December 15, 2013 ‘Welcome Christmas’ – G.M.C.Christmas Concert
Community newspaper editor, John Curry gave GMC two pages of coverage in the Dec. 19th issue of the EMC Stittsville News. Here are some of the key points he included in the write-up. It was a concert of contrasts. The male chorus performed 12 selections that ranged from madrigal to gospel, contemporary to traditional male chorus arrangements. Guest soloist Skye MacDiarmid took center stage at one point of the concert with a solo rendition of ‘He Shall Feed His Flock’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ – a space on stage that also staged a 27 member Male Chorus and a brass quintet. The front altar area space at St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Kanata was also shared with two ensemble groups – a 9 members accompanied ensemble and by the 8 member Men of Note, an a’cappella ensemble from within the larger chorus. These selections provided still more choral contrast to the overall concert. The near capacity audience of just short of 400 guests, raised the roof with three audience carols, accompanied by the Polished Brass Quintet of Ottawa. In addition to the brass performing two solo selections, they also accompanied three of the male chorus numbers. What fun. A concert filled with lots of choral and instrumental delivery from a variety of performers. Emcee David Steventon introduced the closing number ‘ Here We come A-Wassailing’ and commented on how quickly the two hours had gone by. It had been an enjoyed experience for all.
December 7, 2013
The Goulbourn Male Chorus performed on December 7, 2013 at a sing out located at the Bridlewood Retirement Community facility on Eagleson Road in Kanata. The full chorus under the direction of Robert Dueck and accompanist Bonnie MacDiarmid had the chance to deliver a significant part of its Christmas Concert program to be performed later in the month at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Joining the Chorus was Skye MacDiarmid who added her unique singing talent to songs such as “Come and See the King”. Making its first public appearance since it was formed in September of 2013 was the Chorus a’cappella ensemble, The Men of Note, dressed in their distinctive vests and singing “Sing Out the News” and “Whisper, Whisper”. The event was well attended by many of the residents who had the opportunity to join the Chorus in the singing of several well known carols.
November 27, 2013
The Goulbourn Male Chorus was privileged to sing at the Friendship Club Christmas Luncheon for Stittsville residents on Wednesday, the 27th of November. A representative group of fourteen singers provided entertainment for the 40 luncheon guests in attendance. The event was held at the Glen Mar Golf and Country Club and featured familiar traditional songs as well as some not so familiar. Amidst a beautiful setting of Christmas decorations, the seniors, having enjoyed a wonderful luncheon, joined in with spirited renditions of Winter Wonderland, Silver Bells, Hark the Herald Angels, and did their parts in the story of “Good King Wenceslas” . The Chorus’s repertoire ranged from the madrigal “Sound of Pipe and Drum” to the beautifully melodic “ As Lately we Watched and included a truly memorable arrangement of The First Noel.
May 13, 2013
Community Event: GMC entertains at the Stittsville Food Bank Appreciation Evening for donor and volunteers. The event was held at the Amberwood Village Golf and Country Club – Stittsville.
May 11, 2013 – (View Poster)
Spring Concert: GMC performs ‘My Heart’s in the Song’ to a full audience at St. Thomas Anglican Church – Stittsville. The program included several full chorus plus ensemble selections with music ranging from folk tunes, cowboy songs accompanied with harmonica and guitars, and four part arrangments of traditional male chorus numbers such as ‘Brother, Sing On’ and ‘Let all Men Sing’.
April 23, 2013
Sing-Out: GMC performs for seniors at the Stonehaven Manor Retirement Community – Kanata.
April 9, 2013
Sing-Out: GMC performs for seniors at the Empress Kanata Retirement Residence.
April 5, 2013
GMC entertains patrons at the Gaia Java Coffee Shop. Gaia Java holds weekly music events for local musicians every Friday evening in their coffee shop on Stittsville Main Street.
December 16, 2012 – (View Poster)
Christmas Concert: GMC performs ‘Welcome Christmas’ to an overflow audience at St. Paul’s Anglican Church – Kanata with guest performers being the Trinity Hilltop Handbell Choir, the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus and the Yuletide Flute Trio.
