My name is Adrienne McLean. I became a member of Canadian Showtime Chorus in November of 2022 and I have been invited to share my experience with their New Member Program.
I retired shortly before the pandemic began and was hoping to become involved in a singing group once restrictions started to ease. A family member found CSC through a Google search and sent me the link to their website. I took one look at everyone’s smiling face and sparkly costume and I was hooked!
The pandemic was still causing havoc at the start of 2022 and preventing us from gathering so we started the year off on Zoom. TNL (Tuesday Night Live) rehearsals continued until March 1 and we even celebrated our Charter Anniversary with members, alumni and special guests on Zoom. It was a terrific trip down memory lane!
The beautiful thing about Sweet Adelines are the friendships you build along the way. There is a special connection you have with your chorus, and there are some lucky few who get to have two families as a dual member.
I joined Sweet Adelines at a very young age. I was only 16 when I became a member of Northumberland Chorus. I took a break from barbershop when I moved to Ottawa for university. I was in a rather tough place when I had to take a year off from school so I decided to get back into singing. That is when I found Bytown Beat.
This past July 24th- July 31st, I was able to attend Harmony University, put on by the Barbershop Harmony Society. It was in New Orleans at Loyola University and I couldn’t be more excited to have gone. After two years delay due to the pandemic, I couldn’t have been prepared for what lay in store for me when I arrived. At the airport, not only was I greeted by warm and enthusiastic staff, I was surrounded by like-minded individuals who shared common goals: learning more barbershop, and the love and dedication we have for this art form.
In November 1982, my friend invited me to her chorus rehearsal. After I heard the first chord of barbershop harmony, I loved it! This group was the prospective Nepean City Chapter of Sweet Adelines Inc. which was formed by Sandie Nason Kerr in January 1982. I became a member and my first performance on stage was in a chorus show called “Razzle Dazzle” in February 1983. I was so nervous that I thought the audience would see my lower lip trembling.
One of the most wonderful things about Sweet Adelines is the focus on personal improvement and growth – both as singers and individuals. In late July, two members of Canadian Showtime Chorus (CSC) packed our bags and braved the airports to attend SAI’s International Education Symposium in San Antonio, Texas. It was an exciting adventure and a tremendous learning experience for both of us!
You hear it often! Become a Sweet Adelines and you will never have to worry about being alone, out in the cold or in need of a place to sing – or a place to have Zoom meetings!!!
In early June, my husband and I were making our way across Canada in our RV and had plans to stay in Edmonton for 5 days as I had Zoom IBOD meetings to attend. We booked a site at an RV park but expected we’d have to pivot to a hotel if WIFI wasn’t reliable at the park!
I happened to mention this to a fellow Sweet Adeline during Zoom meeting and she suggested I come visit Alberta Heartland Chorus when in town! Because of IBOD meetings I said it was unlikely but that I would try!
No question – it has been a journey! But we are approaching our destination and we are positively giddy about it! We have been Zoomrehearsing for the past 15 months and we are finally at a stage where we can start planning for in person rehearsing – outdoors!
Who knew in March 2020 that COVID would raise havoc for months - not only weeks? Who knew that Ottawa would become a hot spot for cases and would keep us apart until year end and beyond? Who knew Zoom would become second nature and a lifeline? Let me try to paint a picture of how Canadian Showtime Chorus (CSC) has not only survived but thrived!
CSC is big on acronyms -Tuesday night rehearsals are now referred to as TNL, short for Tuesday Night Live!
Canadian Showtime Chorus: Beyond the Notes
2020 derailed in March when a global pandemic was declared in light of the Coronavirus a.k.a. COVID-19. From gathering and travel restrictions to physical distancing, closures and gradual re-openings as advised by local health and government authorities, telecommuting and Zoom gatherings have become the new norm!
