Stairwell Carollers 1st Virtual Choir Video! Take that Covid-19!

Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers, perform Laudemus cum armonia, an original composition by their director,  Pierre Massie. It's the first of what we expect to be a series of virtual choir video creations.

The chorale asks at this difficult time, if you can, to please make a donation to The Ottawa Food Bank. Thanks so much!

You can order this original sacred choral piece by Pierre Massie.
It is also on our Laudemus cum armonia Christmas carol CD 



Our CDs benefit charity, and are available in both CD and MP3 formats.

Video and Audio: individual choristers, Stairwell Carollers - both past and present members.

Video and Audio Editing: Pierre Massie

Future Perfect Conditional Facts about auditioning - FareWell Dear Love - YouTube

You May Have Been Going to be in The Stairwell Carollers If you were NOT to Have Been Going to Change your Mind about Auditioning!

If you don't understand that sentence, don't feel bad.

I have to admit I had to Google it.

So, despite this being hilarious to a word nerd like me, apparently English has no "Imperfect" thus, sadly, the grammar is flawed. Here is an exhaustive (and exhausting) post with an explanation.

In the meantime, You should email us to set up your audition! I'm sure you are either a man who is a bass or tenor, or a woman who is an alto.

(Sorry sopranos, maybe next audition round!)

Farewell, Dear Love, by Robert Jones, sung by the Stairwell Carollers...
Robert Jones was a Renaissance lutenist and composer.
Audio: Tom Barnes.  Recorded at St. Barnabas Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, June 2nd, 2018.
Videographers: Matthieu Brennan, Andrew Mason
Video Editing: Pierre Massie

Surprise! We are an Ottawa choir, with members from all over the Ottawa Region and Outaouais.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Sing For The Stairwell Carollers - TV Auditions Promo - Thx Rogers TV!

Ok, when I'm not being like baby Yoda or singing or trying to not eat, I'm on The Social Media.

And, for once, it was useful! 

I Facebooked and Tweeted out our Audition notice and Stan Newton, the producer of the show @daytimeottawa, emailed me back to set up an interview!

The @StairwellChoir are holding auditions next week - find out more here with @dylanblackradio https://t.co/UTJmPPmJcd

— Daytime Ottawa (@daytimeottawa) January 23, 2020

Thanks so much everyone at Rogers TV!
Daytime Ottawa immediately posted the Thursday, Jan 23rd interview with Holly And Pierre on their main page and Youtube channel.

#Ottawa Altos, tenors and basses email us ASAP at info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your 15 minute #audition Wed Jan 29th.  

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

A Typical Rehearsal, Stairwell Style

Pierre Massie is in his 42nd year of directing the Stairwell Carollers. There have been changes over the years and the choir has evolved, but Pierre has always directed in performance from the tenor section, singing along with us. 

Pete created the choir in 1977 while getting his B.Mus at Ottawa U. and he has developed a signature  method to his madness which results in award-winning choral excellence.  

#1 Punctual

#1 Show Up

#1 Great Attitude

Yeah, all #1, I know. To Pierre these three things are equally important - and evidence of a true Stairweller.

He runs choir rehearsal from the middle of the circle of singers, usually arranged in sections according to voice.  Everyone stands or sits as they like.

Often Pierre bounces around the room, whirling to face the different groups or individuals - rarely still, rarely seated.

We aren't allowed to cross our legs while seated, since it can inhibit breathing. This does not mean we are inhibited in our personal expression; clearly Alex has found a seating style that the Maestro approves of.

As he makes his way around the room, working the crowd, Pierre deals with questions as they come up.

We record each rehearsal to review performance and for additional practice. Very useful for Podcast episodes too as a record of our warmups and attention to song specifics.

About The Stairwell Carollers:

Pierre Massie created our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. With wins in both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions, we are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs. 

A registered Canadian charity, The Carollers also help local charities with net proceeds from concert tickets, CD and cookbook sales.  Since 1997 we have donated over $143,800 to local charities and scholarships.

Top Ten - Why Audition for The Stairwell Carollers? - Sing Original Pieces!

10 reasons You Should audition for my a cappella Ottawa choir, The Stairwell Carollers:

Counting down...

Number 10 -

You get to sing original choral compositions by our director, Pierre Massie - like his award-winning song, "Eya, eya gaudeamus", which we'll be singing this spring!

Here is our YouTube live concert performance with guest celebrity bass, Gabriel Lewis-O'Connor.

Altos, tenors and basses, email info@stairwellcarollers.com and book your 15 minute audition today!

Pierre Massie started our a cappella choir in 1977 while he was a music student at Ottawa University. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked among the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. 

A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with the net proceeds from our concert ticket and CD sales.

Thanks to David Rain and his Facebook "Top Ten to Join the Stairwell Carollers"