The Sea to Sky is lucky to have a well-rounded menu of options for its vocally-inclined.
Kids frequently get their start in the Whistler Children's Chorus, available to those in Grades 1 through 7. The Whistler Singers cater to an older and more diverse demographic, with its website declaring that people "aged 13 to 113 years are welcome." Last but definitely not least, the Barbed Choir provides a more informal, rock-based palette for adults.
None of the three mandate auditions or existing experience—just a passion for singing and a desire to connect with others. Both the Children's Chorus and the Barbed Choir receive funding from the Friends of Whistler Public Library and rehearse within the Library's doors.
Jeanette Bruce took over as Children's Chorus artistic director from Alison Hunter roughly seven years ago, with Hunter now running the ship for the Whistler Singers. Both remain dedicated to the betterment of the local choral community.
'Number one: we're about having fun'
The Children's Chorus is not easy to game-plan for, but Bruce makes sure that all members enjoy a healthy environment.
"Grades one to seven is a huge range of developmental ages," she says. "Some kids may be doing private piano lessons or vocal lessons, and for some kids this is their only exposure to making music. Number one: we're about having fun…and it is also about teamwork."
Bruce didn't grow up an athlete, but choir is what taught her the importance of putting a group ahead of an individual's wants. Collective singing can help youngsters team-build in a different way than sports, and rehearsals are in some ways more important than concerts. After all, it's in practice that the members of a choir bond, make inside jokes, and get to know one another.
Disney and Pixar material is usually a serviceable choice for the kids' repertoire, as are pop songs that dominate the airwaves. These mainstream options are nicely complemented by more traditional content with classical or folk roots.
For example, Bruce intends for one of the gang's Christmas offerings to be "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch", but those familiar with that Dr. Seuss classic may not yet be acquainted with her other choice: Andy Beck's "Winter Canon."
The Whistler Children's Chorus has gone without a high school ensemble for some time, but Bruce encourages musically-inclined teenagers and their parents to reach out if there is demand for another high school-oriented cohort. "Maybe we'll see a day when we go back to multiple ensembles for multiple age groups," she wonders aloud.
'Music is a life skill'
Meanwhile, there's always the Whistler Singers: which according to Hunter is the town's longest-running arts organization.
Hunter participated in the Whistler Singers at the turn of the 1990s. That was perhaps the collective's heyday, with more than 60 people vibing under the guidance of former director Molly Boyd. Nowadays the group is a tad smaller, but still generationally diverse with international students often adding a European flavour to things.
"A lot of them come from cultures that are much more choir-oriented than many North American places," notes Hunter.
Much like the Children's Chorus, the Whistler Singers perform a variety of music from classical staples to well-known tunes like Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" or "Skyfall" by Adele. They are often called upon at public ceremonies like the municipal Remembrance Day Service in addition to their own seasonal recitals—and they're virtually all friends with each other.
"A lot of the focus is not really the concerts, but on the feeling of community," Hunter explains. "We have everybody from all walks of life. Everybody is welcome, and sometimes it's really hard to rein them back into singing after a break. We even have social events separately, because they do like to spend time with each other. I've seen all sorts of friendships blossom."
She adds: "music is a life skill. You can do it at any age. I have people that have sung in choirs since they were five. I have people that have never sung before. You don't have to read music. You just have to be willing to try."
'Kind of faux-edgy'
The Barbed Choir was originally the brainchild of onetime Pique sports journalist Dan Falloon, who approached Point Artist-Run Centre (PARC) artistic director Stephen Vogler about establishing a pop-up rock choir similar to one that he'd been with in Winnipeg. They coined the name 'Barbed Choir', which Bruce loves for being "kind of silly and kind of faux-edgy."
Joining Bruce at the helm of this somewhat avant-garde outfit is Laura Nedelak, who plays guitar.
"We meet for 90 minutes, and Laura and I will lead the group through learning a song, start to finish," elaborates Bruce. "We'll learn the melody and then at least one harmony line, if not two. It's all done by ear, so there's no reading music by anybody in the room. We do pick well known songs…but we sort of break it down verse by verse, chorus by chorus."
Unlike more conventional gatherings of its kind, the Barbed Choir does not put on public shows. Instead its members sing for one another once a month, and they explore a different song each time. There's no commitment involved, and some people only drop in a few times per year.
All in all, this trifecta of Whistler choirs provide locals with a valuable opportunity to get in touch with their artistic side or face their fears.
"It's important for the musical folks who maybe haven't found a choir since they were a kid…but I think it's equally important to have that experience for kids and adults who are really immersed in athletics," Bruce opined "It's a totally different outlet for fun, for meeting different people, and honestly it's so funny—folks who might not blink an eye at the Saudan Couloir are terrified of singing."
Discover more about the Children's Chorus at https://whistlerchorus.org/, the Whistler Singers at https://whistlerchorus.org/whistlersingers/ and the Barbed Choir at https://www.whistlerlibrary.ca/event/barbed-choir/.
