The Greater Victoria Police Chorus, under the direction of Janet Rendell, will be singing at Knox United Church in Parksville on Sunday afternoon, April 8, at 2 p.m.
The 35-voice chorus, with three-piece band accompaniment, will perform a popular variety of well-known Canadian songs and some golden oldies ranging from old standards, blues, rock and roll, spirituals, patriotic folk songs, big band era, war time melodies and musicals to Canadian folk.
The chorus has been singing together for more than 34 years. Originally formed with serving members of police departments in the Greater Victoria region, the chorus has expanded to include members of other public safety groups, the military and civilians.
The chorus performs regularly in the Greater Victoria region, other Vancouver Island regions, the Okanagan and has toured in Europe, Alberta and the United States.
Their goal is to enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship of meeting and singing together and of providing entertainment to benefit local charities.
To date, the chorus has raised more that two million dollars in support of many charitable organizations. The chorus performs on April 8 to support Knox’s outreach initiatives.
Rendell, the chorus’ director, graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music with diplomas in music education and piano accompaniment. After teaching music in the Orkney Islands, she moved to Edmonton where she continued her musical studies at the University of Alberta and accompanied the Richard Eaton Singers.
After moving to Calgary, Rendell accompanied the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, conducted and accompanied the children’s choirs at Mount Royal University and taught music at Webber Academy.
Rendell moved with her family to White Rock, where she became the accompanist and assistant conductor of the White Rock Children’s Choirs, choral director at St. Mark’s Anglican Church and taught private piano lessons.
Rendell now calls Victoria home.
Tickets for this upcoming concert at Knox are $17 in advance or $20 at the door.
They are available at Knox United Church (345 Pym St., Parksville — 250-248-3927), the Parksville and Qualicum Beach Mulberry Bush Bookstores, and the Port Theatre Box Office, as well as its website at www.porttheatre.com/events.
For more information about the chorus visit: www.victoriapolicechorus.org.
— Submitted by Beth Brown