Come and listen to the dulcet tones produced by Cochrane’s community choir, Cochrane Sings, at their season opening concert on May 10.
The concert will take place at the Bow Valley Baptist Church with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $15, and free for anyone under 12-years-old. Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite or at the door.
Founder and director of Cochrane Sings, Lee Ann DeCoteau, explained that the group was formerly known as Cool Choir Cochrane. After Cool Choir pulled out of Cochrane last year, DeCoteau rebranded and organized the new group in town.
“We actually started off in the Labour Day Parade before we officially started singing together, and we won first place for Best Entertainment in at the parade in September,” DeCoteau said. “Then we started our season the following Monday, and so we’ve been rehearsing ever since, and now we’re winding up for our [current] season.”
This will be their first full season as Cochrane Sings, and DeCoteau adds that this concert will also host the Men of the Mountains Men’s Choir from Canmore.
DeCoteau said that the choir has around 70 members, and they have quickly been gaining traction in the community. Their explosive popularity caused them to relocate to a new venue to help accommodate bigger audiences.
“We’ve already sold over 300 tickets, so we’re expecting a nice full house,” DeCoteau said. “We couldn’t fit anymore [people] at the All-Saints Anglican Church, so we needed a bigger venue that the choir could comfortably hold.”
For those unable to attend the show on May 10, DeCoteau said locals will still be able to hear them sing at several events around Cochrane, including Canada Day festivities at Mitford Park, The Labour Day Parade, and the 75th anniversary for the Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre.
DeCoteau hopes locals come out to enjoy the many voice that can be heard at their concert, but also invites anyone who is interested in being part of Cochrane Sings to reach out and be part of their group.
“We all support each other, and it’s a really wonderful and safe environment,” she said. “I really want the community to know that we exist, and to get some of those folks who don’t know where to go or where to start. Our community choir is a perfect place to step into."
DeCoteau said she would like to give a special thanks to the All-Saints Anglican Church, the Bow Valley Baptist Church, and all the members and their families in helping bring this concert to the community.
For more information on Cochrane Sings, and where to purchase tickets to the concert online, please visit www.cochranesings.com.
