Last year, in 2021, Westcoast rang in the New Year with a virtual performance of “Go the Distance,” a gorgeous song with the simple message that there is a hero in every one of us and we will, together and individually, get through these difficult times.

Lions Gate Chorus is fortunate to have strong leadership that has kept us moving forward throughout these long months of the pandemic. Our motto has been WEST, We’ll Emerge Stronger Together, and we have!

Adelines love to sing. That is a forgone conclusion. They love to sing in the barber shop style. Another forgone conclusion. COVID has put a great dint in both of those conclusions.

'DON’T STOP thinking about tomorrow' – this bit comes in size 'song', and it fits us perfectly. A 'never give up' attitude sparked curiosity from our public. As a result another prospective member stepped forward and passed her audition last rehearsal. Since our last update we took in two new members, and we have six prospective members in the wings – this is just a feeling, but I think we have something here.

For now, we are continuing rehearsing via Zoom. We are learning new songs, and as we get closer to the holidays, we will pick up our holiday songs in the hopes we can do some caroling around the area.

Good Vibes quartet was excited to sing at Kaleido Festival 2021 (Sept 11). We roved throughout two parks, and there were so many precious, intimate moments.

Like everyone else in barbershop, Rhythm of the Rockies found themselves, instead of scrambling happily towards their regional competition, scrambling to figure out how to keep a lifestyle of close-harmony singing together when nobody could get together to sing.

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.

On July 20, 2021, Gateway Chorus held our first hybrid indoor rehearsal back in our home, since the pandemic started.

For us, Zoom has added another dimension to rehearsals, particularly in education (didactic) and analysis. Emma has presented many relevant topics at a micro level virtually.

In an Organization that is 75 years old, as viewed from a Chorus that has 65 years of history, Legacy becomes a word that has tremendous meaning.

It's been a hard road of education, over and above what any of us signed up for, but we are enriched because of it. We did it and we sang all along the way – which we believe is our saving grace.

Vernon Kalamalka Chorus has been getting together for rehearsals since March 18. We invested in a sound system and FM transmitter and so we’ve been doing car rehearsals.

Southern Accord has found a way to do this in real time with something we are calling Car-bershop – a name borrowed from another group. Other choruses are using similar technology but this is our version.

We understand it may be a while before we are able to be back in person but we are so looking forward to it. Until then we will just keep Zooming along

Westcoast was so excited to ring in the New Year of 2021 with the launch of our latest, and so far greatest, virtual performance of “Go The Distance.” This song is a simple message that there is a hero in every one of us and we will, together and individually, get through this difficult time.

As with every singing group, VITA has not been able to get together and sing in our usual rehearsal spaces (our homes) for nearly a year now. But, like many, we have found ways of getting together, even if we are at a distance.

2020 overflowed with news, information, unknowns, anticipation, rules and new survival skills. It beckoned us to reach deep inside for ideas on how to adapt to our new uninvited environment. We met the challenge – like as if it were a competition (true Sweet Adelines). Consequently, we learned again and that, dear regional sisters, is a goal achieved.

Congratulations to Magic City Chorus’s milestone longevity members.