The County Town Singers are a Canadian choral group based in Whitby, Ontario. The choir has performed hundreds of concerts in southern Ontario, and has also performed across Canada and internationally,

History edit

The County Town Singers were founded in 1967 as a project to mark Canada's 100th birthday.[1][2] The next year, Marg Weber became the group's pianist.[3] An early director was Jim Ashley.[3]

In 1972, the choir recorded an album, County Town Singers, Sing for People.[4]

In 1980 Russell Baird became the director of the choir.[5][6]

The choir performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[7] In 1991 they traveled to Austria to perform in Whitby's twinned town, Feldkirch.[8]

In 2012 the County Town Singers participated in the Rhythms of One World Festival sponsored by the United Nations and performed there with other choirs from around the world.[9]

The choir celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 by performing in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre with other Canadian choirs and the orchestra.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "County Town choir marks 30th"[permanent dead link]. Toronto Star - Toronto, Ont. By Cindy Macdonald May 1, 1997 Page: OS.4
  2. ^ a b "Half a century of music". The Oshawa Express, May 12, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Winter, Brian. "Marg Webber - 'Music is my whole life' says Singers'pianist". Whitby Free Press, 25 May 1977, p. 8,9
  4. ^ "County Town Singers, Sing for People". Whitby Free Press, August 3, 1972. page 15.
  5. ^ "Singers get new piano". Whitby Free Press, 10 Mar 1982, p. 6
  6. ^ "Timeline: 1980-1989". Port Perry/Scugog Heritage Gallery.
  7. ^ "County Town Singers celebrate at Expo". Oshawa Whitby This Week, 25 Jan 1986, p. 19
  8. ^ "Whitby twins with Feldkirch, Austria". Whitby Free Press, 11 Sep 1991, p. 3
  9. ^ "Nations United in Song'". New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer, June 29, 2010.