YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review April 28th Concert Order

When I say Concert Order, I’m usually referring to the order of songs, from first to last. We put the songs in our binders in concert order instead of alphabetical order so that we can sing one song after the other without fuss. 

But, order has another meaning, which is the opposite of disorder, the opposite of chaos (confusion, mess, turmoil). Orderliness is another aspect of the concert. Organization, arrangement, calm, harmony, those are some goals. We talk about what to wear. We learn how to tie our scarves so that we all look like we’re on the same team. We don’t have to look perfect but we want to look good. We work on how the concert runs physically, the logistics, the smooth execution of the show. It helps us to feel safe and confident when we know where to stand and walk, and where our equipment’s going to be. It’s a small part of being a choir, but it’s important. It’s the difference between a sing-along and a choir concert. There’s a level of formality, even professionalism, that makes sense when we’re all reading a choral score, and performing for an audience. We have fun, and we want the audience to enjoy our performance, but order is important.

We need to move with some precision and care 6 times: entering twice, and before and after the 2 small group sets. Seating is split up on two sides of the stage and right in front of the stage, and some people or one person ends up on stage. With a larger number of people who have mobility issues of varying degrees, and instruments, microphones, chords, music stands, and chairs and stools, the potential for chaos is great. This is the main source of my stress. Sometimes I have to change the order of songs when it’s not possible to move from one song to the next physically. In this concert, there is one transition that will require an adaptation, a little bit of time that I will need to fill after Stanley’s solo to give the next group time to set up. We had a beautiful moment when everyone was stunned, immobilized by the exquisiteness of his performance. Nobody moved, and there is a lot of stuff that needs to move just at that moment. It’s a good thing we have a run-through rehearsal!

Our sound technician, Doug has been working with us for years and always makes sure we sound good. He records the rehearsal and the concerts. I’m listening to the rehearsal recordings to see if I can learn from them. Here’s a selection that sounded good: Grand Night for Singing. And, here, listen to Canon of Joy. It's really pretty. The choir sounds fabulous. But, please pay attention to the ending. If you forget to go to the Coda, it sounds messy and weak. Usually, Doug will play us a bit of a song at our break, but we spent the break tying ties/scarves and talking. So, there’s your preview of how we’re going to sound on Sunday, ie faboulous, magnificent, really. After the concert, Doug will send me the recordings and we’ll put them on the website. You know where to find concert recordings on our website, right?

Reminders for Sunday, Concert Day: 

• bake something nice, in small portions for the bake sale (label for nuts/nut-free and with your name if you want the dish back)
• shower, come scent-free 
• park as far away from the church as you are able to leave parking for audience members who might not be as mobile as you
• arrive at 1:00 if you're in a small group or sing a solo (Robyn, Sharon, Song for Canada/Free to Be, etc) also bake sale and coffee/drinks set up
• Everyone should be on stage at 2:00. We have half an hour to rehearse our entry at the beginning and after intermission, to clean up Canon of Joy breathing (help me remember staggered breathing) and maybe a couple other things, but we're good. Just warm up and feel good.
• Remember to smile and try to relax and have fun. The choir sounds fantastic

Please note the Tuesdays in May and June when we're singing at seniors homes. We have 4 booked so far and only a few people signed up. Keep watching the website announcements, Facebook, and come whenever you are able. I don't think we'll have the problem of too many people showing up. Most places can only fit up to 20 singers, but I need 12 at the very least, and 15-20 is best. I'd like to know which soloists will be there. On the Calendar, and in Events on the website, the address is entered and there is a link to the sing-alongs if you need it. We will be projecting the words on a screen for the residents and we can use that too. Always bring all of your music in your binders, but there is a seniors performance order on the website. We decide the order just before we sing. 

Binders: at the end of the season, all binders and all YRCC music must be returned to Peggy, the music librarian. Whenever it's your last time singing with us for the season (concert, or seniors home), you can hand in your binder. If you forget, then you must drop it off at Peggy's house and have your binder there no later than July 1st. During the summer, we select and purchase music and prepare the binders for the winter season. The choir owns tons of music and several filing cabinets full of sets of music in numerical order so that you can get your number back with your notes if we sing a song again. Imagine how much work this takes to maintain. Please do your part by handing in your binder at the end of each season promptly. 

Break a leg! Oh, never mind superstition. Good luck! You won't really need much luck because you are well prepared, and the most important thing is to sing with joy and love and all will be well. 

 

 

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review April 21st

We're ready! 

This was our last rehearsal to do learning and fixing. Next week, we focus on the order of songs, and how we need to stand and move and how to use the microphones and move them and where to put instruments when they're not in use, etc. All the logistics of the performance will be worked out so that on concert day, we'll look good, and things will run smoothly.  

Alan brought his guitar and years of experience to our small group rehearsal for Canada's Song (Free to Be) and Colors. It was so much fun! The My Life Flows On group improved quite a bit. We also have recordings now that Shirley has made (wow!).

