The Frontenac Women’s Chorus in Bellrock

Dec 01, 2011

Photo: Members of the Frontenac Women’s Chorus at the Bellrock Community hall

Good live music can send chills up the spine and more so when it comes from multiple voices singing together in perfect harmony. That was the case at the Bellrock community hall on Nov. 26 when the Frontenac Women’s Chorus, led by Betty Wagner, performed their holiday “Christmas Bells” concert.

Accompanied on piano by the accomplished Ian Bevell, who currently is the Director of Praise at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kingston, the all-women’s choir sang a program that included 16 seasonal tunes in a wide range of different musical styles, but with a special focus on Canadian composers and arrangers.

The chorus opened with contemporary composer Eleanor Daley of Kingston’s “What Sweeter Music” and the ladies definitely hit a sweet spot both in the opening and closing verses with their spot-on unison and also in the middle passages with their masterful delivery of the tune’s joyful penumbra of uplifting harmonies. In a similar vein they performed “Christ Child’s Lullaby”, arranged by Anne Eggleston, and performed the gorgeous Hallelujah chorus masterfully, with the first sopranos bringing forth the melody as shiny and bright as the North Star.

The choir covered a wide stylistic range and their version of “I Saw Three Ships” was performed with a toe-tapping, Canadian east coast feel. Similarly their jazzed-up version of the old time favorite “Silver Bells” recalled holidays of yore and the old silver screen classics, and romantic scenes that likely took place in this very hall many decades ago.

One of the highlights of the concert by far was the “Carol of the Bells”; a special treat at any time of the year. The Chorus mastered the acapella tune, gaining force and momentum with every successive phrase and building to a dramatic crescendo that finished with very believable “bell peals” at the end.

The free benefit concert was put on to support the maintenance and restoration of the Bellrock hall, an ongoing project by members of the Bellrock community. What better way to encourage that support than by filling the newly refurbished space with the sounds of a highly accomplished vocal ensemble to start off the holiday season for the community. For more information about the Frontenac Women’s Chorus visit www.herestosong.com.