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Forever Young chorus takes the stage this weekend

The Forever Young Chorus at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, under the direction of Janice Taylor is proud to present their annual spring concert.
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The men of the Forever Young Choir. For Senior's Scene column celebrating the choir and their concert on April 12, 13 and 14. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

The Forever Young Chorus at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, under the direction of Janice Taylor is proud to present their annual spring concert. This year's theme, Folk Songs Your Heart Remembers will feature folk songs both old and new from North America as well as from across the pond.

The Forever Young Chorus, originally known as the Rainbow Singers, was formed in 1992 when a group of eight ladies, with Elaine Clark as the accompanist and Janice Taylor as the director, started rehearsing at the Elder Citizens Recreations Centre and from there the group went out into the community to entertain other seniors.

Since that time, the choir has grown to more than 40 voices including 14 men. Janice Taylor is still the director, Alexis Maikapar is the assistant director and the highly talented Vic Steblin is the accompanist.

The Forever Young Chorus is a totally volunteer seniors' choir and the group regularly presents a weekend of concerts each spring, a special concert during the Christmas holiday season and as well the group takes their show to shut-in seniors at many of the senior residences in Prince George.

New members are welcome to join in the months of September and January.

The Forever Young Chorus director Janice Taylor said, "This springs concert will feature the voices of our talented men in a couple of fun numbers as well as solos, trios and our entire chorus to showcase all of our talented singers. The featured guest performers for this show are the P.G. Ukes. The P. G. Ukes are a lively group of Ukulele playing seniors sure to be a fun addition to our program."

The members of the Forever Young Chorus and the P.G. Ukes are all seniors, volunteers and members of the Elder Citizens Recreation Association. Most of these men and women have no prior professional music experience, some have performed at an amateur level and some have no experience whatsoever. There is joy in singing and anyone can do it. In fact, when they first join, the entertaining on stage takes many of these seniors out of their comfort zone.

It is not long until you can hear comments like, "It's great to experience something outside of what we usually think of as aging and the songs cause us to learn new things."

Janice summed it all up and said, "Going out into our community to make people smile and our public performance is what it is all about. Many members have said that they have always loved singing and they just sang for fun, but with the choir, they get the chance to be taught to sing even better.

"I know we are all older but we don't feel old inside. It is wonderful watching them sing because you can see in their faces and bodies how life affirming it is. We have a lovely choir family. Over the years the choir has lost members through sickness and sadly some have passed on but we always remember to honor them."

The Forever Young Chorus strives to present a positive image of aging through their music and they are living proof that age is no barrier to making great music. Lino and I are both members of the Forever Young Chorus. We love what we sing and we intend to joyfully pass our time instead of passing before our time. May you stay Forever Young.

The Forever Young Chorus at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, under the direction of Janice Taylor is proud to present Folk Songs Your Heart Remembers this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is $10 - tickets are now on sale at the ECRA office and will also be available at the door. The address is 1692 Tenth Ave. (between Vancouver and Winnipeg Street).

ECRA is a registered non-profit organization. Everyone is welcome to attend and members in particular are urged to attend one of the three shows because all proceeds go toward centre operations.

ECRA will be holding its annual giant garage sale on Saturday, May 18, under the direction of the ECRA line dancers. The garage sale includes a book, craft and bake sale. Donations to the garage sale are now being gratefully accepted with proceeds going to centre operations. Please no large appliances, computer equipment or furniture. If you have any questions please contact Lisa at 250-561- 9381.

April birthdays that I know about: Donna Bosnich, Joan Lemky, Lorna Dittmar, Don Vaale, Peter Da'Silva, Ralph Schemenauer, Bruce Hawkenson, Patrick Stapleton, Fern Roberts, Judith Elmquist, Lois Boone, Ken Stahl, Lillie (Khin Sein) Sein, Laurie Rustad, Barb Endean, Patsy Patterson, Joan Millns, Gertrude Lansing, Diane Duperron, Lothar Hirt, Charlie Burkitt, Joyce Burkitt, Shirley Green, Terry Carter, Marion Watt, Shirley Gratton, Hilliard Clare, Daphne Truefitt, Pearl Blood, Allen Soltis, Sharon Hurd, Alexis Maikapar, Stan Cook, Joyce Grantham, Avril Barr, Sandy Maikapar, Alice Friend, Sharon Talkington, Leona Nyberg, Betty Bekkering, Lynne Boomer, Lorna Cundy, Diane McDonald, Nola Stairs, Evette Bouchard, John Norman, Rosel Vogt, Virginia Parsons, James Barks, Rosemary Burns, Bill Chappel, Roderick Herd, Harold Hewlett, George Kivi, Ellen Laughery, Grace Spears, Maxine Valpy, Edwina Watt, Ken Yarocki, Art Carter, Cyndie Stephens, Ron Morgan, Iris Owen, Dianne Wanless, Darlene Wainwright, Jim Menard and last but not least Dorothy Wood just turned 90.

April Anniversaries: 66 years for Joe and Sophie Chartrand, 61 years for August and Loretta Thibault, 58 years for Mike and Evie Padalec, 56 years for Greg and Alice Friend, 56 years for Joyce and Jim Sweeny, 56 years for Kenneth and Hedwig Toombs, 54 years for Hans and Roberta Johansen, 54 years for Cyril and Irene Fortin, 53 years for Derek and Ester Swanson, 52 years for Cornelius (Corny) and Christa Hughes, 52 years for Kevin and Pearl Blood, 52 years for Lorne and Irene Carbert, 51 years for Pat and Terry Brown, 65 years for Agner and Alice Olesen and three years for Mike and Helen Green.