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Orangeville Chorus invites ladies to sing the national anthem with them for International Plowing Match in September 

August 10, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield

The Sweet Adelines Orangeville Chorus will be singing the Canadian and American national anthems this year at the International Plowing Match on Sep. 19 in Bowling Green, and they are inviting other ladies who love to sing to join them. Although they held their auditions to join in the fun last Wednesday, there is still time to be part of the Plowing Match, during which the Orangeville Chorus performs at 3:30 p.m.

Joan Borden, President of the Chorus, was enthusiastic about welcoming newcomers to come and sing with the group, which now numbers 40 members.

“We are always happy to welcome new members who want to sing,” Ms. Borden told the Citizen, in a telephone interview last week.

The Chorus rehearses in Westminster United Church at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays. They are looking for women to contact and register with them as soon as possible to begin the five weeks of rehearsals to prepare for singing the anthems and the chorus’ performance at the 104th edition of the International Plowing Match and Rural Expo on Sep. 19.

This is the first time the Plowing Match will be held in Dufferin County, “transforming the farmers’ fields surrounding Bowling Green and Laurel into a tented city,” said the organization’s newsletter, announcing the plan late last year. 

Many thousands of people attend the five-day event, and it is with real excitement that the members of the Orangeville Chorus are looking forward to their own participation in it.

Their passion for getting involved in community events saw them singing at Celebrate Your Awesome’s Diversity Day in Dufferin County earlier this year, and Ms. Borden was clear to say they were proud to be part of that. Their goal is to be inclusive.

“Ever since Covid,” she said, “we’ve been sharing, getting together, and it is lovely to perform. We are asking people to come for five weeks of rehearsals, and there is still a chance to audition, which we hope women will contact us this week. After the Plowing Match, we would love people to continue to stay and sing with us.”

The Elysian Festival at the Alder Street Recreation Centre on Aug. 12 and 13 is the next event where the Orangeville Chorus sings on the 13th.

The Chorus was chartered in 1981, and they have enjoyed a number of adventures, including a trip to Paris, France, where they sang in that fabulous and historic city. They competed in Denver, Colorado. Truly invested in the community, they love to sing as often as possible at community events.

In addition to the joy and work of learning repertoire, singing and getting together every week is what they focus on. Even during Covid, they still sang their own parts and pasted together the recordings of each of them on Zoom to make a finished recording, much to everyone’s satisfaction.

“We are always happy for people to come to be part of the Chorus,” Ms. Borden remarked, adding, “We are inviting children next spring, boys and girls, from ages eight to 15 to join our Accapalusa. This is to teach the Barber Shop style of singing.”

She went on to say how quickly the children pick up the Acapella method of singing and “they love it.”

The Orangeville Chorus is also looking forward to presenting its Christmas Concert at Westminster Church in early December.

At this moment, they are offering the chance to sing with them at the Plowing Match and beyond. For those of you ladies who love to sing and want to register, please go right away to: registrar@osc.choirgenius.com

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