Spring song in Verona

May 05, 2011

Photo: The Frontenac Women's Chorus at the Verona FMC

On April 30 at the Verona Free Methodist Church, music lovers were treated to an evening of song by the Frontenac Women's Chorus, celebrating the arrival of spring. The concert, titled Garden Songs, featured traditional, classical and contemporary songs on the theme of gardens and included well known favorites such as “The Rose”, Pete Seeger's “Where have all the Flowers Gone” and Fats Waller's “Honeysuckle Rose”.

Featured in the second half of the concert was the “Gardensong”, a tune composed by local musician and choir founder Jennifer Bennett who had directed the choir until 2001. With words from a poem by Wilma Kenny of Sydenham, Gardensong was one of the most sombre of the evening and recounts the persecution of gardeners who grew their own herbs to be used as medicine during the era of witch hunts in the U.S. Considered witches, these gardeners were ultimately killed and their gardens destroyed. The song ends on a more uplifting note with the gardens naturally rejuvenating themselves, despite the determination to permanently wipe them out.

Betty Wagner is the choir director who has been leading the 26-member choir for nine years. The four-part all-female choir is well known for its intricate harmonies, diverse repertoire, and effort to emphasize local composers.

They were joined by accompanist Ian Bevell of Nottinghamshire, England, who is currently the Director of Praise at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in England. Mr. Bevell, a talented singer in his own right, had a chance to show off his vocal talents in the concert’s second half. The choir ended the evening on a soaring high note with their robust rendition of “Oh What a Beautiful Morning”, which had all the gardeners in the crowd anxiously awaiting the morning when they will putting their first seeds and plants into the ground.

The choir practices regularly on Monday nights at Sydenham High School from 7:30 - 9PM. For more information, visit www.heretosong.com.

The choir practices on Monday nights at Sydenham High School from 7:30 - 9PM. They is currently accepting invitations from local area churches and their next concert will take place the first Saturday in December at the first church that extends them an invitation. For more information contact Betty Wagner at 613-384-1528; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. or visit www.heretosong.com.