The Tenor of the Moment -- after the audition...

The Stairwell Carollers welcome Richard to the Tenor section

So... I joined a choir. It's something I do. I've sung with choirs in Budapest (Gabrieli Choir) and Aarhus (Korinord) and Toronto (Hart House Chorus) and a few others beside.

Richard, in blue, top right, pays close attention to Pierre's direction

It's the Stairwell Carollers and if you're reading this, you've probably already heard of the group.

Director Pierre works with the men only for Spaséniye sodélal

This choir has bits of the best bits of some of those choirs - it's a small group of people from all walks of life and a range of ages who come together to make beautiful music.

The men only sing Spaséniye sodélal

We sing unaccompanied (I don't think the drum for "Tourdion" really counts), beautiful music from anywhere from five hundred years ago to five years ago. And we sing it well.

Even better, we do good: each year the Stairwell Carollers raises money for charities active in our community and to provide a scholarship to an Ottawa-area high school student beginning music studies at a Canadian university.

Last week I sang my first concert with the group - in Almonte, so I understand if you didn't make it out. But this Saturday evening we'll sing the same repertoire in downtown Ottawa and I hope you can make it to join us.

It's really some fantastic music. Come, hear!

Richard Martin-Nielsen

Tenor