December 4, 2012
Stittsville: GMC performs a 30 minute program of seasonal music at the Amberwood Village Golf and Country Club Christmas Banquet for club membership. In addition to some sing-a-long numbers, the chorus performed several lighter entertainment selections like: ‘Throw Open the Shutters’, and ‘The Twelve Days After Christmas’ to a packed banquet room.
November 28, 2012
Stittsville: GMC performs a 40 minute program of seasonal music at the Glen Mar Golf and Country Club for the Friendship Club Christmas Luncheon – which also included sing-a-long selections of favorite Christmas carols.
October 13, 2012
Stittsville Public Library – GMC presents ‘Coast to Coast’ introducing Canada through song, story and poetry without ever leaving Stittsville.
September 20, 2012
GMC performs a 1 hour fundraising concert for the Winchester United Church.
July 11, 2012 – (View album)
Nepean: GMC sings our National Anthem at City of Ottawa Council Meeting held at Ben Franklin Place – Centrepointe.
May 12, 2012 – (View Poster)
Spring Concert: ‘Coast to Coast – through song and salute’ Concert Program – featured tributes to our Canadian Armed Forced. Concert Location – St. Thomas Anglican Church – Stittsville.
April 17, 2012
Sing-Out at Walden Village Retirement Residence – Kanata.
December 18, 2011 – (View Poster)
Christmas Concert: GMC performs ‘Welcome Christmas’ at Holy Spirit Parish – Stittsville with guest performers being the Trinity Hilltop Handbell Choir, St. Thomas Anglican Children’s Choir, West Ottawa Ladies Chorus and the Yuletide Flute Trio.
December 11, 2011 – (View Poster)
Christmas Concert: GMC performs ‘Sounds of Christmas’ at St. John the Baptist Anglican Church in Richmond with guest singers and Richmond residents, Sylvia Wallace and Karen Colenbrander joining the male chorus on several selections.
December 4, 2011
Community Event: GMC was invited to participate at the Richmond community fundraising event in support of the local food bank as one of several Richmond and area performing groups.
December 3, 2011
Sing-Out: GMC performs ‘An Afternoon of Christmas Music’ for the residents at the Stittsville Villa Retirement Community.
November 21, 2011
GMC invited to participate in the Sunday morning Remembrance Day worship service at St. Thomas Anglican Church – Stittsville with several patriotic selections.
November 11, 2011
Stittsville: GMC’s participates at the Remembrance Day Ceremonies at Cenotaph with singing of ‘In Flanders Fields’ and ‘Let there be Peace on Earth’.
May 22, 2011
Winchester Community Ecumenical Ladies Conference: Members of the GMC provided the entertainment between the pot luck dinner (which was most delicious) and the dessert.
May 1, 2011 (View poster)
Spring Concert: ‘Sing me a Story’ performed at St. Paul’s United Church – Richmond. The program included: sea shanties, folk music, gospel music and lighter traditional male chorus selections.
April 10, 2011 (View Poster)
Spring Concert: ‘Sing me a Story’ performed at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – Stittsville and included: songs of the sea, folk songs, spirituals and lighter traditional male chorus selections.
December 19, 2010
Christmas Concert: GMC presents its first-ever ‘Snack, Cider and Song’ concert at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – Stittsville. Twelve members of the Chorus performed a full concert program that included hot apple cider and snacks in the lower auditorium during the intermission.
December 10, 2010
Guest performance at the Stittsville Community Christmas Festival Concert held in the 700 seat theatre at Sacred Heart High School.
December 5, 2010
GMC participates in a Community Carol Fest, hosted by St. Andrews Presbyterian Church together with three local church choirs: St. Thomas Anglican Church Children’s Choir, Stittsville United Church Choir and the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Choir.
December 1, 2010
Sing-Out – GMC performs ‘An Afternoon of Christmas Music’ at the Stittsville Villa Retirement Community.
November 11, 2010
Stittsville: GMC’s first public appearance and participation at the Remembrance Day
Ceremonies with singing of the TBB arrangement – ‘In Flanders Fields’.