The Chantry Singers in the Parliamentary Library during their recent trip to Ottawa for the Canada 150 celebrations. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

“Emotional” and “a once in a lifetime experience,” were just a couple of sentiments expressed from members of the Chantry Singers after returning from their recent trip to Ottawa where they celebrated the 150th anniversary of Canadian confederation, representing Ontario and performing with other choirs from across the country at Unisong 2017.

The choir first participated in Unisong in Ottawa in 2008, said Chantry Singers Director Anne Little. “In 2008 we applied and were accepted...this time we were invited,” she said. “We actually got, we would really like you to come, so I was really excited.”

Little said that the choir was also asked to participate in 2016 but decided to wait until 2017 to be part of the 150th celebrations.

In total, Unisong 2017 featured 17 guest choirs from across Canada, as well as a children's choir from West Virginia. “There was 630 voices...choirs from across the country. It was so exciting,” said Little, adding that 51 of their total 66 members travelled to the nation’s capital to sing with the Chantry Singers, one of four choirs from Ontario in attendance.

“The best part for me was the piece called Music of the Land, which included some Inuit and Inuksuk drummers,” she said. “The Indigenous stuff was so very moving,” she added.

Little said they had 12 pieces to learn before leaving for Ottawa because “there was no time to learn it there. You had to know it when you got there.” She added that Canadian Conductor and Artistic Director Lydia Adams worked with all the choirs. “She took all those disparate choirs and made them sound like one choir in two or three days. It's pretty cool to watch.”

Chantry Singers performed an evening performance on July 1 at the National Arts Centre with the National Arts Centre Orchesta. “We got to sing back up for Dione Taylor... and also we sang Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom.”

But the highlight was the Canada Day performance of O Canada at the Shaw Centre with over 600 voices. “We just sang at the top of our lungs. It was so exciting, you feel like you're going to just jump out of your skin, it's that kind of feeling,” she said adding that it was an emotional experience. “I spent the whole week crying.”

Little said they wanted to represent Saugeen Shores well and sang the choir’s founder, Jeanette Steeves' Lake Huron Song everywhere they went. “We wanted to make sure that was heard.” she said.

Chantry Singer Bill Rayner said it was a once in a lifetime experience. “To be able to sing at the Shaw Cente and sing at the National Arts Centre and be involved in the epicentre of Canada Day in Canada,” he said. “Everywhere we went people wanted us to sing O Canada.”

The Chantry Singers performing a public concert at St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church in Ottawa June 29. Photo submitted

The Chantry Singers on the front lawn of the Centre Block, the main building of the Canadian parliamentary complex on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. Photo submitted

The Chantry Singers performing in a 200 plus voice combined choir July 1 for Canada's 150th celebrations with Eagle River Drummers and National Arts Centre Orchestra. Photo submitted

Joining other choirs and over 600 voices from across Canada, the Chantry Singers performed O Canada at the Shaw Centre Ottawa July 1. Photo submitted