Singers, good or bad, can find themselves among new friends at Cochrane's newest singing group.
Cool Choir, brought to Alberta from the UK by founder Jamie Serafi, presents local adults an opportunity to sing their heart out in a place as welcoming as their own vehicle — no auditions necessary.
That's how Cochrane director Lee Ann Davis DeCoteau puts it.
"Think of it as more of a musical social get together," she said. "Anybody and everybody who just wants to sing — no experience needed.
DeCoteau said the opportunity to sing has been taken away from so many people through harsh critiques and feedback from friends and family.
"When we sing, we feel good. It's the most natural thing a human can do," she said.
DeCoteau owned O'Canada Soapworks in Canmore for more than 20 years before she sold it in 2019. There, she has been and continues to be involved in the music and choir community.
"My aspirations and dreams in retirement are to focus on music," she said. "I thought this was a great opportunity."
After meeting Serafi through a Facebook group, DeCoteau put her feelers out in the community she's been calling home since 2020 to see if there was any interest.
The answer was a resounding yes.
"Everyone has been pretty sad being locked away," she said, noting the response she got was encouraging — this could work here.
Next, she had to find a location.
"Finding a location has always been challenging," she said. "I'm still exploring Cochrane, but like Canmore, Cochrane is lacking in venue spaces for the arts."
She said user groups in the arts then become reliant on churches.
"And of course, churches were the first to lock down and the last to re-open."
St. Andrews United Church, she said, was open, friendly and willing to rent the space to a choir group.
With around 50 people already signed up, the group is meeting for the first time this Monday at 7 p.m.
"My job is to get people to learn the music as close as they can," DeCoteau said.
The group will learn to sing to some of their favourite song — old or new — arranged in three-part harmonies and set to a backing track.
"It's a great opportunity and exercise to use their ears and their brains. Music is so good for so many reasons but the older we get, the more important it becomes," she said. "It helps us emotionally, physically — we start getting our breath back, it's good for lungs, good for mental health and it's great for people who don't know how to meet people."
COVID-19 safety protocols are in place for the new choir and the group and church are adhering to the Restrictions Exemption Program.
Those interested in learning more or joining up can visit coolchoir.com.
