submitted by Judy Baker
The Morinville Minstrels are a senior choral group and were started in 1999 by Gene Boulet. Our current director is Dagmar Lietz with Jean Storey on the piano. Under the umbrella of the Morinville Rendez-Vous Centre, we entertain in Lodges and seniors facilities in and around the local area on a weekly basis.
However, once a year we take our music on the road, where we entertain in areas that get very little entertainment. This year, from June 7 – June 10, we travelled to Southern Alberta. Some spouses and friends joined the 16 choir members (out of a possible 21) on the tour. For four days, we entertained at Seniors Facilities in Bashaw, Stettler, Hanna, Brooks and Three Hills. We were received with great enthusiasm and enjoyed by all who attended. The highlight of our visit for the residents is the sing-along. We get to sing along with them to their favourite songs. Our motto is “Singing keeps us young” and seeing the joy we are bringing to those in the homes certainly gives you a warm and joyful feeling. They all want us to come back soon.
Last year’s trip had us performing six times in the three days, which proved to be too much for some of our members. It was a little straining on our voices. So this year we cut it back to five performances in four days and took a day off to play tourist.
While on the trip we visited Blackfoot Crossing, Tyrrell Museum, Reynolds Car Museum and attended the Rosebud Dinner Theatre, “Outside Mullingar”, in Drumheller.
Our goup has members from Morinville, St Albert, Bon Accord, Legal and Sturgeon County area and we, as The Morinville Minstrels, are proud to be ambassadors for the Morinville and Sturgeon County areas.
Next year, on May 5, 2017, the Minstrels will be hosting the Thirty-Eighth Annual Seniors Choral Festival in Morinville.
The group is currently looking for more new members, particularly some male voices. Those interested in joining the Morinville Minstrels can contact Diana Moquin at 780-939-7241 or Judy Baker at 780-222-9050.
