The Medford Singers are blowing away those winter blues and starting off 2017 with two concerts in two Valley communities.
On Saturday, Jan. 14, they are presenting ‘Sing We and Chant It’, a merry melange of music featuring selections from classical to Broadway, joined by soloist Annette Lampson and accompanist Michael Gaudet, starting at 2 p.m., at St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, at 70 Cowichan Ave. West in Lake Cowichan.
The second concert is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 15 at the Duncan United Church, at the corner of Ingram and Jubilee, again starting at 2 p.m.
The choir used to present its concerts solely at the centrally-located Duncan United Church but in recent years, the singers have taken their show on the road to the lovely little wooden church in Lake Cowichan and have developed a following there, aided by having several Cowichan Lake area folks singing in the group.
Tickets for both shows are $17 in advance or $20 at the door. For advance tickets in Lake Cowichan, contact choir members and for the Duncan show, get them either through choir members or at Volume One Books.
Children 12 and under are admitted free. Light refreshments will also be served following the performances.
The Medford Singers is a mixed-voice community choir which was started more than 25 years ago by Bev Medford, who is remembered by many as not only a beloved singer, pianist and music teacher, but also a good friend of the Cowichan Valley performing arts community.
The group has evolved over its history. From the humble beginnings of a ladies trio and then expanding to a sextet, the Medford Singers officially formed in 1991. Today, the choir has grown to just under 40 members who range in age from teens to mid-90s.
Although Medford died in 2009, current conductor, Simon Leung, has taken up the challenge of combining fun with providing great music from an ever-changing repertoire. As a testament to this tradition, the Medfords still have a number of its original founding members in the choir to this day.