An Afternoon at the Symphony ...

December 4, 2016

Oma and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon ... at the Symphony of the Kootenays ...

Opening up the show with a 4 concert stroll ...

thru Vivaldi's iconic Four Seasons ... these were lovely ... movie pieces ...

Then next on the program was ...

"Stealing Back the Holidays" with Allison Girvan of Nelson ... presenting the season's best Christmas songs ... which were arranged for a vocal soloists and Symphony Orchestra ...

After the intermission ...celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Christmas television debut ...

of Dr.Seuss" classic "How The Grinch Stole Christmas" ...

featuring the Selkirk Secondary School's Who-ville choir ... as the story was narrated by Michael Jones of Kimberely ...

This was a beautiful beginning to our Christmas season ... now Let it Snow ... !!!

 

The snow had begun to fall ... when we left the theatre ...

It was an interesting drive home ... very ... s l o w ...

Compact ... slippery ... deep snow ... blizzard conditions ...

It was difficult to find our road to turn off on ...

but

both Mike and I made it home safely ... as we were driving 2 vehicles ...

At the rate it was falling ... we're sure to have a good 8-10 inches of snow ...

before it would stop ...

 

 

 

Ella's Concert ...

May 9, 2016

The timing was perfect to head to Alberta ... to pick up a few things ...

and take in an evening of song at Ella's Spring Choir Concert ...

She has a beautiful voice ... Hope she continues to sing ...

After the concert ...

we went out for dinner at a new restaurant in Okotokes ...

Bradley's Grill House ...

The food and atmosphere were fabulous ...

we will go back when we head that way again ...

 

 

Choir Potluck ...

April 25, 2016

This was our last get together of the Bisset singers ...

for this season ...

We hosted the BBQ this year ... hoping the weather was going to co-operate ...

well ... it did until it was time to cook ...

Mike stood under the eaves to cook up the burgers and fresh Trout ...

all the rest of us moved indoors ...

There was so much food on the island and hot dishes on the stove ...

We had a great time together ...

visiting and breaking into a song through out the evening ... !!!

 

In The Paper ...

This was the article written in the Golden Star newspaper ...

prior to our concert ...

For easier reading ... I have copied the text ...

Joel Tansey

reporter@thegoldenstar.net "The Cranbrook based Bisset Singers formed with a handful of singing hopefuls and one voice teacher with an extensive performance history. “They came to me in a group and said...’we’re all afraid to sing by ourselves, so would you teach a vocal class’, so that was the beginning ,” Bisset said. He taught them for two or three years, and the group began to grow and evolve. “We began with easier music to sing...now we do a whole variety of music and we do a lot of stuff that's very challenging,” he said. “I’m really pleased to see how they've done.” The group’s members have changed over the years as folks have come and gone, but their director has remained a constant. The ensemble is just a small part of what Bisset does, as he spends much of his time teaching voice classes around the Kootenays in Cranbrook, Invermere and Creston, travelling in excess of 400 kilo-metres on a given week. He’s also open to the idea of bringing his talents to Golden if he feels there is some local interest. “If there’s enough interest I have another day where I could come to another place,” Bisset said. Currently, the choir comprises members of all ages, from pre-teen sopranos to senior citizen baritones, making this a group with a truly diverse age range. Rather than pianoor other instrumental accompaniments,the Bisset Singers work off sound-tracks, performing a selection of songs that is every bit as diverse as the group itself, from James Bond Soundtracks to jazz numbers. The Singers will be performing in Golden on Feb. 27 at the Civic Centre. The show will begin at 7:00 p.m. and tickets will be sold at the door."

 

Our Concert in Golden ...

February 27, 2016

We arrived in Golden, BC ... for a two hour rehearsal for our concert ...

A few of us made our way to the Greek Restaurant ...

just down the road from the Civic Centre ...

for a break to relax and enjoy a delicious Greek dinner ...

Friends from Sarnia, Ontario ... moved out West around the same time we did ...

met us at the Civic Centre for the concert ...

The Bisset Singers had a great time ... performing for the audience ...

After the concert we headed back to Brenda and John's ...

enjoying an afterglow get together ...

with wine ... nachos and other snacks ...

Reminiscing about old times spent together during our time in Sarnia ...

Brenda was Mike's next door neighbour thru their childhood ...

until Mike moved away from home ... in 1972 ...

they have been friends for over 60 years ...

We were grateful to be able to spend the night with them ...

Tammy ... Barb ... and myself decided that we would supply breakfast ...

Barb making a "Wife Saver French Toasts" dish ...

Tammy cooking up sausages and I brought an assortment of fruit ...

Brenda also cooked up some scrambled eggs to add to the feast ...

We had a beautiful mountain view all around us ...

sitting at the table ...

enjoying our delicious breakfast ...

