Join the Back Pew Boys and Octavia Choir in raising their voices and raising some funds
This year, to make the holiday season a little more jolly, the men’s choir, the Back Pew Boys, and the women’s choir, Octavia Choir, are teaming up for a good cause. On Dec. 14, the groups will host a joint holiday performance where proceeds will go to Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.
“We’re each going to be doing individual songs, then Christmas songs, and then we’re going to do some together, and we’re going to do some sing-alongs with the audience,” said Sheila Kaltenberger, co-chair of Octavia Choir.
The plan is to do a fairly traditional Christmas concert, but residents will get a two-for-one, being able to see both choirs in one place.
The concert itself will take place on Sunday, Dec. 14, at Good Shepeard Lutheran Church in Selkirk. Though the event is taking place at the church, you don’t have to be a member to attend. This event is open to a in the community.
“There will be something for everybody. We also made it in the afternoon so that people didn’t have to worry about driving at night,” said Sheila.
This is the first time that the groups have teamed up for a public concert, but not the first time that the groups have sung together. In past years, they have gone to places like Woodland Courts to sing together for our local seniors.
The idea is a newer one, but the music will combine new and old, from traditional to ones neither group has performed before.
“Ishbel (Moore, the Back Pew Boy’s director) has picked quite a few songs for us to do that are not normal Christmas songs that you necessarily would hear. It’s different music than people normally do. We’ve been practicing three or four different songs,” said Sheila’s husband and President of the Back Pew Boys, Brian Kaltenberger.
“We wanted to do (a concert) closer to Christmas with our Christmas music, and we also wanted to do some good in the community. Both groups had chosen the soup kitchen. It is a charity of choice for Brian and I. We both like to support them, and just to be able to do some good at Christmas time,” said Sheila.
She explained that the Soup Kitchen is not just a place where people in our community can grab a hot meal. It also serves as a venue where people who may not have community connections elsewhere can come together and socialize with volunteers and others using the soup kitchen. This is an often overlooked but very important part of endeavours like Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.
Sheila said that with her previous volunteer experience, she knows how important these financial donations are and how much hard work the soup kitchen volunteers put into what they do.
Tickets to this concert will be $15, and this is a great time of year to make a financial donation to local Christmas Hampers, the Soup Kitchen or the Food Bank, as many people enjoy giving at this time of year, and these organizations can keep the financial donations in reserve for the months of the year when they get fewer non-perishable food donations. Every little bit helps to bridge the gaps.
“We expect it to be a sellout. We hope to raise over $3,000 and be able to sing our songs and have people enjoy,” said Sheila.
And for those in the know, yes, the Back Pew Boys will be performing Are You My Sunshine. Even at this performance with Octavia, the tradition will continue.
If you can, it’s suggested that you grab your ticket early. Tickets for this concert will be available at the door or from choir members. If you have any questions about the concert, you can email octavialadieschoir@gmail.com.
Brian encouraged residents to grab a ticket and enjoy the show.
“I think it’s going to be a great experience for anybody who wants to come out. And even if you just have a little bit of interest, I think you will have a great time. And in the meantime, you’re also going to make a lot of other people happy in the community through your giving,” he said
Sheila agreed.
“I’d like to think that the people who come to the concert will go away with some Christmas spirit and Christmas music, and hopefully spread some good cheer,” she said.