Our warm-up was found on Facebook, and had us moving our bodies and singing. Thanks to Liz for that discovery. 

1. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: Excellent! Remember Altos repeat Peace throughout the land and hold it to the Tenor/Bass cut off. Sopranos don't sing the last Standing hand in hand. 

2. Why We Sing: Excellent! I love our new beginning. Debbie is singing the duet part down an octave, but the chorus/quartet part with Mona up in the treble clef.

3.  Here's to Song: Excellent! The solos are great, and everyone's watching for when to be louder or softer. People will love this song. It's new, but feels like a comfy old pair of slippers. 

4.  It's a Grand Night for Singing: Excellent! I made a last-minute change. It's a good one. The first time we sing the main/chorus part, we observe the rests, making "moon is", "stars are", "night" short and clear. The second time, after the interlude, we go big and broad, so we sing through those rests "moo-niz" and "star-zaar". If we remember, we can do long "fal-ling-in love" too. Let's try it next week. The ending is so good! Be sure to remember to move up on "love" at the end: Lo-ove!" (sounds like laah-aahv) 

5. Thank You For the Music: Excellent! A few people were holding notes over rests, but we fixed it. Altos/Sopranos at the beginning need to come off your last word so that the Tenors/Basses come in without any overlap: on page 3 bore/walk and before/talk, then proud/can on page 4.

6. Song Sung Blue: This small group is excellent. Sopranos, I need you to be nice and loud. You have the melody. Everyone else is sitting but will be helping the audience on the second time around.

7. Circle Game: This small group is excellent. Solos were outstanding, harmonies good. Isn't this a good song?!!

8.  Hallelujah: Excellent! New beginning is so good!

Next week:  Tuesday, April 28th at 7:00-early start

Run-through rehearsal at Trinity Anglican in Aurora 

Your binders must be in concert order. Find the order on the website under Members-Only

6:00 Small Groups and Soloists (Melodie, Lorraine, Stanley, Colby, etc) 

 

 

 

Piano Recital at Trinity Newmarket Sunday, April 19th, 2026

Sunday, April 19th, 2026 at 3:00pm in the Sanctuary of Trinity United Church, Newmarket. Child prodigy Angel Heung, our music director's daughter will delight us with her extraordinary piano virtuosity. And, this time, she's got a guest from Boston, another young pianist, also a winner of several international piano competitions.

Here's the poster for next week's fundraising concert. It's not easy to read in this format. 

Tickets are $25 (kids under 12 free). All proceeds will go to Trinity.

Tickets can be found online at Eventbrite (enter Trinity in the search bar, and you'll find it) but you can also pay at the door. 

You will be amazed at the talent, the skills, the stunning virtuosity of these young pianists!  

There will be special moments when 8 hands will play on our piano together. (I'm curious to see who the other two people will be. Maybe Kevin and Joanna?)

There will be a reception following the concert, and I'm baking something (apple Streuselkuchen squares, probably). Please come! 

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review April 14th

I'm feeling great after our gold-star rehearsal performances last night! It was also wonderful for me to sit with the small group and sing their song and enjoy harmonizing. What a special thing it is to sing together! We're so lucky we get to do this every week!

The small group that met at 6:30 was singing their second song, Colors, when I arrived, and I didn't have to think twice before accepting their offer to join them. It's a special song, and it felt wonderful harmonizing with some of my favourite choristers and with Donna's asoundingly beautiful ad-lib accompaniment. 

Our warm-ups included singing "meow" (miao?) like a cat and talking about why that's useful. I had forgotten, but it's really just a nasal tone exercise that releases vocal tension, and the silliness of it releases performance tension. And, then we had to compare it to dog sounds like "woof" which Lauren taught us is also used to manage airflow. I've found a bunch of different dog sound exercises today, and other animals sounds too. So, I think we might want to have some fun with more animal sounds in the future. I have to apologize for going off track on the dogs vs cats tangent. I had just read a strange post about feral cats, and it was so irreverent; sorry. We did a few different physical exercises too, and that came from my reading about maintaining stability and balance as we age. I'm going to be using more of that going forward, as we can all benefit from better stability and balance not just for performing but also in our everyday lives. 

1. It's a Grand Night for Singing: It was truly grand. We had a good laugh after we finally mastered the ending. Singing what is written always sounds good.  I don't know what we were doing before, but this time, we just went over what is written in the second ending on page 5 and it was excellent. We needed some work on that last bar where everyone except the Basses moves up, and First Sopranos go way up: a big ending!

2. Why We Sing: The four soloists/quartet at the beginning makes it build with much more drama. We figured out who sings what there, and we'll give it another go next week. This is the opener this time, our first song. We've traditionally used it as a finale and sometimes as an encore, but this new arrangement with the first verse and chorus by a small group works well as an opener. It's a good introduction to our theme too. 

