Local Singer to Sing in Concert

submitted by Barb Bottriell

[dropcap]R[/dropcap]Ruth Chmara, who has lived in Richmond for the past 26 years, is set to sing in a Spring concert at 7:00 pm on April 27^th  featuring the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus and the Ottawa Police Chorus. The venue is St. Paul’s Anglican Church at 20 Young Road in Kanata.  Ruth teaches Chemistry, Physics and Math at Notre Dame Catholic High School in Carleton Place, but in her spare time, singing is one of her favourite things to do.  

“I’ve always loved to sing” she says. Ruth is active in St. Phillip parish. She started singing when she was about 10 years old in her church choir and then progressed  to choirs in both high school and at the University of Waterloo. She’s even gotten her husband Tom involved as he often takes pictures for the Chorus.

Ruth joined the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus in 2015 after attending the Choir’s Christmas concert, and being blown away by the sound and balance Director Robert Dueck achieved.   The West Ottawa Ladies chorus is an auditioned choir where you have to try out to be accepted into the choir and which attracts members from many areas in the west end of Ottawa including Carp, Munster, Stittsville, Nepean, Kanata and Fitzroy Harbour.  The Chorus offers three public concerts a year as well as singing at retirement residences and performing as guest artists at other concerts.

This year’s concert features a variety of folk music from Australia, the British Isles, Canada and the United States as well as one Czech-Slovak song.  The music is infectious and ranges from the beautiful Irish ballad “Carrick Fergus”, to the Australian favourite “Kookaburra” . Canadian folk songs have not been forgotten either with the lilting rhythms of “The Canadian Boat Song” and the rollicking “Black Fly” song.

Supplementing the West Ottawa Ladies Chorus concert will be their invited guests – the Ottawa Police Chorus.  The men and women in blue will appear in full uniform to sing some of their favourite songs.

The West Ottawa Ladies Chorus is a 40-voice choir with four and five voice parts.  Its Director, Robert Dueck, chooses a wide variety of music, suited to the season. Its accompanist is Peter Brown,  well-known jazz pianist based in Lanark. He’ll also be doing a solo at the concert.Tickets are $15 advance and $20 at the door and children under 12 are free.  Retail outlets are listed on the website and on-line ticket purchase is also available.  See website at www.westottawaladieschorus.ca for information and tickets.