Press Release - OTTAWA’S STAIRWELL CAROLLERS SEEK TENORS, BASSES AND SOPRANOS

OTTAWA’S STAIRWELL CAROLLERS SEEK TENORS, SOPRANOS AND BASSES 

One of Ottawa’s most beloved choirs, The Stairwell Carollers, is expanding its tenor and bass sections by welcoming new members. 

Now in its 45th year, this fully vaccinated choir has resumed in-person rehearsals in Manor Park since spring 2022. Using the church pews with assigned seating ensures the choir is able to follow provincial COVID guidelines as well as provide added safety for members. 

Last fall, the Carollers staged a virtual Christmas concert. 

We are hoping the Christmas concerts for 2022 can be in-person.

Pierre Massie, creator and director of The Stairwell Carollers (who also sings in the tenor section) chose a variety of choral favourites as the repertoire for the choir’s past Spring season concert June 4th, 2022. 

Read Maggie's joyful response to her concert experience.

The Carollers also arranged a series of in-person Masterclass workshops for the choir in the last week of April 2022 with choral expert Gabriel Lewis O'Conner (formerly of Chanticleer) - a great time was had by all! Workshop post to come :)

 Since its most recent in-person concert in December 2019, The Stairwell Carollers have performed only as a virtual choir with Premiere videos on YouTube.  Each choir member submitted their video and Massie edited together the virtual concert. “Singing alone at home is nothing like performing for a live audience,” says Massie. “Now that we’re back to in-person rehearsals, it’s been gratifying to hear our voices come together in harmony again and enjoy the camaraderie and social interaction unique to a small choral ensemble.” 

However, the choir needs more tenors, sopranos and basses and is now on an active search for new voices.

 “I want to continue pushing our musical repertoire with more challenging pieces and that demands a balance of voices for the multiple parts and complex harmonies,” says Massie. The Carollers are reaching out to tenors and basses looking for a safe, fully vaccinated choral ensemble to sing with. 

A solid voice, a good ear, a great attitude, and proof of vaccination are all candidates need to qualify. Reading music is an asset but not a necessity. Auditions for tenors, sopranos and basses continue until end of August 2022 or until positions are filled. 

Auditions are held via Zoom, Skype or FaceTime with a possibility of some in person auditions end of August 2022. During the audition, the candidate must have access to software to read PDFs and play mp3 audio files. 

Contact Holly at info@stairwellcarollers.com to set up your audition time

About The Stairwell Carollers:

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

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