3. Canon of Joy: This song will follow Why We Sing in the program, and the emphasis is on everlasting JOY and the message on page 7: Though our hearts be tried and troubled, still our song none can destroy. "All our days" and "everlasting" are positive and wonderful, not boring. Remember that it's your job to make sure it doesn't sound boring, each time you sing joy, bounce on the dj sound and release the oy with grace and beauty. Watch me for dynamics, sing page 5 softer, then louder both times. 

4. We Rise Again: Awesome! Now that we're so good, we can think about looking up from our music as we sing the second and third chorus. You're all singing the same thing every time, except the First Sopranos. You shouldn't need to look at your music. We were reminded that we're supposed to hold our binders up so we can read the music and easily look up at the conductor and/or the audience, high enough so you don't have to look down, and angled so that your face is not covered. This will also help with your posture as you sing. Your head should be held high and facing forward, back straight, shoulders back. Looking down, neck bent, shoulders in, is not going to sound good or look good, and it will hurt in the long term. 

5. Hymn to Freedom: This comes before We Rise Again in the program, but both songs have good, big endings. I'm not sure about my order anymore. I've been having second thoughts (and thirds). 

6. One Voice: This is our finale, but, although it's excellent and builds to a beautiful big ending, it's too short to inspire a standing ovation. 

7: Thank You For the Music: This song is second-last. It's awesome, but doesn't have a big ending, and it's a little bit too self-centred. Someone suggested Hymn to Freedom might do the trick?

8. Here's to Song: This is going to be stuck in my head all week again. I love this, and it will be the first song in our last set.  It's not a finale song, is it? Back to the drawing board. 

We talked about: 

Scarves: many people forgot to bring in their scarves. We need to do a big assessment and cut some in half. There are a number of double-sized scarves out there, so they won't be too small when cut in half. We originally cut them in half, but then mistakenly sent some out too large. Bring in your scarf next week. 

Tickets: Buy any additional friends and family tickets next week. Online tickets are $25 and they'll be $25 at the door as well. The new website is up, and tickets are available there: yrcc.ca. We have a little more work to do to integrate the members-only content from the old site and to redirect from that web address. But, it's looking good!

Concert Order: Jane's been working on the program, and I've entered the concert order on the website. But, now I'm going to be thinking about possibly changing it. As always, the run-through rehearsal is our chance to hear how it flows and to see how it looks (people moving, microphoness) before the program is set, so we can make last-minute changes. I have to give you an order next week so that you put your binders in concert order for the 28th run-through rehearsal. Next week is our last chance to go over parts, and on the 28th, we won't sing through every song, so think about what you might want to review next week before we move on to performance-readiness. 

Seniors Visits: Jane is working on booking our Spring Seniors Tour. It will start on Tuesday, May 12th. As soon as we get some bookings, I'll enter them on our calendar (s). We have a calendar on the website now, so I'll figure out how best to use that. And, I'll set up Events for you to sing up in on the old site. This allows us to manage how many of each part we get at our seniors performances, since some places are small and some choir members can't make all of them. 

Next week: Tuesday, April 21st We're in our usual room at the Admin. Ctr. 

Bring your scarves! 

Small groups: 

6:30 Canada's Song (Free to Be), 6:50 Colors, 7:10 My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep From Singing).  

• Canadian Sing-alongs
• Here's to Song
• Grand Night for Singing
• Why We Sing
• I'd Like to Teach the World
• Circle Game? 
• Anything you want to go over 

 

 Looking ahead: Tuesday, April 28th We're at Trinity Anglican in Aurora in the sanctuary, where we will be performing on May 3rd. This is a run-through of the concert, like a dress rehearsal. We will practise walking and standing and sitting and singing with microphones. If you cannot be at this rehearsal, you must tell someone in your section so that they can guide you on concert day. 

Binders will be in concert order, so there's not searching for music between songs. 

Small Groups and Soloists: be prepared to start as early as 6:00!

Eveyone be there early 7:00 and be prepared to end later than usual!

All instruments will be there.

All props (geese, chairs, campfires) to see how they work. 

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes so you can move around.  Maybe bring a snack? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review April 7th

I'm getting excited! The posters are on their way into the world, and we are selling tickets on our new website!!! We are still able to use the old one, and the members-only stuff will still be there, but our new website will hopefully make it easier for you to find what you want and need, and we'll be able to pay dues online too. All this while showing a very polished face to the public. Information about the choir and our concerts, and a way to purchase tickets easily will be presented in a modern and approachable style. For me, one of the best things about this new site is our new web address: yrcc.ca

It will take a little while for us to get used to this new website, but we hope the transition will be smooth. By the next season, we will all be comfortable and happy with the new system.