Once we had finished breakfast ... we packed up and headed for home ...

It was wonderful that Brenda was joining us for this trip ...

as she was going to travel to the coast ... to visit her daughter ...

getting a fight from the Cranbrook airport ...

 

Birthday Party for Chuck ...

January 17, 2016

It was nice to be home ...

we had our work cut out for us ...

I spent the day shovelling off the decks ...

and Mike was on the tractor all day ...

clearing the driveway and parking areas ...

 

January 18, 2016

It was an exciting day ... Chuck our choir director ...

was having a birthday ...

We ... The Bisset Singers ... surprised him after our practise with a small party ...

to celebrate his 75th Birthday ... !!!

We were hoping that all the choir members could have attended ...

but they had other commitments ...

it was a great evening anyway ...

Chuck was touched by our gift to him ...

 

 

Off To Sing ...

April 18, 2015

This was our big weekend for singing ...

in Yakima, Washington for the ...

International Choral Festival ...

We had a beautiful drive down to this unique city ...

We rehearsed in the exquisite "Green Room" ...

where many actors, singers, entertainers 

and bands have performed ...

  We were excited to be singing on the stage of the old ...

"Capital Theatre" 

In our seats ... waiting for the show to begin ...

American and Canadian Choirs ...

along with the guest group ...

the Yakima Nation Black Lodge Singers ...

they are a northern style family drumming group ...

that performs traditional Blackfeet ...

and contemporary-style pow wow music ...

They are an amazing family ...

and it was quite the experience ...

After our performance ...

we continued to enjoy the evening with a beautiful dinner ...

and entertainment by a few of the choir groups ...

plus breaking out in chorus  ...

to songs being played ... !!!

A few of us went for a quick bite t o eat before the show ...

we ended up going to "Mel's Diner" ...

a neat, fun place with car seats from old cars as benches ...

and good old hamburgers and more ...

Some of the scenery on our trip ...

stopping to take pictures of the Columbia River ...

Columbia River, a North American river flowing

into the Pacific Ocean.

It is one of the world's greatest sources of hydroelectric power.

From its source at Columbia Lake in

the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada,

the river flows 1,243 miles (2,000 km)

and empties into the Pacific near Astoria,

northwest of Portland, Oregon.

The Columbia forms about two-thirds

of the Washington-Oregon border.

Its chief tributaries include the Kootenay, Pend Oreille,

Spokane, Okanogan, Yakima, Snake, John Day,

 Deschutes, and Willamette.

We had a wonderful time ... !!!

Looking forward to next near ...

where it will be held in Trail, BC 

Another Surprise ...

December 2, 2012

It was choir night ... a small group today ... 

practising our songs for our upcoming concerts ...

when all of a sudden ...

the choir started singing Happy Birthday ... 

I was looking around to see who we were singing for ...

then realized it was to me ...

The group decided to surprise me as some of the members...

 were not able to make it out to the house...

I was so touched ... !!! 

Thank you to all and all your lovely birthday wishes ... !!!

ICF 2014 Choral Festival ...

April 12, 2014

The East Kootenay Schools Children's Choir 

at practise with Chuck Bisset the director for ICF 2014...

We were pleased to welcome so many students and teacher directors ...

who represented several schools ...

from our local communities including ...

Cranbrook, Invermere and Kimberley, BC 

At the performance the mass choir joined in with the children as they began singing ...

"Pie Jesu - Karl Jenkins"

along with a soloist Audrey Bisset 

The children then entertained us with three wonderful pieces ...

The Bisset Singers up on stage ...

singing our 3 pieces ...

O Magnum Mysterium - Morten Lauridsen

Sleep - Eric Whitacre, Charles Silvestri

and 

I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields, are Kirby Shaw

Each of the other choirs entertained us with their 3 pieces as well ...

Naramata Community Choir ... Camerata Club ... Leavenworth Village Voices ...

Wenatchee Valley Appleaires ... Wenatchee Apollo Club ...

and Trail Harmony Choir ...

At the end of our program ... all the choirs came up on stage ...

singing

Omnia Sol - Z. Randall Stroope

I Am In Need Of Music - David L. Brunner

and ended the Festival with 

This Little Light Of Mine - Traditional Spiritual, arr. Patti Drennan

We were delighted with both our performances ... we had a great time ... singing ... !!

The finale for our choirs ...

was a party at the Columbo Hall ...

with the band "Steel Wheels" playing ...

we were all energized and ready to kick up our heels ...

We had a light evening buffet ...

a raffle of some fantastic items ... that were donated ...

also a few prizes to be given away ...

the only way to receive one ... was for individuals or groups singing a song ...

