Grand finale
Truro Youth Singers to hold year-end performance at First United Church
The Truro Youth Singers are preparing for a performance at the First United Church which promises to be a fun and entertaining evening of music.
Ann Legere was enthusiastic as we talked recently about an upcoming concert at the First United Church in Truro. The artistic director of the Truro Youth Singers spoke about the year-end finale for the choir. The Truro Youth singers & Friends are planning a concert for Sunday, June 24 at 6.30 p.m. Special guests will include sisters Rhonda and Sarah Kennedy (fiddle and piano) John Kim (singer and guitar). Legere’s granddaughters – Eric and Megan Brocklehurst – will also be there. “I’m enthused; this will include all the girls in the choir, many of whom will be featured in solos. The music is going to be lively, lots of traditional folk songs. I know people will enjoy this fun entertainment evening.” A freewill offering will be accepted at the door from which a donation will be made to assist church renovations. The Truro Youth Singers were recently nominated by the judicator to the provincial festival. “This is considered an honour,” Legere said. “It’s a testament of the hard work the choir put into preparing their two selections in order to be recommended.” Legere said Truro Youth Singers are now accepting auditions for the new year, which begins in September. “We’re looking for girls who enjoy singing and music in general. We accept girls between the ages of eight and 12 or grades three to seven.” Something different for the future will see the young choir affiliated with the Cantabile Society. “We are excited about this step, we will be working with the Cantabile Singers, Cantabile Impact and the Cantabile Boys Choir. This means we will join these choirs for a number of concerts during the year.” Lorraine Brocklehurst, Legere’s daughter, has been accompanist during the choir’s 20-year duration. Besides piano accompanying, she plays a valuable role in regard to all aspects of choosing and preparing music for the choir. “Loraine has been accompanist for the choir since the beginning,” Legere said. “Without Lorraine’s dedication and musical expertise, I wouldn’t have been able to continue on all these years.” Sarah Glinz, the assistant artistic director, has outstanding training in music and is happy to have returned to Truro, making music and sharing her love and knowledge with the next generation. Noticeably pleased to be working closely with Loraine and Sarah, Legere spoke about the future. “The future looks very good, we all love working together – Chris Bowman, Brenna Conrad, Sarah Glinz and Loraine and I. This is my life, I become so attached to these young girls who come to choir. I really love it.” It was during June of 1998 that Ann and her husband Max moved to Truro from Bathurst, N.B. “It’s almost exactly 20 years ago,” Ann said. “When I first arrived in Truro, Jeff Joudrey was the person who got me involved in music. I have always attributed my good start in Truro to Jeff.” Ann immediately became involved with local music, volunteering with the Truro Music Festival just as she had done for many years in Bathurst. “Music has always been part of my life,” she said. “I particularly love and enjoy working with young voices. My involvement with choirs expands more than 50 years. I strongly believe that music, and especially choir, has a lasting and positive effect in young people’s lives.” Max is a quiet and very informed individual, especially regarding sports programs. He has been involved during some of the higher-calibre hockey tournaments played at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre during recent years. Max’s background in hockey includes playing four years of varsity hockey with St. Thomas Tommies and he later played intermediate and senior hockey with the Bathurst Papermakers. A physics and math teacher for 33 years, Max coached the Bathurst High School hockey team for 15 years.