Singing in front of a crowd of 600 is nothing new for the Parkgate Singers.
It was three years ago when they did it for the first time in Victoria to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag.
Director Ruth Townsend says the group was nervous but the adrenaline was flowing.
“They were so excited,” she recalls.
The trip to Government House was the second honour they received when they entered a contest called Sing Me a Song, which called for participants to write and record a song about what it means to live in Canada.
To their surprise, they took the top spot in the 18 and older open category, and sang for Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon when she visited Parkgate Community Centre to present the award to the group.
When Townsend started the informal, non-auditioned singing group she didn’t expect it to still be around 10 years later, let alone win any awards. The first year of the program, the group sang at a couple of places but Townsend says the seven participants were quite nervous and it showed in their overall performance.
Since then, the group has grown to 30 regular members, and with plenty of practise and performance experience they only get better every year. Each spring the group performs a showcase of their work in a show for family and friends called A Little Morning Music. Townsend says feedback from the audience this year was: “This was the best one yet.”
A former elementary school music teacher, Townsend started the group after a friend casually mentioned she was going to go to West Vancouver to participate in a choir because there weren’t any in North Vancouver, so Townsend quickly set up the seniors singing group at Parkgate centre.
“We just have such a good time,” says Townsend, noting many of the members, who range in age from early 60s to 91, are good friends now.
The one main criterion for new members is simply that they love to sing. No experience necessary. With her background in music education, Townsend shares techniques to help participants develop skills.
“I work pretty hard coming up with a program that’s quite diverse,” says Townsend of the music, noting the songs are simple and familiar to many new members.
Each year, the group meets with choirs from local schools to share their love of music and this year a Grade 4 class from Sherwood Park school was set to visit.
“We enjoy that too because most of us have grandkids,” says Townsend.
Throughout the program’s term, the group also regularly performs at community events and care facilities.
“We get such joy singing in care facilities because we see their joy as we’re singing,” says Townsend. “It makes us feel good too.”
Registration for the Parkgate singers is through Parkgate Community Centre.
