Living in harmony for 50 years
Cape Breton Chordsmen celebrate milestone anniversary
SYDNEY — Gerald Farrell was buying some building supplies at a local hardware store in 1972 when the person behind the counter posed an unusual question.
“I didn't know him, and he said, ‘Hey, do you like to sing?' I said, ‘Yeah, I kind of like to sing in choirs and I like to sing in general.' So he said, ‘Look, there's a bunch of guys singing at Club 55 — come on along, we're having a lot of fun.' And I said, ‘Well maybe it's an idea.'”
Little did he know that 50 years later, a small group of people who enjoyed singing four-part harmony in a seniors club would evolve into the Cape Breton Chordsmen, an iconic musical institution.
“One of the challenges is it's like the first time somebody jumps off a diving board — boy, that's pretty daunting. But once they do it, they have so much fun and say ‘I want to do that again'” explained Farrell, 76, a charter member of the chorus that has been a fixture in local churches and concert halls since officially joining the international Barbershop Harmony Society,
March 20, 1972.
POST-PANDEMIC PERFORMANCE
After dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 30-plus group of lead, tenor, baritone and bass singing voices is ready to properly celebrate with a proper public performance later this month.
On May 15, the Chordsmen will host "Great is Thy Faithfulness” at 2 p.m. at
United Heritage Church on the corner of Townsend and Charlotte streets. The Keltic Gospel Male Chorus, Class Act, Mike Finigan, Quarter Deck, Quattro, Breton Songbirds, Helles Belles, and Ron Newcombe round out the lineup.
Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door or from any member of the group.
FIRST PERFORMANCE
It will mark the first public performance for the newest member of the Chordsmen. Stewart Read grew up in Sydney but worked as a civil servant in Newfoundland and Labrador for the past 32 years. He joined the chorus after a friend suggested he would enjoy the camaraderie.
“It was one of those things that I wanted to do to try out, and so I came down one night and it became very evident that everyone here loved to sing and they were very good
at it,” said Read, 62.
“They have welcomed me open-heartedly.”
MORE PLANNED
Meanwhile, Farrell said the Chordsmen have many more events planned to celebrate their milestone anniversary. However, he said they are keeping details under wraps for now.
“We are doing something spectacular but I don't want to say what it is right now.”