Chorale Society celebrates 30 years
It began in 1974, a group of people getting together to share their love of singing, and to socialize a bit. Surely, none of the original members expected the Belize Chorale Society to still be performing for Belizean audiences thirty years later. On Saturday night they will hold a concert to mark this important anniversary and you are invited. You’re also invited to become a member.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The first time I heard the Belize Chorale Society perform was over twenty years ago at a special Christmas service at the Holy Redeemer Cathedral, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out that not the group is not only still active, but will be celebrating its thirtieth anniversary. In three decades of singing the members have experienced both joy and sorrow.
Valerie Lovell, Original Member, Belize Chorale Society
“We have been through the death of membership. I checked and there are at least twenty people who have passed on from the group, which is like a whole choir in itself. And then, we’ve had many, many changes of directors for various reasons.”
“And in our illustrious history we have performed musicals from Rogers and Hammerstein, we’ve done Carousel, we’ve done most of Oklahoma, we’ve done a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan, unlike other choirs; they have never attempted anything like that.”
However, one failure has been the lack of a younger membership.
Rose Musa, Original Member, Belize Chorale Society
“We have been trying to get younger members to come and join the group because quite a bit of us are getting older now and quite a bit have left the choir. So we are appealing right now to have the younger crowd come in a see what it’s like and then decide to join us because it’s really a relaxing thing to do.”
To commemorate its anniversary, the Belize Chorale Society will be holding a special gala at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. The singers are hoping that at this event, the public will be inspired to join the choir.
Rose Musa
“We really want to make it something good. We have a new-well not a new director, because Dr. Perriott has directed us before, but he had been so busy and going away that at times we wondered whether this would have come about. But thank goodness we’ve practised and we’re quite happy with what we’re going to present on Saturday. And we’re appealing to the public to come and see what it’s all about and then maybe one of you all will come and join us.”
Valerie Lovell
“For us to be able to attract young people, it has to start early, like parents bringing them to the show from age five, so they can see what it is all about. You don’t just jump up one morning and declare I like that kind of signing. It doesn’t happen like that, it’s a gradual process. So we are appealing to parents to bring the children out so they can see the other side. I have nothing against MTV and VH1, but there’s another side to music as well, and that’s what we are about.”
If you would like to attend the Belize Chorale Society’s production, tickets will be sold at the door for only twenty dollars. The show gets underway at eight sharp on Saturday night at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
The Belize Chorale Society was the brainchild of Christianne Huff, the wife of the former Care Director of Belize, who saw the talent of a group of people who loved to sing.
