ERIN – When it comes to music Enid Acton may not the leader of the band, but rather one of many voices joined in harmony.
However, Acton was a key voice in the creation of the local group – and it has all happened within the past year.
“I guess it was my idea.”
Acton noted there was a documentary video about the Young at Heart Singers from the east coast of the USA.
The Young@Heart Chorus singers originated in 1982 in Northampton, MA.
The first group included elders who’d lived through both World Wars.
“My family gave me this, thinking it would be this funny thing – I didn’t actually find it funny because it was what a lot of seniors whose health was quite compromised.
“But it was so encouraging and so stimulating because they came to gather in a wonderful group.
“They were very supportive and did things they’d never done before.
Acton then pointed out that group did rock songs – and it went on tour.
Several of that group’s members passed away while they were on tour, and Acton said “They kept on going.”
One of the members even had to be on oxygen while touring.
“It was really an amazing story,” Acton said.
As a result, Acton talked to people she knew at what was called EWAG (East Wellington Advisory Group) “to see if I was really out to lunch wanting to start something like this here.”
EWAG suggested Acton proceed with the idea.
“The next hurdle, was finding a leader – somebody special – like Kim Pearson. You don’t find someone like that all that easily.”
She placed a notice in the Newspaper, “and I think I heard from Kim in the first week to 10 days. I was totally amazed.”
All this happened about a year ago last March, Acton said.
The next step was finding a pianist.
Pam White agreed to do it. At a recent performance in Hillsburgh, the group employed the talents of Bonnie Schotsch.
“We started out with about 15 people, and we now have about 22 core members.”
The group remains fairly open, she said. “We don’t have auditions.”
The initial concept of the group was for seniors, but Acton said there is a wide range of ages involved – “from the early 20s to whatever.”
She also members are not checked for attendance, though she keeps tabs on overall numbers in case they ever decide to apply for funding support.
“You come when you can or want to. The premise is you enjoy singing, and we get together to do it.”
“We’ve been having a very wonderful time, and we’ve turned into a cohesive group.”
She stressed the core group remains at about 22 members.
Some members had taken the summer off and an injury prevented Pearson from taking part for five months as well, until her recent return.
Her praise for Pearson was unrestrained.
“Kim is great because people can mention something was done on Broadway or how it was done somewhere else. She’s so flexible and she thinks harmony.”
“We don’t use music – we get words. We tried it with the music once, it didn’t work as well,” Acton said.
She added that some of the participants have done barbershop singing or sung with other groups.
Acton didn’t rule out using accompanying music in the future, but Acton said that Pearson is so good at directing sections of people within the group.
“And all of a sudden, we just sing. It’s amazing how it all comes together.”
A lot of people have found comfort and support for problems going on in their own lives.
And the singers are not just local. They come from a wide area, she said, citing communities such as Orangeville, Bolton, and the Hockley Valley area.
“And we have fairly diverse backgrounds as well.”
Acton stressed “It’s more than just the music, there’s the social aspect as well.
Coffee and cookies are served after the group’s Monday morning practices.
Singers meet weekly from September to June, but some took the summer off – either to head to the cottage or pursue summer interests.
“But the interesting part was that some members did not want to take the summer off so some of us have continued on.”
As to what participants think. “We enjoy one another,” Acton said. “They wouldn’t be coming if they didn’t.”
She said if people come and try it out and are accustomed to the structure of a church choir or that type of thing, “We’re not like that.”
She explained that the whole idea is a relaxed venue.
“Members are free to add their own unique bits and pieces to the performance.”
People will come and go if that is not what they enjoy, Acton said.
“But the group that we’ve got has been coming since the start, and they keep coming.”
While members typically are now going out on tour, she believed Pearson might have some plans for the future.
That said, the Erin Young at Heart Singers have performed at a few events such as a local fashion show, the recent Hillsburgh Fun Day, and at the seniors centre in Erin.
Singing at the seniors centre happens almost once a month or every six weeks.
“That is really rewarding when we go there.”
She noted one resident who was a good dancer when he was younger, getting up to the singing and dancing around the room.
She said the group is for anyone who enjoys singing.
“You don’t have to have a wonderful voice, that’s not what this is all about. You need to carry a tune – that’s about it.”
The primary thing is that a person enjoys music and singing.
Though there are plans to branch out into other types of music, Acton said the group tends to sing 50s, 60s, and 70s music.
“But it’s really about what the group wants. And it’s about harmony and songs we can harmonize to.”
She said it’s good to have a number of men participating as well.
“It makes a huge difference to the sound.”
The group is always looking for new members.
And like part of the group’s recent performance in Hillsburgh which included the song Happy Trails … it seems both group members and especially for those in the audience look forward “… till we meet again.”
For more information about the group call Enid Acton at 519-833-2869.