The Wentachee Apollo group surprised us all  ....

they made their way up to the stage  ...

and sang a chorographed rendition of "Help Me Rhonda"

It was a wonderful day all the way around ...

we are already excited for the ICF 2015 ...

to be held in Yakima, WA

ICF 2014 Welcome Reception ...

 April 11, 2014

This was our itinerary to welcome our out of town choir members ...

A reception ...  with Wine and Beer tasting ...

a tour of the Museum ...

and

Historic Train Cars ... 

The Bisset Singers welcomed our guests ...

greeting them at the door ...

all of us being easily identified ... wearing our evening Music hats ...

to 

give them direction for registering and the evening activities ...

Live music was held in this beautiful hall ...

at times throughout the evening ...

a few members were kicking up there heels ...

square dancing ...

others sat back and enjoyed the music ... 

some waiting to have their turn on the railcar tours ...

It was a great evening ... all were excited for the next days activities ...

for the

ICF 2014 Choral Festival ...

Counting Down the Days ...

A few more days until our Festival ...

the choir is so excited to host this event ...

all the preparations are near completion ...

The other five choirs will be arriving on Friday ...

 then ...

the fun will begin ... !!!

A Wonderful Event ...

Bisset Singers bring choral festival to Cranbrook

By Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Cranbrook will play host to a gathering of seven choirs from western Canada and the United States in April.  The International Choral Festival will be held in Cranbrook at the Alliance Church on Saturday, April 12.  Cranbrook's Bisset Singers, who have been members of the festival for six years, were invited to host the festival in 2014.

"Each year, a choir that is a member hosts. In the concert, each choir does a set of three pieces,"explained Chuck Bisset, vocal coach and founder of the local choir.The Bisset Singers are rehearsing Eric Whitacre's "Sleep", a performance of "O Magnum Mysterium" and a unique version of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love".  

The local choir will be joined by choirs from throughout B.C. and Washington: the Appleaires women's choir and Apollo Club men's choir from Wenatchee, Washington;  the Washington Camerata Club from Yakima,
Washington; the Washington Village Voices from Leavenworth, Washington; the Naramata Community Choir from Naramata, B.C. and the Trail Harmony Choir.  

"The great crescendo is the last three pieces which are performed by the mass choir," said Bisset Choir member Jim Abbott said that when the 380-odd voices of the combined choirs come together, it's a special experience. "I didn't realize how much of a bucket list moment it would be for me to be a part of a mass choir. It's an emotional thing when you have all these voices around you."

As the event's hosts, the Bisset Singers were able to invite another choir to join the festival. They choose the Cranbrook Elementary Schools Mass Choir.  "At the Christmas event, Chuck said, 'Why couldn't we have them as our voices for it?'  So we approached the teachers and in all sincerity said, 'We would like to give the elementary school students an opportunity not only to perform in front of a big audience, but also to be part of a mass choir,'" said Abbott.

The school choir will perform three songs, and then join with the entire choral festival for one piece: a majestic Pie Jesu.  "That is the core showpiece of our performance," said Abbott. The Bisset Singers, which has about 30 members, came together as a choir 14 years ago. "We started off as a group voice lesson. I started the choir so people could learn to sing," said Bisset.  Abbott added: "Bisset Singers is virtually an extension of Chuck's teaching. It gives Chuck's students a chance to take part in performance."  Bisset said that the participation of the school students has caused a buzz in Cranbrook.  "The thing that really excites me is how Cranbrook as a city seems to be really getting excited and embracing it. You have all these parents of the kids taking time out on a Saturday to get their kids to rehearsals."

The festival weekend will kick off on Friday, April 11 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a welcoming reception at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel. The public is invited to the reception, which will feature wine tasting from Wynnwood Cellars, beer tasting from Fisher Peak Brewing Company, and tours of the rail cars.

The festival will feature two performances on Saturday, April 12 at the Cranbrook Alliance Church, a matinee at 2:30 p.m. And an evening performance at 7 p.m.

I am so excited to be part of and singing with this wonderful choir ...  !!!

 the Bisset Singers since 1996.

A New Treat for the Party …

My dear friend Dagmar …
shared this recipe with me …
I saw the finished Cranberry & Mincemeat Tart … that she had baked …
looked delicious and we felt it would be a great dessert …
 to take to my potluck Choir gathering …

All ingredients were mixed together …
Whole Cranberry Sauce … mincement … orange zest … and Grand Marnier …
then spread onto Phyllo Puff Pastry dough …

I decided to prepare it ahead of time …
took it to town and baked it moms place …
before I went to the party …

We had a lovely array of fine foods …
Enjoying the festivities amongst friends …
telling stories … laughing … and most of all …
gathering together and singing …
Christmas Carols …
It was a wonderful evening … our last get together until next year … !!!