MANITOULIN—Singing together has been an Island tradition for many years. Interestingly, a recent study by Choral Canada of 2,000 random people found that more Canadians are singing in some sort of organized group than are playing hockey. On Manitoulin this has taken several forms, such as the adult choirs that have been a part of our local history. Once such choir, The Island Singers, is celebrating a big milestone this year, with 60 years of singing together.
“The Island Singers was founded in 1964 as the Little Current Glee Club by Ruth Ashley who directed and accompanied the singers,” said Chris Theijsmeijer. “The Glee Club performed skits and musical selections to Manitoulin audiences.”
“Mother would be thrilled that the group is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year,” said Mary Nelder, daughter of Ruth Ashley.
“Shortly after Manitoulin Secondary School opened in 1969, practices moved there to become more central, and the club rebranded to the Manitoulin Glee Club to reflect their more central location,” said Mr. Theijsmeijer.
Ruth Ashley led the choir until her retirement in 1980, when Marilyn Burns, Jan Luff, Marion Seabrook, Marilyn Closs and Joanne Smith took over, said Mr. Theijsmeijer. “In the next three years, three musicals were performed by the club: ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’ ‘Brigadoon’ and ‘The Music Man.’ After this, the club returned to choral music, with the four leaders taking turns conducting.”
“I was with the Little Current Glee Club,” said Barb Cranston, of Little Current. “It morphed into The Island Singers.”
Ms. Cranston explained she had taught school in Sudbury, returning to Little Current in 1965. She attended one of the Little Current Glee Club concerts that year and thought, ‘I would love to be involved in it.’ “I was involved for a long time as a singer.”
“Another person who joined included Gertrude Aelick, of Little Current,” said Ms. Cranston. “There are not many of us left.”
“Ruth (Ashley) was the founder, director, conductor, you name it,” said Ms. Cranston. “And she led three choirs that played at the United Church in Little Current. She was a very talented lady, and she directed skits as well.”
“Dorothy Anstice took on conducting in 1987 and formalized the club as a choir with Holly Scott joining as accompanist in 1990. In the spring of 1991, a guest conductor from Queen’s University visited the group and suggested a name change. Dorothy instituted the current name, ‘The Island Singers’ that year,” continued Mr. Theijsmeijer. “Under the direction of Ms. Anstice, the choir performed several major works, including Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria,’ Mozart’s ‘Missa Brevis’ and Brahm’s ‘Zigeunerlieder.’ They hosted several guest conductors and choirs who joined their voices in combined choral concerts.”
Chris and Heather Theijsmeijer joined The Island Singers as choristers in the spring of 2009, and when Dorothy Anstice and Holly Scott retired in 2015, there was one season of singing with three conductors (Chris, Ann-Marie and Ray Scott) each taking on one-third of the directing for the Christmas concert, with Ray Scott and Sam Cooper accompanying. From spring 2015 to the current season Chris Theijsmeijer has been the musical director, with Heather Theijsmeijer administrating. Accompanists have been Ray Scott, Arik Theijsmeijer, Sam Cooper, Linda Wilton and Mike McCormick.
“Heather and I moved here in 2006 and heard about The Island Singers,” said Mr. Theijsmeijer, who is The Island Singers conductor. “We saw a poster advertising a concert at Mindemoya church with Dorothy as the conductor. We attended, enjoyed it and wanted to join as well.”
“Heather and I had sung in choirs before and we were both looking for a place to sing,” said Mr. Theijsmeijer.
“Mom had a junior glee club,” Ms. Nelder recalled. “I had to be at all her glee club get-togethers and attendance was mandatory,” she quipped. “Mom was a composer, conductor—she did everything involving music. She loved it. Saturday nights were always music nights when she was growing up.”
All of Ms. Ashley’s children, “had to take piano lessons. My brother talked my mom into letting him play the trumpet. She ended up teaching him how to play. She taught music for public school choirs; she must have had five or six glee clubs over the years. I know she had a senior and junior choir at the Little Current United Church, an Island-wide club and a junior Island-wide choir. And she taught music in public school for a number of years. There was also an Island church choir.”
“My mom’s grandfather, John Waterhouse, was a professor of music in England and (he and his wife Catherine) settled in Kagawong. He had hired some guys to bring his grand piano over the ice from Thessalon,” explained Ms. Nelder.
“My great grandparents moved to Kagawong and built a log cabin,” continued Ms. Nelder. “They had their grand piano brought over (from England) and from Thessalon across the ice to the homestead in Kagawong. However, when they got the piano here, they were not able to get it into the cabin. He had to cut a hole at the end of the cabin to get it in, and they built the room around the piano. Their daughter, Mary Ellen, slept on the piano.”
“When Mary Ellen grew up, she married Walter John Wiber and they lived in another location in Kagawong,” said Ms. Nelder. “She taught all the kids in Kagawong the piano. And on Saturdays she allowed the local teens to dance while she played piano.”
“My mother (whose family name was Farquhar and she was the only daughter of the late Senator Tom Farquhar) came from a long line of musical people, so she came by it naturally,” said Ms. Nelder. “When she was younger, she had a soprano voice. But she developed a goiter from her throat to her neck and had to have surgery done to remove it. The surgery was performed by old Dr. McQuay. She was very upset afterward because for quite a while she couldn’t raise her head. By then she had an alto voice. She could sure carry a tune. No, dad had a terrible voice, but it never stopped him from singing.”
“This year marks 60 years that The Island Singers have shared their musical talent with Manitoulin audiences. We are excited to celebrate this milestone with special nods to past members and conductors! In preparation for a special upcoming concert, The Island Singers have been reaching out to as many former choristers as we can find. If you were involved with the choir at any point over the last 60 years but haven’t heard from us, we’re looking for you!” stated Mr. Theijsmeijer. “Please call Kirsten (Nelson) at 705-377-4841 or email islandsingers1@gmail.com so we can be back in touch and let you know the fun things we’re planning in this big year. The choir is also looking for pictures or scans of old programs, posters, ticket stubs and any other memorabilia relating to the choir.”
“We are planning for a 60th anniversary concert on April 20 at MSS and we are trying to reach out to all alumni,” said Mr. Theijsmeijer. He said it is hoped that alumni will come back to take part in the celebration and take part in a couple of songs being performed. “We are trying to have 60 singers for the concert. We have at least 10 former singers who are taking part in at least three songs and we are hoping to have at least 60 singers. The plan is to bring everyone together to celebrate with a combined choir concert at Manitoulin Secondary School on April 20. More details will follow,” added Mr. Theijsmeijer.