This week's small groups were excellent again. My Life Flows On and My Heart Will Go On.  My Life Flows On is How Can I Keep From Singing. We're using the church hymn music and the folk/pop lyrics. The first verse is Sopranos-only, just the melody. Then, the second verse is in 4-part harmony, like a hymn. The third verse is in harmony and a cappella, even more like a hymn. Here's an accompaniment video, so you can listen to the melody (and harmonies), but the lyrics are different. Here's a recording of Pete Seeger's version, where you'll hear our lyrics. I've got a bunch more videos on my choir playlist for this season of this song and all of our songs this season. Do head over to my YouTube playlist for inspiration. 

We had a short physical warm-up and then did a fun scale canon, singing scales in rounds, a test of staying in your lane, with your section, and not getting pulled into the other parts. Fun!

1. Song for Canada: It works well to have the French verse singers in among the Ah singers. But, we'll need to have them in pairs or clumps to give them confidence to sing out louder, to help them stay on track and not confuse the ah-folks. This verse should be quieter than the others, especially important for those singing ah. The ending is getting better. Altos, please give me some more volume on the ahs at the end, the notes are not as important as the movement especially at beat one of those 4 last bars and also the beat 3 of the penultimate bar should have some power. Sopranos, are you maybe looking at the wrong line at the end? I also need more of your movement. You should be looking at the middle of the system, in the top line of the choir bracket, and you divide. I should be hearing 10 notes from the Sopranos, two sets of 5. Please take a look to make sure you're clear on that last page, and sing out for me.

2.  One Voice: The trio at the beginning is coming along beautifully. It's hard, but your voices blend so well. If you don't get it perfect, it will be okay. We all have to remember not to come in too loud right after them, confidently, but not will volume. I do need the Sopranos to be louder than the have been, to bring out the melody and words there. Everyone else on the one-one-voice part must try to be softer. Pay attention to dynamics on this song. It's quite dramatic and it's our finale. This is our message: one voice can make a difference and will encourage others to join, and when everyone sings, we have harmony. Our final notes will be on the word Sing! Sing, very loud!

3. Thank You For the Music:  Erase the old notes, and write in the new ones, please. Some Altos were still unsure whether to sing with the sopranos or tenors at the beginning. This year, we have good strong voices in the bass clef, so the alto part is as-written. Sing with the sopranos. Circle the note that says SOPRANO & ALTO (unis). I also want movement at the end in the ahs, like for Song for Canada, and it depends largely on the Altos. Please give me some alto notes there on the first and third beat of every bar to the end on the word "me". 

4. Here's to Song: I loved how that first solo sounds in Colby's bass voice! We don't hear a bass solo often enough. I think people will be impressed and grateful. I love this song, and it gets stuck in my head for hours and sometimes days after our rehearsals. This arrangement is very dramatic too. Lots of ups and downs in volume. Please pay attention to the notation on the music and also to me. I'm giving you lots of direction on volume. Make a note on page 10 that the Kings have riches is soft. It's been loud up to this point, and the last one is loud, but this one is dramatically quiet. Circle that phrase and the little p. Also on the last page, bar 102, you suddenly go quiet after the last very loud Kings, like you have a quiet confidence that our riches, friends and song, are humble, down-to-earth treasures, much more important than owning land and hoarding money. We don't have to be loud about our good fortune. 

5. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: The new ending is excellent! Remember to remove that last soprano line: Standing hand in hand. We end that section on Peace throughout the land. Sopranos stop after holding that one bar, and Altos hold until the Tenors and Basses have finished their last word sing. I love how everyone is now holding their notes, but don't raise the volume on any of those long holds; they should slightly decrescendo each time, and serve as a background to the other part's words, right? 

6. Hallelujah: I love the new first verse and chorus! I know that it means that most of you get ripped off, not being able to sing the whole song, but it's really very effective. The first verse and the first chorus, which should be soft, are sung by a small group (tenors, basses, 3 sopranos, 2 altos). It's much more dramatic, and the power of the loud last verse, and the loud and very satisfying last chorus, is so much more special this way. We are always learning and always improving, even on songs we've been singing for decades. 

We talked about: Posters and Tickets and Canada Geese! They're beautiful and you're going to share them everywhere you can. Remember to let your friends and family know that they can save $5 per ticket if they order them from you and you buy them in advance. You have two more weeks to get those tickets in advance and then after that everyone will pay full price. If they want to buy their tickets online, they can, and if that's easier, then they might not mind paying a bit more. We hope that this deal will bring us more people in the seats. A big audience feels so good, and we will sing better, guaranteed. Canada Geese: I had a midnight inspiration. A little bit of decoration for the back wall, a back-drop scene, a mise en scène, inspired by our poster. A camp chair, red with our flag, a beer can (empty) in the cup holder, and the ukulele resting there, and a few Canada goose decoys lying around, or on a table? If someone has a little pretend campire, that would be so cool, but maybe we can just make a little pile of campfire wood? It should be sweet and easy. 

Next week, Tuesday, April 14th  We're back in our room

Small groups at 6:30 will be the two songs from the quartet with the guitar. Colors and Canada Song. If Alan can stay a bit, we'll try some sing-alongs, Song Sung Blue and maybe the Circle Game to see if we can fit him in there too. 

