Two choirs of Okotoks singers are set to perform this weekend.
The Foothills Philharmonic Men’s Chorus and Vocal Jazz are presenting Friends with Tunes on May 6 at the Okotoks Alliance Church.
“I’ve just tried to make everything kind of uplifting, for the Men's Chorus, because everything just kind of got going again and hopefully everybody leaves feeling good and enjoying the music,” said Heather Haaland, conductor for the two groups.
“The jazz group is going to be doing a bunch of war songs from the jazz era, we never got to sing them before so that’s what they’ll be performing.”
There are some other hits from the past couple decades on the sheets too.
"The guys’ last song, they’re singing Tim McGraw’s Humble and Kind; those words, I think, are just appropriate for everybody right now,” Haaland said. “The ladies are doing the Pentatonix version of Imagine.”
Rounding out the concert, everyone will come together for Glen Campbell’s Try a Little Kindness.
Joining the choirs are special guest performers Cadence Creek with a set list of country, bluegrass and folk.
As much as gathering was difficult for the singers during and after the pandemic, Haaland isn’t taking it for granted and makes the most of it.
“It’s awesome, as much as there’s been stress getting it together, those two hours, we all come out of there feeling better,” she said. “It’s a well-known fact that singing and making music together just makes people feel better."
As such, the group finds as much value supporting each other as it does for making good music.
“Sometimes we talk, and we cry, and then we sing some more,” Haaland said. “It’s just been really good for them, everybody involved.”
With an aging chorus and members moving away, the choirs are always happy to welcome new members.
“We need more guys – tenors in particular,” Haaland said. “It doesn’t matter what age you are – the men's choir, it’s hard to get young guys out.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do for a living when you’re making music – if a song makes you cry, that’s good too.”
The show starts at 7 p.m. For tickets and information visit foothillsphilharmonic.com/concerts.
