County Town Singers

Canadian choral group

The County Town Singers are a Canadian choral group based in Whitby, Ontario. The choir has performed hundreds of concerts in southern Ontario, and has also performed across Canada and internationally,

## History

[edit]

The County Town Singers were founded in 1967 as a project to mark Canada's 100th birthday.[1][2] The next year, Marg Weber became the group's pianist.[3] An early director was Jim Ashley.[3]

In 1972, the choir recorded an album, County Town Singers, Sing for People.[4]

In 1980 Russell Baird became the director of the choir.[5][6]

The choir performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[7] In 1991 they traveled to Austria to perform in Whitby's twinned town, Feldkirch.[8]

In 2012 the County Town Singers participated in the Rhythms of One World Festival sponsored by the United Nations and performed there with other choirs from around the world.[9]

The choir celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017 by performing in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre with other Canadian choirs and the orchestra.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "County Town choir marks 30th". Toronto Star \- Toronto, Ont. By Cindy Macdonald May 1, 1997 Page: OS.4
2. ^ a b "Half a century of music". The Oshawa Express, May 12, 2017.
3. ^ a b Winter, Brian. "Marg Webber - 'Music is my whole life' says Singers'pianist". Whitby Free Press, 25 May 1977, p. 8,9
4. ^ "County Town Singers, Sing for People". Whitby Free Press, August 3, 1972. page 15.
5. ^ "Singers get new piano". Whitby Free Press, 10 Mar 1982, p. 6
6. ^ "Timeline: 1980-1989". Port Perry/Scugog Heritage Gallery.
7. ^ "County Town Singers celebrate at Expo". Oshawa Whitby This Week, 25 Jan 1986, p. 19
8. ^ "Whitby twins with Feldkirch, Austria". Whitby Free Press, 11 Sep 1991, p. 3
9. ^ "Nations United in Song'". New York Times, Vivien Schweitzer, June 29, 2010.