EKOSingers’ Annual Retreat Workshop – Battle Lake
Photobooth silliness.
Sing! Sing! Sing! What can be better than a weekend full of singing and making music with others?
Each spring EKOSingers retreats to the 4H Lodge at beautiful Battle Lake, Alberta and devotes a weekend to perfecting concert repertoire. This year was reported to be one of the best workshops yet, and not just because of the weather!
Some of us arrived Friday evening to set the stage, and the rest of us arrived bright and early Saturday morning. Our wonderful conductor, Paula Roberts, directed us through the day’s work. There were breaks, of course, but we had a
full day of rehearsing that wrapped up just before dinner.
The EKOSingers’ annual retreat is eagerly anticipated and very special. Often on choir retreats after a full day’s rehearsal members revert to individual pursuits for the evening; but not the EKO Singers, we put on a show! And what a wonderful night of entertainment it was; so much talent and enthusiasm in one room – we did not want the night to end.
As EKOSingers, each of us has a unique opportunity to prepare some music, either as part of a small ensemble or solo, and to perform it ‘like a pro’. This is possible because each of us is supported by our terrific sound engineer, Jamie Kidd; our very own amazing accompanist, Charlie Austin; and on occasion other talented musicians from within EKOSingers.
A hilarious rendition of A Mother's Lament from Marge and Jim
Add to this, fun acts between performances, hosted by our Master of Ceremony, Ron Richardson, and we have a very polished show indeed. It’s a gift to each of us, no doubt about it.
And what do we do after a fantastic show? Why, we keep the music going, that’s what! And so, we were jamming together until the wee hours of the morning….. getting a little sleep…. and then back singing the next morning.
Good work and great fun for all of us.
Contributed by Jo-Anne Bacon
