The Sidney Serenaders
The Sidney Serenaders choir is still entertaining on the Peninsula after more than forty years. They enjoy performing at retirement homes, care facilities and the hospital in the area, bringing enjoyment and happy memories to residents. The choir sings older songs that residents will remember, along with some new, livelier songs as well as fun-to-sing tunes that Director Gordon Waugh has brought from his teaching days. Gordon was a principal at Greenglade Elementary School in Sidney before his retirement in 1997. This talented and well-liked member of the group stepped up to be director when needed, and sometimes accompanies the group on his ukulele.
June, the Sidney Serenaders accompanist, has extensive experience playing for church services and funeral homes, as well as teaching piano. The individuals who make up the group are mostly people who love to sing and enjoy this happy, friendly choir. Some have been singing for years, some have come later to singing, but all have a good time. Syd and his wife, Carol, from England, were active in musical theatre for over forty years in Ontario. Syd has also been a member of the Peninsula Singers. Joyce, our oldest member at 94, has sung all her life in school choirs and productions. Ken and Nancy hail from the Midwestern United States and sang in a university choir “Musical Union”. Nancy has sung in church choirs and with a choir in Richmond. Betty, from Wales, sings with the Songbirds in Brentwood Bay, as well as with the Serenaders. Sheila, also from Wales, just loves to sing, especially rousing hymns. Hans has come lately to singing, joining a choir in Duncan six years ago before coming to the Sidney Serenaders. He feels that singing is good medicine. Kees has always enjoyed singing in church, but hadn’t joined a choir until the Serenaders. He says that old age (he was 85 when he joined) should not be a barrier for new adventures. He feels that singing gives you a voice in more ways than one.
This is only a sample of the type of people who make up the choir; people with many experiences and backgrounds. Three members are from Holland, two from Wales, five from England and two from the United States. Some were actually born in Canada! It little matters where members are from or what brought them to join the Serenaders. What is important is the experience and enjoyment of singing to various audiences.
You can join the Sidney Serenaders any Tuesday morning (except during summer) from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 9691 Fourth St., Sidney
For more information please contact Gordon at 250-655-1126, or Eileen at 250-652-6789.