Barbershopper of the Year

Karen McGeough was presented with the Barbershopper of the Year award

at our annual Installation dinner.  

Karen has been our treasurer for the past 2 years! 

Congratulations, Karen!

Celebrating 5 years of membership: Barb Withers, Allison Asselstine, Kirsti Bakker and Deb Coles

Celebrating 10 years of membership:  Stuart MacMartin

Maureen Bryer is presented with a lifetime membership with the Thousands Islanders Chorus!

Continental Crush consists of three Canadians; Claire McMartin (the Lead) who sings in North Metro Chorus) along with Stacy Hugman (Thousand Islanders chorus and Vocal Moxie ensemble) and Tracey Larder (Tenor, Director of A Cappella Sound SAI chorus in Montreal).  The fourth member is our Dutch gal, Anne-Miek de Nijs (Bass) who lives in Amsterdam.   

In November 2021 after their very first-time meeting in person, we felt the universe shift!   There was an instant and magical bond or connection.   We inexplicably felt like they’ve known each other for years.  Perhaps it is because we all have the same humour, age, height, love of travel and adventure? Maybe it’s because we have similar lifestyles and all have supportive husbands?  Who knows?  But we are enjoying this journey together!!

CC gets together 3 or 4 times a year (sharing Anne-Miek’s flight costs) and when we cannot be together “live”, we use Zoom and a private Facebook page (simultaneously).   To date, the quartet has met in person at Harmony Ranch (North of Toronto), Ireland for the Irish Association Barbershop contest, up north in the Quebec Laurentians, New Orleans (for Harmony University 2022), at Spring and Fall SAI and Harmony, Inc. contests, and Sint Maarten last October, for our  2^nd week-long coaching session, with coach Theresa Weatherbee.    

To make use of our time wisely, we are never without a 5^th ear/coach.  So far, we have had the privilege of being coached by Jan-Ake Westin, Richard Frenette, Joe Connelly, Patrick Brown and of course our regular coach, Theresa Weatherbee. (At Harmony University we were honoured with Tim Waurick and Alan Hughes)

Although it’s difficult to perform “locally”, our goal is to entertain whenever and wherever possible, as well as compete annually with Harmony, Inc.

The only minor difficulty this quartet seems to face, is the 3500+miles (5600+ km) that separate them… well and shopping for costumes! 😉