Hillcrest's Music Program
began here in October 1971 with music by Irene Fraser until early 1982 when Pat Vincent served as organist and in March of that year Anne White began directing the adult and youth choirs. Senior Choir, presently 15-20 singers, leads the congregational hymns each Sunday offering anthems for most services and special music for weddings, funerals, etc. Each summer, guest soloists perform at Sunday services. Come join us Wednesday at 7:00 PM September to June to laugh, sing together and party when we can. Our Youth Choir in 2021 involved 13 young people from 7 families ranging in age from 6 to 15. All young singers over 6 years old are welcome at the regular 10AM practices Sundays during the school year. Over the years, there has been a Men’s Choir from time to time plus a Ladies’ Choir singing occasionally and at special music events such as gospel and youth concerts. The much-loved annual May FEAST of MUSIC for the last 30 years has featured both our adult and youth choirs, a guest choir and recently the Sibbick Sibling Singers. In July 2014, we began summertime Family and Friends concerts which offer soloists and small groups an opportunity to perform their pieces for an appreciative audience. Concerts by visiting musicians and choirs– such as the UPEI Music Program and A Joyful Sound generate funds in support of our church. During early Covid Sara and Andrea White sang for our weekly Sunday service broadcast. In June 2020, Youth Choir singers began practicing for special solos or small group anthems for Sunday worship. Senior Choir resumed “spaced out” practices in late fall of 2020 and in spring, 2021, they began offering anthems again for worship. Since Covid began, we have been broadcasting our Sunday services via FaceBook and Mixlr. Happily, we now have both choirs joyfully practicing each week (still with masks and social distancing). As summer begins, we will welcome soloists and small ensembles, both young and young-at-heart, to provide special music each Sunday with hymn leadership by our adult choir. |
Dec 18.2022 Words from our Director:
Good afternoon singers, Hope you are enjoying some “down time” – maybe with your feet up and a good book or your favourite music playing. Speaking of music - WOW, you presented our Cantata musically and meaningfully this morning! The 21 of you were focused and finely tuned – what a delight to conduct such a competent choir and listen to Thane and Elizabeth’s expressive readings! It was a joy to have 15 of our regular choir plus 6 added singers: Joanie, Helen, Janet, Clara, Melissa and Mary! We send our healing wishes to Liz, Kathy, Melissa, Rob and Richard and hope that you feel better steadily as the week progresses. We missed you today and thank you sincerely for all you did to prepare even though you couldn’t be with us today. Just let me know before Saturday if you think you can join us for Christmas Eve worship which will be at 7 pm with our gathering in the basement at 6:20. Youth Choir joins us at 6:30 as we prepare to process up through the sanctuary. At least 4 of today’s singers cannot be in the choir Dec 24th so we encourage as many of possible to join us. In addition to a number of kind and generous comments I heard after church, here are a few quotes from a message I received from a friend who lives in Ch’town: “I just watched your Cantata. It was lovely. All familiar carols with “twists” to each of them would be a real crowd pleaser – in the pews and in the choir loft! I really enjoyed it!” She goes on to say, “I have heard a fair amount of Christmas music this season but I think that your Cantata summed up the meaning of Christmas best for me.” Thank you! Anne You may still share in the surprise celebration we gave our director by watching the March 20th, 2022
Worship Service on Facebook and enjoy, at your own pace, the slides of choir activities over the years at this site. |