It’s time for the Carillon Belles Chorus to compete.
Advertisement 2
Article content
The Norfolk County based chorus, who sing in the barbershop vocal music style, will be competing at the Sweet Adelines Border Lakes Regional Competition (Region 2) on April 20, in Windsor, held for the first time in more than 20 years in Canada.
Article content
“This year we are going for evaluation, which means we are looking for feedback to see how much we have improved since last year,” said director Heidi Bowman. “Last year we didn’t go in-person, we submitted a video. So this is the first time for us in-person since 2018.”
Bowman said it is an opportunity to work on their craft and get some feedback on how they are doing. It’s an opportunity to watch others singing the same kind of music and to learn from each other.
Region 2 includes groups from Ontario and parts of Michigan. Spring regional winners go to an international competition in the fall.
Advertisement 3
Article content
The Carillon Belles have 15 members, including associate members, plus their director. Twelve will be competing at Caesars Windsor and their songs will be Over the Rainbow and Blue Skies.
“We’re going in to do the best that we can,” said Bowman. “Seven members are going for the very first time. That’s exciting that we have so many new people. So we are going to do our absolute best and get the feedback that we are hoping for… that everything we have been working on, we’ve been able to accomplish.”
The Carillon Belles Chorus is a non-profit organization that originally formed in 2004. It chartered with Sweet Adelines International in 2007. Their primary focus is singing in the community at churches, theaters, schools, senior residences, Norfolk County Fair events, parades, businesses and private homes.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“We are a cappella, four-part. Within our four parts, we have high to low voices. So we have a tenor, bass, baritone, and lead. The lead section is usually the main melody.”
The chorus trains weekly, year-round, at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Simcoe starting each week at 7 pm (not including Monday stat holidays).
“It’s a beautiful venue for practicing, it’s accessible and the administration is very supportive of us.”
The music includes a variety of time periods and original artists, all done in the barbershop style.
“We have in our repertoire Cups, which is more modern, we have Let Me Call You Sweetheart, which is old standard. We have some Beatles numbers, some doo-wop stuff. We have a Paul Anka song. We’re absolutely trying to add more contemporary to our repertoire.”
Ages range from 30s to 70s and new singers are recruited year-round.
“We are going to be holding more workshops for any women who would like to sing and try out this particular style of music.”
For more information on the Carillon Belles Chorus visit their website (www.carillonbelleschorus.org) or Facebook page (facebook.com/carillonbelles).
“It’s the music about ‘team sport,’ because it is a chorus, it is a group,” Bowman concluded with a laugh. “We enjoy what we are doing.”
Article content