Stradbrooke Choir is ready for a new season

North End

When COVID hit, the Stradbrooke choir membership numbered 18. Today, it has risen to 91, according to choir conductor Helen Bergen. After a summer break, the choral group has reconvened to prepare for a busy winter season.

The group has entertained at many senior homes around the city like Poseidon Bay, River Road Place, the Shaftesbury and Gwen Secter Community Centres. Bergen has fond memories of Wheelchair Warriors in the audience, dancing in their seats to the lively music.

Last November, the choir appeared at an anniversary celebration of the Winnipeg Choral Society held at Bethel Memorial Church. Bergen remembers the building was “tightly packed with people.”

A Winnipeg-born musician, Bergen and her husband spent a few years in the United States, where she acquired a PhD and worked as a trained church organist. When she returned to Winnipeg, she began an 18 year stint as the accompanist of the Winnipeg Male Chorus.

I asked Bergen, the mother of three children, if she enjoys conducting this choir of mixed voices.

“It’s a joy to see their smiling faces,” she replied and admitted the singers love to entertain. She said their success is also due to a strong executive team.

Penny Scurfield is the organized librarian in charge of distributing sheet music. Jennifer Lidstone is the treasurer and John Tanner has arranged some of the music. Katie Erickson is the piano accompanist and co-director. Marilyn Dudeck keeps track of the songs and rehearsal schedules while Barbara King arranges social events. Bergen feels it’s important for the members to socialize with each other at least once a month, outside of the weekly practise.

Choosing the songs is also an important chore. Audiences love to sing along to familiar ditties. Bergen recalls the time when a senior from the audience told her how thrilled she was, because she had been able to remember the words and music to every song in the concert.

This year, the Stradbrooke Choir will include songs made famous by Gordon Lightfoot, a medley from the movie Mary Poppins, and golden oldies like Button Up Your Overcoat, Believe, Hallelujah and many other melodic tunes to amaze listeners and provide a challenge for performers.

When I comment on the stage presence of Bergen, 70 and how she seems to be almost dancing as she directs the choir, she explained. “If I don’t feel the music, the choir won’t feel it.” The personable musician concluded, “It’s a joy for us to perform and entertain.”

To contact the Stradbrooke Choir or to book a show, readers can cmail mariand@mymts.net or call 204-694-2170.