The conductor of the Sea to Sky Singers, Veronica McPhee, asks the choir to imagine living in a time before cars were invented, when horses pulled buggies along snow-covered streets.
She wants the choir members to connect with the song; to feel the emotions of the original singers.
“Sing it with joy. Show your excitement,” she says, lifting her hands quickly up and down to signal the beat.
“Jing-jing jing-a-ling. Jing-jing jing-a-ling,” the choir’s two dozen men and women recite back as they form a circle around the pews at St. John the Divine Anglican Church. They were busy putting the final touches on a seasonal concert.
“When we all get together, we can tap into the emotion of a song,” says McPhee. “We all feel the same thing at once. The intent is shared.”
It’s this unity that McPhee says is one of the most valuable parts of being in a choir. Even though members don’t get much time to get to know each other personally like they would at a book club or craft class, they are still a tight-knit group.
“It’s similar to meditation, but the connectedness goes a step beyond,” she says. “We breathe communally while we sing. We are very united.”
Joining the choir is a perfect New Year’s resolution because of its emotional and health benefits, says McPhee.
An Oxford University study published in October confirms her thoughts. According to the research, a lack of communal singing leads many people – especially those in larger cities – to feel lonely and socially isolated, while being in a choir triggers “happy” hormones like oxytocin and lowers blood pressure.
In fact, the Sea to Sky Singers’ tagline is “Music: the other non-addictive mood altering non-substance. Ask your doctor if music is right for you.”
“You can put aside whatever happened during the day by being connected to the music,” says McPhee, who has been the Sea to Sky Singers’ conductor and artistic director for 13 years. “You’ll feel energized, even after a hard day.”
McPhee, who also teaches music classes at Myrtle Philip Community School in Whistler, says the members of the non-denominational choir are like an extended family. “It’s an opportunity for people with a wide variety of backgrounds to come together for a shared purpose and a common goal. We come together with different ages, experiences and cultures.”
There have been around 240 members since the choir’s inception in 1994. Six people have stayed with the group the entire time.
“Everyone cares about each other. We are here for each other,” says McPhee, mentioning a time when one member, after being pregnant through recitals, announced the birth of her baby, and the excitement was “heartwarming.”
While the fall term focuses on Christmas and tends to have more traditional music, the upcoming springtime includes more contemporary tunes.
Anyone considering joining can attend a few rehearsals before making a decision. Email [email protected] for more information.
