Alison Hunter was chatting with a member of the Whistler Singers one day when the woman brought up her sister who sings in a choir back home in Bristol.
Only the UK group had an interesting twist—they were a multi-generational choir.
The idea stuck with Hunter, who directs the Whistler Singers and is the former co-director of the Whistler Children’s Chorus. “I started doing some research,” she says. “It’s not happening much in Canada yet, but it’s certainly happening in other parts of the world, including the states.”
While the Whistler Singers’ youngest member is 16 and the oldest is in their 90s, she thought it might be fun to gather Whistlerites of all ages and singing abilities together for a morning of music.
“It’s not just about music; it’s about community and building community,” Hunter says. “Choirs are community. In so many places in the world, music is such an integral part of their lives. Do I like to think that some people will try this and go, ‘I have to keep singing! And join the Whistler Children’s Chorus or Barbed Choir or the Whistler Singers? Yes.”
To that end, Hunter and Jeanette Bruce—who took over the Whistler Children’s Chorus, directs Barbed Choir, Whistler’s rock ‘n’ roll choir, and runs Kinderchoir—are launching a five-week multi-generational choir program called Whistler Sings. It will kick off on May 25, running from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m., and taking place every Saturday at the Whistler Museum until June 22.
No previous experience or music reading ability is required. The only real rule is those under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. The cost will be $30 per family for the five weeks or $20 per person, to help cover venue costs.
Aside from the benefits of singing with others, there’s another perk, Hunter says. “(Whistlerites) don’t have a lot of extended family here. One of our choir members has a new baby … and after choir practice most evenings she couldn’t leave because she couldn’t find her baby. One of the choir members had wandered off with the baby,” she says with a laugh.
After the new choir’s five weeks have wrapped up, Hunter and Bruce will assess if there’s enough interest to continue.
“I think we would extend it,” Hunter says. “My ultimate vision is when we have Remembrance Day, we have every single choir in town singing at it so that it is truly a community event. Same with Christmas; let’s have everybody up there.”
For more information or to pre-register, email whistlerchorus@gmail.com.
The Kinderchoir—designed to give children in kindergarten a taste of choral music—kicks off on May 7 and runs every Tuesday until June 4 at the Whistler Public Library from 4 to 5 p.m. It’s free to attend, but parents are asked to register at youthservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.