• Song Sung Blue (sing-along)
• Hymn to Freedom
• Grand Night for Singing
• Why We Sing
• Canon of Joy
• We Rise Again  

 

 

 

 

 

YRCC Spring 2026 Concert Poster

 Choir  members: please click on that poster and copy and paste it onto all of your emails and texts and anywhere you post photos (Facebook, Instagram,...). 

Let's make sure lots of people come to hear our wonderful songs about Canada and songs that celebrate singing songs together. How cute is that picture?!!

Remember to let your friends and family know that they can buy tickets from you for $5 off each ticket. In advance and from choir members only, tickets are $20. Through the website and at the door, they cost $25. 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review March 31st

We must keep on singing. It's necessary for us; we choristers need song. We thrive when we can meet once a week, gathering to sing together and to remember in our bodies and souls that we are alive in a beautiful world and can survive passing storms. We make harmony when we sing our songs together. Harmony is created when people sing together. How can we keep from singing? And, like the band on the Titanic, we feel a responsibility, a mission, an honour, to sing for others. I've written a post on the song How Can I Keep From Singing/My Life Flows On and I encourage you to read it. It's also not too late to join that small group. 

Big heartfelt thanks to Tabatha who came to play piano for us! We missed Donna, but were in very good hands, and loved to catch up with our former (hopefully returning some day) Alto friend too. Thank you to the good folks who helped set up and take down at Trinity! Thank you to those of you who braved the thunderstorm and got soaked! I was lucky to arrive before the storm and leave after, but many of you had to deal with very heavy rain and powerful thunder and lightning. Mother nature reminds us that Spring is not just sunshine, baby bunnies, and flowers. 

6:30 My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep From Singing) had the full pre-choir time to learn the 4-part choir version, with the slightly fancy ending that I added (of course). 

1. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: A word on this title. Something I dislike strongly is the idea that we need to be taught how to sing, as if we don't all sing before we can talk! We sing already. Of course we can learn to sing different styles of music, and specific songs, but we must stop telling people that they can't sing, or don't' sing well. Give us songs to sing together all the time. Let us join our voices in song. I would like to teach the world that we should sing together more and with kindess, inclusivity. We determined the new ending: We divide into SA  TB at bar 89. Tenors join the Basses repeating "I'd like to teach the world to sing". Sopranos start with "peace throughout the land" and then Altos echo that in bar 90 (write that in), then "standing hand in hand" same, then "peace throughout the land" again. And stop. Altos hold their last one with the Tenors and Basses, so an extra bar. It's a little messy, but effective. 

2.  Hymn to Freedom: It's very very good! We worked with dynamics, when to be soft and when to be loud. We're following the dynamics as marked. On the last page, there is a slow-down a "rit." at bar 64 with a fermata (love those!). So, "har-mo-nyyyyy" cut! and then the piano plays a little ba-ba-bap! We come in very strong right after that. ba-ba-bap That's when. At 66, we're suddenly (sub.) quiet, but we need a big crescendo towards the end, so mpwe'll mf be  f free, f we'll  f Beee ff FREEEEEE!

3. Grand Night For Singing: We worked on getting from the Interlude to the chorus again. Last page, second last bar, You moves on the first beat of the last bar in the alto part and the bass part. Write in a fermata on that beat one. I want that held a little longer, and we'll cut // there. Donna will give us a little run, or something to bring us into "It's a grand night". Tab was a wonderful help on getting that worked out. It worked perfectly. 

4. Song for Canada: Excellent. I'm thinking of keeping the French verse singers in their usual positions among the ah singers, so nobody has to move, except Robyn who will move to a microphone with her flute at the end of the French verse. We tried that, but it was difficult to determine if it worked since there were a number of people missing. We'll try it again. 

5. Thank You For the Music: Excellent! We had no problem getting from the third verse solo to the chorus. Our fix worked wonderfully. 

We talked about: 

Tickets! We have tickets ready to buy at the discounted rate of $20 for choristers, for friends and family. Buy in advance for your folks, and you/they save $5 on each ticket. Tickets at the door and online will be $25. You can pay by credit card/tap using Square. Or, you can write a cheque to York Region Community Choir. Or, you can pay cash. We hope to get lots of tickets sold in advance this way, so talk to your friends and family and book them in. We're cooking up a deal for seniors homes too. 

Next week: Tuesday, April 7th  We're in Aurora, at Trinity Anglican Church (79 Victoria St.)

We're back in the basement (Binion's Hall) where we rehearsed after COVID, while our room was still closed. It's the church where we perform our concerts, just downstairs. There is an elevator by the Victoria St. doors. We usually enter from the other side, by the parking lot off of Metcalfe St. 

Small Groups: 

6:30 My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep from Singing)

7:00 My Heart Goes On (Titanic theme)

• Here's To Song
• One Voice
• Thank You For the Music
• I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
• Song for Canada
• O Canada

A peek at our concert poster- so cute!

