by Doug Hill, C-Way Sound Chapter President
The halls of Cornwall’s Benson Centre rang on April 26 as C-Way Sound hosted Capital City Chorus, St. Lambert Quebec’s South Shore Saints, and members from Montreal’s Island City Chorus and the Kingston Townsmen.
The occasion was an interchapter meeting that had two unique features. It was held in a Sportsplex that featured four hockey rinks and an indoor soccer field. And it was open free of charge to the public.
For the evening, the Benson Centre staff moved out the glass wall separating the practice room from the main concourse. Members assembled five large riser sections in the room, facing the chairs in the main concourse.
Seventy-seven men were on the risers and surrounding floor for the warmup, directed by Capital City Chorus’ Denis Laflamme. The simple exercises progressed to some stirring chords that left the audience and many of the singers for whom this was a first-time experience, in awe.
In the course of the evening, we heard three quartets, Perpetual Emotion from Kingston, Capital Blend and Tour de Four from Ottawa.
“We sent up the event to attract new members,” said C-Way Sound Membership Chair, Dan Sunderland. “From the conversations I had, I think our chances are pretty good that we will see at least a few new faces on the risers soon.”
Main image: C-Way Sound Director, Richard Frenette directs the Mass Finale
Image 2: Capital City Chorus, directed by Denis Laflamme
Image 3: South Shore Saints directed by Alan Briand
Image 4: C-Way Sound directed by Associate Director John Hamilton