and vocal coach Judy Pozsgay to be our new Choreographer and Artistic Director. Together with our Visual Programs Manager Pat Fry and Front Row Manager Lisa Hills, we now have what Director Anne Downton loves to call our Amazeballs Visual Team!
In October, Westcoast hosted another successful Young Singers in Harmony workshop, organized by Patti Thorpe and attended by young singers from all over the Lower Mainland. We are proud that so many of the singers from these workshops have joined our chorus over the years or gone on to musical careers. Also in October, a Westcoast ensemble was privileged to sing “O Canada” at the season opener of the Abbotsford Canucks.
Our Christmas performances were particularly fun this year. On a gloriously sunny day, we entertained the crowds at the City of Surrey’s annual Tree Lighting Festival at the Surrey Civic Plaza. A few weeks later, amidst a winter blast, a small ensemble squeezed together on the courthouse steps at Martini Town Merry & Bright in south Langley, just out of the sleet and snow, bringing cheer to a surprisingly large crowd happy to brave the bad weather.
Our Christmas party in December was a celebration indeed. We learned a few days before the party that our director, Anne Downton, was being honoured by Sing Canada Harmony with the Dr. Paul E. Tamblyn Music Educator Award for 2023. This award honours a choral director who has made a significant impact on the development, promotion, and improvement of choral directing and performance in Canada, and comes with a scholarship of $1,000. The timing was perfect, and we presented this prestigious award to Anne, who has given so much to every member of Westcoast and to the regional and international organizations.
While Westcoast will not be competing at Regional 2024 in Edmonton, many of our members and several quartets will be there, cheering everyone on while the rest of us gather and watch the webcast. We wish excellent performances to all competitors and loads of fun and singing to you all!