YRCC Small Group, Spring 2026 My Life Flows On: How Can I Keep From Singing

I posted the following in the Event description for this small group, but I thought I would share it with everyone. A number of people walked in as the small group was practising, so I felt compelled to explain what they were hearing. It's a hymn, from the United Church red hymn book, Voices United. Number 716 is listed as My Life Flows On because the main index for finding hymns lists them with the first line, and most Hymns are named that way anyway. How Can I Keep From Singing is the proper title, and that was used by Pete Seeger and then by Enya in popular and folk singing. Needing song, the necessity of singing is a big part of our theme, but when I saw the hymn was called My Life Flows On, I wanted to use that for our program, because it's in a set with My Heart Goes On, and that's such a wonderful synchronicity. 

How Can I Keep From Singing/ My Life Flows On

Please watch this Enya video. Enya's version is the only one I knew. "The video features Enya singing in a church in the Gaoth Dobhair countryside while also including archive footage of political figures such as Nelson Mandela and Boris Yeltsin, among others, and references to the Gulf War and famine. The line about tyrants trembling shows Gennady Yanayev, leader of the 1991 August Coup, in a press conference with visibly trembling hands—apparently toward the end when the coup was unraveling." (from Wikipedia)

How apropos of our times, and our theme! (And, it has meaning and synchronicity beyond this, because it means something personal to some individuals in the choir as well. ) 

Here's Pete Seeger's version

Here are our lyrics, which are only slightly different from the United Church Hymn 716, and slightly different from Enya's and slightly different from Pete Seeger's versions. This song is in the public domain. 

My life flows on in endless song
Above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it's music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review March 24th

What a wonderful feeling!

We're ahead of schedule, and sounding excellent. From now on, we're reviewing and polishing, and enjoying our songs. Don't be shy to let me know if you're not sure of what you and your neighbours are singing, or you're singing different things. I said it last night: that's not snitching. We're not pointing fingers, but pointing out where we can use some review. Although, sometimes I'm fine with a little bit of extra harmony ;-)

Our small groups are so good! I can't wait for everyone to hear them. The Circle Game goes round and round in my head all the time now, such a good song, and everyone in the small group is so good. Soloists, please memorize your words. The next small group had their first look at My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep From Singing). I really like the Enya song How Can I Keep From Singing, and I hadn't even heard the Hymn My Life Flows On. We're using the hymn for harmonies and timing (easier timing) and keeping Enya's lyrics, which are also the Pete Seeger lyrics. I keep finding new versions of this song. It's got a very good message, especially in these tumultuous times. 

I wasn't in the mood for the warm-ups I had planned, so with Donna's help we managed a beautiful easy physical warm-up as she played The Music of the Night and then we just la-la'd with that for our vocal warm-up. I love when we improvise. Our creativity is something to nourish any time we can. Donna is an inspiration, and we're so lucky she plays with us. 

1. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: This is another song that reminds us that we're so lucky to be able to sing together like we do. If everyone could sing in a choir, the world would be happier and more peaceful.  We cleaned up the echo part at 81. First sopranos will hold that D on the word 'on'. Seconds and Tenors will sing both "that echos on", ignoring the rests. Alto and Bass sing the bottom line as written. And everyone holds that, as if there were a fermata on bar 85 and you need to watch for the next part because it's soft and slower. This is a great song and not too hard. I might change one more thing. Robin was suggesting a greater emphasis on "Peace throughout the land, standin hand in hand." And, I think we can add an echo, a third part. We'll try something next week. 

2. Here's to Song: This one gets stuck in my head too. We sang the whole thing with solos and I love it. We worked on dynamics (loud and soft), and we're doing them as written, so watch out for p, mp, mf, and f and watch me. We reviewed the Tenor and Alto parts at C. It's so hard, and our three tenors are doing a great job. It will help them if the rest of you could be softer on your parts. Something we noticed: some people are singing "songs" instead of "song". There's only one time when it's plural. So, this is about song in its abstract meaning, like dance, art, music. So, were not singing about the songs we sing, but about the act of singing songs, our voices raised in song. 

3. It's a Grand Night for Singing: This is excellent. We're just unsure of the Interlude, after the first ending, where we go to page 6. It's got some tricky Alto and Tenor bits and a bunch of accidentals (sharps and naturals) but it sounds pretty good, and we'll keep working on it. Remember the drama and sharp pronunciation that the rests provide in the main part. Watch your rests. 

4. Canadiana Sing-along:  We had a test run of the sing-along of Canadian folk songs, songs that we sang (hopefully) as children and that people still sing (maybe?) around camp fires. I guess that some people didn't grow up here and others are much younger than me (Colby) so a few people will not appreciate this fully, but I hope that the energy of those of us who do will pull them in. Donna was instrumental (ahem) in making this happen. She's got a way with sing-alongs, doesn't she? It's so much fun. We did this in 2017 for Canada's 150th, the Sesquicentennial. I've chosen the shorter one we used for our seniors performances. We might add a few more verses. 

