Frontenac Women's Chorus – new conductor's inaugural concert

Julie Druker | Dec 02, 2015

Perhaps it was not just the pure enjoyment of hearing so many talented female voices joining together in song that attracted the capacity crowd to the community hall in Bellrock on November 28 for the Frontenac Women's Chorus' annual Christmas concert. It may have also been curiosity, since it was the first concert conducted by the chorus' new leader since the group's long time conductor, Betty Wagner, passed her baton to Kingston singer and voice teacher, Patty Smith, in the spring of 2015. Smith proved that Wagner made a good choice and Wagner, who was also in attendance, likely agreed. Smith proved that she is more than capable of taking on these ladies in her new role as their fearless leader and the audience seemed to enjoy her quirky sense of humour to boot.

The choir performed a concert titled “Deck Those Halls” and their Christmas program included offerings that were as diverse and they were delightful. The concert opened with an eerie tune titled “Soul Cake”, a traditional Hallowee'en/Christmasy tune that showed off well the chorus' apt harmonies and which also showcased an impressive flute accompaniment by special guest Christine Kennedy. The choir sang a glorious version of the well known carol, “Do You Hear What I Hear”, a favorite call and response carol that features the great range of the chorus' sopranos whose high notes inspired (in myself at least) the kind of head tingles that only practiced voices joined together in song can bring.

Highlighted in the program were a number of Canadian composers as in “Star Light, Star Bright”, an anonymous traditional verse put to music by Martha Hill Duncan. The program also featured the premiere of Parham-raised musician, Stanley Stinchcombe's “A Bear's Christmas”, a comical Christmas ditty that he wrote especially for the group, which was a delightful exploration of how bears might celebrate the holiday season.

“The Christmas Waltz” was the choir's most jazzy offering of the night, and the traditional Quebecois tune titled “D'ou viens-tu, bergère” with an arrangement by Mark Sirett was also memorable, as was the historic “Huron Carol”, composed by Jean Brebeuf.

Hats off to accompanist Kate Van Allen, whose talents created a solid foundation for this group to show case their own. The choir gave the audience a chance to join in for “Deck the Halls” and “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, bringing to a close a delightful night of premieres, one that will no doubt keep our local ears focused on the choir's next offerings.