Standing 'O' for our debut!

Post date: Sep 30, 2015 10:51:14 PM

We surprised the audience of mostly barbershop singers when we wrapped up the recent Novice Quartet Festival. If we exceeded their expectations for a new chorus, so did their response outstrip ours! Ganaraska Chordsmen performed in public for the first time at the Festival held at the Port Hope Lions' Centre on Sept 25. While it was primarily a quartet competition among Barbershop Harmony Society chapters from Quinte, Peterborough, Oshawa and Northumberland Hills plus the Sweet Adelines Northumberland chapter, their respective choruses added to the entertainment.

We sang Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (arr. Jordan Travis) followed by You Raise Me Up (words & music by Brendan Graham & Rolf Løvland, arr. Joe Liles). Both are inspirational and coupled with an unexpectedly good performance under our award-winning director Lynn Brown roused much of the audience to its feet after each one. No other chorus was so warmly applauded.

Reviews

"...the audience realized your singing was as good[or better], than anything offered that night. Both songs were difficult but your group made them sound quite polished. "

"...the performance of "Hallelujah" was the best large ensemble singing of the night . It was surprisingly (shockingly?) good ! It "raised me up" !"

- comments from two of the quartet judges