5. Canon of Joy: You did it! I am so grateful that you trust me on this. I know it feels boring, but it's really a good song, made of two really popular and beatiful classical pieces. We worked on dynamics and tone (sing the melody like cellos, not trumpets). When we sing page 5 twice, sing the first one softer, get louder on the second, both times. Sing those long notes with an accent on the start, so when you sing "joy" the dj sound is emphasized and then you release and fade on the "oy". And, smile. You are singing the word "joy" so feel and show happiness, pleasure, delight, bliss. The high point, the main message is on page 7. Read those words and feel them. That's the message of the concert. Think of I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, and Here's to Song. And, we have in the small groups How Can I Keep From Singing which also points to singing as a blessing in the seasons of turmoil in our lives. Also, when things are horrible, joy is not disrespectful or irreverent, but necessary, even if just for a moment or a couple of hours. Because, grace and hope and joy are as constant as struggle and suffering. Whatever I'm going through, it is all forgotten while I'm singing with you on Tuesdays, and I remember who I am. 

6. Why We Sing: The new beginning is so good! Just one soprano, one alto, one tenor, and one bass up to the section at 42. Since we have all 4 on the chorus at 26, we'll have the 6 first phrases like this: S, T, S&T, A, B A&B, then chorus SATB. This is going to be our opening song, and it's now perfect, building from one voice to a big, big ending. Awesome. 

The tickets are ready. You can purchase tickets for your friends and family at a reduced price and you can pay by credit card. The choir member price is $20, in advance in person only. At the door and website purchases will be $25, the poster price. We're talking about having a reduced advanced and bulk price for our seniors home fans too. We want a nice big audience for this concert. 

The poster is ready too, but we need to be sure the website update is functional before sending those out. We have a plan to distribute them all over. Kim (alto) is coordinating the advertising. If you have an idea or a place to post a hard copy, let her know. Do you know how to find the email addresses of other choir members? You have access to the member listing on the website. I encourage you to find your friends and contact them outside of choir time. 

Next Week, Tuesday, March 31st: We're at Trinity United in Newmarket again 

Remember to give yourself time to find parking. We can use the lift/elevator just inside the Park Avenue doors. If you need it, make sure you let me know, and remind me at the end too. We're in the music room at 6:30 and in the Fellowship Room at 7:00, same as last time.

6:30 My Life Flows On (How Can I Keep From Singing)

• I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
• Grand Night for Singing 
• Hymn to Freedom
• Here's to Song
• Song for Canada 

Heads up: Tuesday, April 7th, we're at the other Trinity, Trinity Anglican Church in Aurora, where we perform our concerts, except we're downstairs in Binions Hall. There is a lift/elevator there too if we need it. 

 

 

 

 

YRCC 2026 Rehearsal Review March 17th

Happy Birthday to Melodie and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

The best things about birthdays and St. Patrick's Days are the singing and dancing. It's so much fun singing Happy Birthday with a choir! Wooohoooo! When I don't have choir on St. Patrick's Day, I go to a bar with my Irish friend Kelli, and a bunch of us drink green beer or Guinness sing and dance to live music. What fun it is to sing and dance with friends! This is a big part of our theme this season, "Here's to Song". 

We thought Here's To Song sounds kind of Irish, and it was written by Allister Mac Gillivray from Nova Scotia. He also wrote Song for the Mira (another one of ours). East Coast folk music, Maritime/Celtic, is heavily influenced by Irish and Scottish traditional music. We Rise Again's composer, Leon Dubinsky was also from Nova Scotia. Everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's Day in Canada, and we saw a good amount of green in the choir, and I think that's a very good Canadian custom. 

Our small groups today were excellent! Both groups learned their songs quickly and collaborated to make their own arrangements. I love when we make songs our own. When you own something, you cherish it. Song Sung Blue is ready, and Circle Game will take only a short time to be done.  

1. Here's To Song: We worked on Sections B, C, and D, with reviewing parts in section C. That's the big fancy part. We talked about making the first chorus soft and wistful. There is some melancholy in this song at the beginning especially. The candle is dying, and "our time together has ended". But, look at the words in C. "The hour has come for sweet adieus...but first unite in hand and heart... for every end leads to a start." Then, we get loud. Then, the third verse is about leaving again, "farewell and thank you", soft and wistful again, but in the end, we're happy to count our blessings: friends and singing songs together. We agreed that we would pronounce adieu with 'you' in it: ah-dyoo. 

2. We Rise Again: SO GOOD! Especially the big ending. I love this song. Ever since I heard protesters in the US singing it, I feel more and more appreciative of this glorius Canadian song. Both soloists are awesome. Melinda and Nadine sang together and it was beautiful.

