Choir receives OTF Grant

On Tuesday evening, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, Bill Walker, joined members of the Georgian Bay Concert Choir to share some wonderful news. This past June, the choir was awarded a two-year, $40,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to support an exciting new endeavor. Over the next two years, the funding will allow the choir to support male singers in Grey and Bruce counties to participate in and enjoy the experience of performing choral music. They will be able to employ two professional choral section leads, a strong tenor and bass or baritone, to provide ear training, music reading and vocal techniques training to current and new members.

Joining MPP Walker to present a plaque to choir president, Carol Holland, was OTF Grant Review Team member, Mike Myatt. Helping to hold the presentation cheque is choir past-president, Jackie Mersich, whose hard work led to the choir receiving the grant.

“Congratulations on receiving this grant to be able to provide training for men in the area to learn and participate in choral music. This educational training by professionals for potential singers in the choir will provide assistance and confidence to males in our area who have wanted to sing publicly but lacked the training to join.”

MPP Bill Walker – Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound

“As with many choirs in Ontario, most of the choristers are women although choral music requires a balance of male and female voices. Few men have been trained in choral music here and many potential choir members are therefore wary of joining, believing they do not have the music education or experience. We believe we need to seize this opportunity in order to meet the needs of the GBCC and are thrilled the Ontario Trillium Foundation has given us the support we needed.”

Georgian Bay Concert Choir