Members of Western Hospitality Singers performed as a VLQ (or Very Large Quartet, consisting of 8 to 12 men singing in 4 part harmony), in the common areas and patients' rooms (on request) at six Calgary hospices on the evenings of December 5th, 6th, and 7th. This is an annual initiative, in co-operation with The Bearspaw Lions Club, to bring some Christmas spirit into the lives of palliative care patients and their loved ones, at a very meaningful time in their lives.
Members of Western Hospitality Singers attended the 100th anniversary Vimy Ridge commemoration at the Royal Canadian Legion Centennial Branch Sunday April 9th.
They performed the anthems O Canada and God Save The Queen, plus other chorus repertoire.
The Canadiana medley and The Maple Leaf Forever were particularly appreciated by the audience, many of whom were singing along.
In turn, our WHS guys sang along with Legion members on Pack Up Your Troubles and It’s A Long Way to Tipperary!
On Wednesday, January 11th, members of WHS again visited the Calgary Food Bank as volunteer workers.
This time they had a little something extra to contribute, in addition to their labour.
On behalf of Western Hospitality Singers, the volunteers presented a donation to assist the Food bank in its worthy efforts.
A cheque representing the $ 5,000.00 net proceeds of our Christmas shows was given to Food Bank CEO James Mc Ara.
First there's work - then it's not unusual for singing to break out.
A number of Western Hospitality Singers members sang for patients and their families at six Calgary hospices in the evenings of December 6th, 7th, and 8th.
The number of men who joined in a VLQ (Very Large Quartet) varied between 9 and 13 each night.
This is an annual outreach project for the chorus, sponsored and organized by the Bearspaw Lions Club.
We appreciate the opportunity to share the gift of song with those having a difficult Christmas season.
A group of WHS members, informally known as the N.W.M.P. (North West Music Project) sang Christmas songs and carols at midday on Wednesday December 7th, at the Meals on Wheels driver appreciation luncheon, and then later for a senior card group at Corpus Christi Church.
21 singers, representing all 4 Alberta BHS chapters, met in Red Deer on Saturday March 12, 2016 to participate in the second annual Alberta Harmony Platoon.
M.C. and organizer Murray Young got the ball rolling and kept it moving, assigning quartets, giving them names like "Instant Plastic", and drawing songs..
Singers were were assigned to quartets, and songs were drawn and assigned to each quartet from the 6 songs which had been learned in advance by the particiants.
The first round of singing featured a chance to rehearse the selected song, while rounds 2 and 3 songs were drawn and then performed immediately.
A good time was had by all and some fine singing ensued ( though not always perfectly for an entire song or by all 4 members of a quartet).
Many men from our chorus took part in delivering a very special outreach once again this Christmas season. They visited six Calgary-area hospices to provide terminally ill patients with some moments of reflection, remembrance and respect through a gift of music.
James Thexton, Treasurer of Sing Canada Harmony, presented this prestigious award to Randy on December 7th on behalf of Sing Canada Harmony and all barbershop chapters in Canada. This recognizes Randy for his long-standing excellence in advancing and encouraging music educators in Barbershop Harmony and a cappella singing,
Here's a link to a small gallery of pictures taken by John Simpson during the recent event at Paul McKenna's house, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the granting to WHS of a charter as Calgary Foothills chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society (S.P.E.B.Q.S.A.):
WHS performed at McDougall United Church's Spring Concert and Mortgage Burning Celebration on May 24th, along with Rhythm of the Rockies, McDougall Mixed Ensemble, Celebration Singers, Bel Canto, Will Mehew, Alexandra Klassen, and Antonina Cox