3. I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing: Wow! We sang it really well after our first attempt. Some of us have sung this many times before, but as usual, the new folks were surprisingly good at following along. This song is in two parts, both written in the treble clef. So, we're going to have the Sopranos and Tenors on top, and the Altos and Basses on the bottom. There's a lot of back-and-forth echoing and overlapping melodies that require one group to hold a note for a long time while the other group sings the melody. Please observe all rests, and by paying attention to the rests, you'll see how long you need to hold your long notes. You sometimes only get time for a really short breath. Check out this picture so you can tell how short your rest is. If there's no rest, there's no "period of silence". 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Song for Canada: This is a wonderful song, and I love the flute at the end!!! Another excellent big ending. I'm not sure about the logistics of having the French singers on Verse 2 standing at the front. The ahs are so much better since we've worked on them, so maybe we don't need to be separated? We'll try it with them in their usual spots too. We looked at the ahs at the end, on page 13 again. We made some decisions on the notes on page 13, so you don't have to worry about "picking a note". So, here's what we've got, remembering that the top two lines are the flute solo and the unison line. We're all in the choir bracket on page 13. First Sopranos are on the top of the top line of the choir bracket. Second Sopranos are on the bottom of that line, right under the firsts. Altos are on their line in the choir bracket and we chose your notes: for the first ah, stay on Eb, then, take the bottom notes: Db, Db, F, Eb. Tenors are taking all the top notes of the bass clef, except the Ab-middle note-in bar 115. and Basses take the very bottom notes.

5. Hallelujah: New format for this year: Tenors and Basses sing the first solo. Watch out for the timing, so you are all together. You've probably all sung this as a solo, so it didn't matter, but now it does. Look especially at "for music". Also, blend your voices; avoid pushing your voice. You can be softer because you're not fighting the whole rest of the choir, and you're not singing a solo. Then, only a few others join the Tenors and Basses at the pick-up to bar 7: Sharon and Lauren sing Alto, Robyn, Cathy, and Ellie sing Soprano. And this small group continues through the first chorus. Brilliant. This way the song stays softer at the beginning, so it has lots of room to build up. This group needs to listen to eachother to blend, also watch me in case I ask you to sing louder or softer. All Sopranos and Altos sing the second verse solo. 

6. One Voice: We had two minutes, so we sang this, and it's excellent. I love the big ending so much! And, it was lovely to hear Melodie sing a solo on her birthday. 

We talked about:

1. The upcoming room changes. There are two Tuesdays coming up when we can't have our room in the Admin. Building. Check the website for the next few weeks before you come to choir. I'll also post on Facebook and on this blog. 

2. We talked about needing a few volunteers. 

-The PR position on the Executive is still vacant. We would love to have more people come to our concert; the last one has disappointing attendance. Kim is asking her daughter to look into all the possibilities for advertising, sending our poster out electronically, and maybe coordinating the posting of physical copies. Our old notes still have the Month Ahead paper and the Era Banner which are out of print, that's how long ago we needed to advertise. Please consider joining the Executive to coordinate our PR activities. This would include coordinating, but not necessarily doing, the poster, program, and tickets, and communicating with seniors homes. 

-Stage Manager for the concert: We are looking for a mature/older child or spouse who can come to the run-through rehearsal the week before the concert and come early to the concert to help us with moving the microphones around and helping to guide our movements off-stage and on-stage. 

-Bake Sale Helpers at the concert: We need 2 or three people to help put out and manage the baking for the bake sale, and then box up the leftovers and help clean up. Someone to help Harry with ticket sales would be nice too. These folks could all work together with Lorraine who is coordinating the coffee and tea. I think Debbie is helping with that too. If you're not in a small group, coming early to help them would be nice. 

Next week: Tuesday, March 24th

Small groups: 

6:30 Circle Game 

7:00 My Life Flows On (How can I keep from singing?)

• Here's To Song
• Grand Night for Singing
• Why We Sing
• Teach The World
• Canon of Joy
• Canadiana Sing-along?

YRCC 2026 Spring Solos

Here are the solos for this season with main soloist and back-up soloist.

These are the solos in our choir pieces. This does not include any solos in the solo and small group segments of the concert.  

As much as possible, please memorize your solo, so that you can look up at the audience instead of into your binder while you are singing your solo. Let me know if you need more rehearsal time for your solo as we get closer to the concert. Make use of the recordings as well. 

Thank you for your courage and generous service to the choir! Most people are uncomfortable standing out, but you are kindly stepping forward.  

Here’s To Song: 1. Wintston (Colby) 2. Sharon (Nadine)

One Voice 1. Soprano: Melodie (Cathy) 2. Tenor: Stanley (Jane) 3. Alto: Lorraine (Lauren)

Thank You For the Music: Robyn (Cathy)

We Rise Again: Melinda (Nadine)

Why We Sing 1. Soprano: Mona (Cathy) 2. Tenor: Stanley (Jane) 3. Alto: Lauren (Debbie) 4. Bass: Colby (Winston)

 Please let me know if I missed anyone or misplaced anyone.