A Fraser Valley singing group is hoping to keep the chords ringing for years to come as they put the call out for a new generation of voices.
The Chilliwack Harmony Chorus is celebrating 41 years and will be having an open house and recruitment day on Monday, May 4.
They are looking for new members to join the group, ideally young voices as the current group is aging.
“(Younger singers) will have more vocal stamina,” said Gerry Borden, who’s been directing the group since 2008. “As we age, our voices start to tire faster, and don’t necessarily retain the pitches or the memory for the music.”
There are currently about 20 members and they’re hoping to increase that to 30-35 singers.
The Chilliwack Harmony Chorus, which sings in barbershop style, started in 1985 when it branched off of the Langley chapter which had a number Chilliwack members.
Back in the day, there would be a social event in Chilliwack which brought folks from different barbershop chapters together for a weekend of camping and singing.
It began as a male-only chorus, but in 2013, the Chilliwack Harmony Chorus made a huge step forward.
Chilliwack was the first registered chorus in North America to welcome women and become a mixed group.
“I was on the international board and that was one of the introductions that I brought to the society,” Borden said. “I said ‘That is the way we have to go.’”
It took a few years, but it happened.
“That’s kind of a big star for us,” said president Dennis Rackliff.
Their mission is simple: “Enriching our lives and the community through singing.”
They do exactly that numerous times a year as they perform at seniors’ organizations, care facilities, service clubs, and wherever they get invited between Mission and Hope.
The chorus recently performed at Bradley Centre in Chilliwack where residents sang along to old time tunes.
They’re the only harmony chorus in the Eastern Fraser Valley and currently have members from Chilliwack and Abbotsford. In the past, they singers from Mission, Agassiz and Hope have joined.
Anyone interested in joining the Chilliwack Harmony Chorus can drop by their open house on Monday, May 4. It’s at 7 p.m. inside the Mathieson Centre at Inclusion Chilliwack (45195 Wells Rd.).
Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to sing with the chorus that night.
“We will be working on a new piece so everybody will have an opportunity to get introduced to that song,” Borden said.
They meet every Monday at the above location from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The chorus is a registered chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and it’s also a member of the Mixed Barbershop Harmony Association.
Annual chapter dues are $75, and society dues are $150 to $212 (USD) depending on age. The fees cover hall rental, cost of music, learning tracks, guest coach, costumes and more.