OLDS-DIDSBURY - Olds Community Chorus is celebrating a milestone with this month's Winter Concert 2017.
Twenty-five years ago the chorus, formerly known as a choir, began in earnest with the coordination and enthusiasm of Lori Lipski, Helen Entwistle and Sandy McCleary.
Their direction, with the support of a growing and changing membership over the years and the addition of music director Ross Dabrusin has resulted in a chorus recently recognized for its professionalism by a New York concert promoter.
"We get better and better and I think Ross has a lot to do with that," said chorus member Grant Spence. "He's really brought us along. Not to be disrespectful of those who were ahead of him but he's really brought us along as a group."
It was Dabrusin who initiated the change in name from a choir to a chorus to better reflect the group's aims.
During Winter Concert 2017 performances in Didsbury and Olds, the chorus will be acknowledging past members as a tribute to the longevity of the group.
About 35 people comprise the chorus today with at least one who has been with the group all 25 years. They hail from Olds and Red Deer and a large contingent is from Didsbury.
The performances will feature a wide array of music from folk and swing to African, pop and classics like George Fredrick Handel's Let Their Celestial Concerts Unite.
The winter concerts are a culmination of several months of work.
Chorus members begin with familiarization of each piece before breaking off into men's and women's groups. When they come back together during practices, they are working on finessing their performances.
"It's then about working on dynamics -- open your mouth, enunciate," said Spence.
Dabrusin picks the music the chorus will perform from a vast array of his own collection as well as the group's.
The spring concerts in late May or early April feature an entirely different selection.
While they make CDs of their performances for their own members, they are unable to distribute them to the public because of copyright, said Spence.
But with Dean Owen's video recordings posted on YouTube, the group does get a wider airing.
The concerts are really the showcasing though, said Spence.
The concert in Didsbury is at Zion Evangelical Missionary Church on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. while the Olds concert will be held at the same time at Olds First Baptist Church on Dec. 14. Admission will be charged at the door.
