[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 59-02, April - June, 2005 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Eastern Division report

By Bill Vermue, Manager Eastern Division

Brockville

The Melodymen have 12 men attending on a regular basis. While still looking for a full time director, Bob Panter and Paul Sheppard look after the music program. They have a performance at the end of May in First Baptist Church, the facility they use for rehearsals. On June 11 they are organizing a garage sale fund raiser. Morale for this small group continues to be good and plans are being made for a recruiting drive in the fall. Brockville is also hosting an Eastern Division meeting (executive and music) later this month.

Cornwall

Hot on the heels of a very successful show (Friday, May 6), the C-Way Sound chorus is flying high. While I have not seen final figures, I can confidently say that it was a financial success as well as a great public relations venture for the Cornwall Chapter. C-Way Sound performed well and stole the show with a ’60s package.  Four quartets from Ottawa, Wellington Street, Voila!, Polaris and Play it Again! performed and the Capital City Chorus did two sets. The show ended with the combined choruses doing three numbers for the finale (approximately 75 singers on the risers) to a standing ovation. Comments from attendees have been wonderful. More detail in the next article. Thanks to president Wylie Forster for making the effort to be in Cornwall for the show. Very much appreciated.

Kingston

The Kingston Townsmen placed eighth in the Niagara Falls contest and are looking forward to building on that experience. As well, they won the Second Plateau award. Lately, they have several regular guests who show promise in joining their ranks and have all of their snowbirds back. They are gearing up for their show in the fall.

Nepean

The Northern Stars chorus continue on a very positive and up beat path. Although initially disappointed with their fourth-place finish in Niagara Falls, they came away from the experience with very positive feedback from the judges. The chorus is busily preparing for their annual show on June 11 at Centrepointe Theatre in Nepean. There will be both a matinee and an evening show. More in the next issue. Also, eight of their members attended the Cornwall show and did a great job performing at the afterglow.

Ottawa

Ottawa was thrilled to receive the Ontario District Chapter of the Year Award for 2004. The Capital City Chorus is flying almost as high as the Cornwall chapter, after the Cornwall show on May 6 (details above). It points out the value of helping other chapters in that it ends up helping both chapters grow stronger. This venture was definitely an example of barbershopping at its best. The CCC is busy learning six new songs, two for the fall contest in Brantford. They are gearing up to descend on Brantford en masse as they did last fall. Prior to last Christmas, they already had well over 100 fall registrations bought and paid for. What a great example for other chapters. k