Retired teachers still singing out

WINNIPEG

A choir comprised of former educators has been making the grade with audiences for the last two years — and now it’s tuning up for a spring concert.

The concert will be held at St. Andrews River Heights United Church (255 Oak St.) on Tuesday April 21 at 7 p.m. and will double as a fundraiser for CancerCare Manitoba and Harvest Manitoba. Admission to the concert will be by donation at the door.

The origins of the choir, which has grown to more than 50 members since early 2024, date back to a notice in the Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba’s newsletter, asking if any members were interested in starting a group. A pilot program was tested between February and April that year, and the budding choral group performed a concert for family and friends, said choir director Bill Quinn.

One thing led to another, and with the support of the association and executive director Melissa Sitter, the choir has gone from strength to strength, added a leadership team, and become a permanent fixture of the local calendar.

“We have a real variety of choir members, ranging from campfire singers to music teachers,” said Quinn, a former music educator with Louis Riel School Division who lives in River Heights. He’s also involved with the involved with the Winnipeg Nurses Choir and the Very Groovy Things band.

“We perform a variety of stuff, including the Beatles, Route 66, fluff jazz — and now we’re up to 50 members, we can do three parts consistently.” The group also does a Sound of Music medley, and a version of the Beatles’ When I’m 64 with the chorus lyrics slightly changed to reflect an escalating age as the classic song is performed.

Quinn said the RTAM choir is now more vocally balanced because more men have joined and more tenor roles can be filled.

“We initially only had four guys,” he said. However, the dynamics of the group are still fluid, as several members leave the city for warmer climes in the winter.

“It’s such a fun group,” Quinn said, noting musical heavyweights Derek Morphy and Steve Denby also make appearances at the choir’s concerts.

“If I showed up and didn’t say anything, they’d just chat,” he said, emphasizing the camaraderie and social connection of the group.

Choir member Arlene Kraljevic, who sings alto, said she has a great time getting together with the group, which consists of eight former music teachers and past educators spanning elementary, junior high and high schools.

“It’s so much fun,” said Kraljevic, a former teacher at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate and Tec-Voc High School (where she was also vice-principal). “It’s a wonderful community of people who enjoy singing, and we all have a connection and a shared experience.”

Kraljevic, a Charleswood resident, said the choir also performs at seniors’ residences and health-care facilities: “These audiences are so appreciative, and we receive nice warm responses and kind comments afterwards. It makes their day and makes us feel good.”

She added that Quinn’s leadership has had a galvanizing effect.

“We’re really fortunate to have Bill. The success of the choir has been largely because of his desire to bring people together,” Kraljevic said.

Melissa Sitter, RTAM’s executive director, said one of the organization’s key goals is to support the connection of its members with the community. The choir really helps achieve that end, as all its singers must be RTAM members.

“We’re really pleased to support the choir, and we’re really pleased to support retired teachers,” Sitter said. “We’re hoping to see a large crowd at the event … and plenty more in years to come.”