Westcoast Harmony Chorus Fall Update

The last time Westcoast checked in with you all, we were rehearsing weekly on Zoom, with 50–70 members signing in every week to sing, learn new skills, and socialize. Our virtual rehearsals, all 60+ of them, led by our indomitable director Anne Downton, continued right through to the end of July 2021, with only a couple of holidays to relax and rejuvenate. Then we met in person, live, in the parking lot of our rehearsal hall. What a day! There were distanced hugs, real hugs, lots of catching up, and quite a few tears!

Then, in late August, we took the big step! We gathered in person, outside on a big patch of grass, each of us inside a hula hoop—and we sang. Anne started us off with one of our favourite songs, “You Are My Sunshine,” and we rocked it. A neighbour was so thrilled to hear us, she said we had brightened up the whole neighbourhood!

Singing outside is not without its challenges, mainly hearing one another and our director. No problem! We have a Transition Team of innovative Westcoasters who have been leading us with utmost care for everyone’s well-being as we navigate Return-to-Live. They made a few phone calls and pulled a few strings, and voilà, we have a sound and lighting system, set up by some very smart volunteers, to take us through our evening rehearsals. 

This will be Westcoast life for the next month or so until provincial guidelines let us sing indoors. We have every intention of performing on the International stage in Phoenix in 2022, with tons of coaching lined up, beginning in January. Like everyone, we can’t wait to get on those risers and really hone all the new skills we’ve been practicing virtually for so many months. We hope to see many of you in Phoenix, and until then we wish you, all our Region 26 friends, good health and good singing!