by Cathy Landolt | Apr 15, 2025 | News
Walk into a Guelph Chamber Choir concert, and chances are you’ll feel something extra in the air—something warm, welcoming, and just a little bit magical. That “something” might just be Barb Friend.
What began as a simple love for singing at Harcourt United Church blossomed into a deeply rooted commitment to an organization that has grown and evolved with its community. In this feature, we sit down with Barb to trace her journey as one of the founding members of the Friends of the GCC. Her story is one of transformation—not just of a person, but of an entire organization adapting, surviving, and thriving in the ever-changing landscape of the arts.
Barb was initially drawn to the Guelph Chamber Choir through her involvement with Harcourt United Church after moving to Guelph in 1991. As a singer in the church choir, she connected with Gerald Neufeld, GCC founding artistic director, and Patricia Neufeld, long-time GCC administrator, and began performing at GCC concerts. Her deeper involvement began when she was invited to join the board in 2009, an experience she initially resisted but later found deeply rewarding.
Over time, she’s witnessed significant progress in the choir’s community impact and artistic direction. One of the most transformative developments was the formation of the Friends of the Guelph Chamber Choir, a group Barb considers crucial to the choir’s sustainability. She’s also seen a shift in the choir’s presentation—moving beyond traditional concerts to creating memorable experiences through ambiance, decor, and inclusive themes, all of which have helped attract a younger, more diverse audience.
Some of Barb’s most memorable experiences include her time on the board and the formation of the Friends of the GCC. Her involvement in event coordination and decor has been a source of joy and creativity. She fondly recalls her work on events like the Halloween Gala at Dublin Church (part of the 2023/2024 season) where the gothic setting and detailed decorations created a lasting impression.
She also played a key role in the choir’s 40th anniversary celebrations, contributing to initiatives like the design of a new logo. Her leadership in coordinating front-of-house logistics, decor, and even refreshments (like the memorable charcuterie snack cups at our Scoundrel & Scallywags concert this season) has helped foster a welcoming and immersive concert atmosphere. The evolution of choir dynamics, especially the shift to a younger group of singers and the addition of emerging artists and youth partnerships, has also stood out to her as a positive and necessary change.
Barb envisions a vibrant future for the Guelph Chamber Choir—one rooted in sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity. She hopes to see the choir continue expanding its musical repertoire and attracting younger audiences by creating engaging concert experiences.
Key to that future, she believes, are partnerships with youth choirs and emerging artists. She also emphasizes the importance of collective advocacy from board members, choir members, and the Friends group to secure funding and community support. With Charlene’s creative leadership as the artistic director, and a united community behind it, Barb is confident the choir will continue to thrive and remain a cornerstone of Guelph’s cultural identity.
Thank you for being a Friend, Barb!
by Cathy Landolt | Mar 21, 2025 | News
Check out this article on GuelphToday.com with news about our April 12 concert, “Can You Hear Me.”
Artistic Director Charlene Pauls was interviewed about the music you’ll hear and the composers of some of our key pieces.
You’ll also see a few pictures from our concerts this year, too!
Can You Hear Me?
That question can mean many things. The Guelph Chamber Choir will explore some of these meanings at its final concert of the season, Can You Hear Me? on April 12 at Harcourt United Church.
“With this concert, we wanted to choose music that was seeking to amplify some of society’s underrepresented voices,” explained the choir’s Artistic Director and Conductor, Charlene Pauls.
She continued, “The genesis was a couple of pieces that I had come across that I felt were very powerful, very uplifting, and I wanted to get them into the choir’s repertoire.”
The first half of the concert on April 12 will feature one of these pieces, “A Silence Haunts Me”, by American composer Jake Runestad. The lyrics in this piece are taken from the Heiligenstadt Testament, a letter Beethoven wrote to his brothers but which was never sent, penning his despair over his increasing deafness, his thoughts of suicide, and fear that he would not be able to compose any more.
“This is such a powerful piece,” said Pauls. “It’s so moving, so emotional, so very well done. At the end, the choir just fades away and is just mouthing the words, while the conductor keeps conducting. That’s a real gut punch. Very visceral.”
The piece will be bookended by two of Beethoven’s works, one nearer the beginning and one nearer the ending of his career. Beethoven went on to write some of his most influential and incredible works after he became totally deaf.
You can read the full article on the GuelphToday.com website.
by Cathy Landolt | Dec 5, 2024 | News
Updated: March 31
Supporting our local community
At our season finale concert, Can You Hear Me? , we will be collecting financial donations along with non-perishable food items, and hygiene products for the Chalmers Centre.
Chalmers Community Services Centre (CCSC) offers a warm and welcoming space where guests can receive food and personal support within an environment of dignity and respect. The main programs Chalmers provides- a weekly cafe and food pantry across two locations- are run by a group of dedicated volunteers and three staff members. Guests are very appreciative when they visit Chalmers. Any funds and non-perishable food donated by concert-goers will support Chalmers ongoing work to provide a caring community response to food insecurity in Guelph.
Financial support is always most appreciated by organizations like Chalmers.
Financial gifts allow organizations to purchase items most in need and take advantage of bulk buys.
However, physical items are also gladly accepted.
Not sure what to bring?
Right now, there is a need for items like canned chicken and canned tuna.
Otherwise, their most requested items are in the list below.
- Pasta
- Cereal
- Oats
- Powdered milk
- Tea
- Canned tomatoes
- Canned meat
- Canned vegetables
- Canned pasta sauce
For the full list of acceptable donations, please visit the Chalmers Centre website.
Thank you for supporting members of the Guelph community.
by Cathy Landolt | Nov 24, 2024 | News
Thank you to everyone who purchased chocolates for our Purdy’s fundraiser.
We raised over $1000 for the GCC!
Now, the other important part…..getting your chocolate!
Pick-Up Dates:
Sunday, December 8th or Monday, December 9th
12 noon to 7pm
25 Elmridge Drive, Guelph N1G 4X7
Google Map
If you have trouble with those pick up dates, please notify us by Friday, December 6 at info@guelphchamberchoir.ca
Otherwise…..unclaimed chocolate may be eaten.
by Cathy Landolt | Nov 20, 2024 | News
Celebrate the season with a moment from Messiah.
We’ve created an opportunity to give a unique gift and demonstrate your support for the Guelph Chamber Choir.
You can sponsor and dedicate one of your favourite Messiah choruses or arias to someone special this year. Or, you can sponsor one of our guest artists and get a chance to enjoy Messiah twice – once at the dress rehearsal and once at the concert.
Sponsor an Aria or Chorus
$100 – $250
Choose your favourite aria or chorus from the list below and have your name or dedication included in our concert program.
Part I
1. Sinfony (Orchestra)
2. Comfort ye my people (Tenor recitative)
3. Ev’ry valley shall be exalted (Tenor aria)
4. And the glory of the Lord (Chorus)
5. Thus saith the Lord (Bass recitative)
6. But who may abide the day of his coming? (Alto aria)
7. And He shall purify (Chorus)
8. Behold, a virgin shall conceive (Alto recitative)
9. O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion (Alto aria and chorus)
12. For unto us a child is born (Chorus)
13. Pifa (Orchestra)
14a. There were shepherds abiding in the field (Soprano recitative)
14b. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them (Soprano recitative)
15. And the angel said unto them (Soprano recitative)
16. And suddenly there was with the angel (Soprano recitative)
17. Glory to God (Chorus)
18. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion (Soprano aria)
19. Then shall the eyes of the blind (Alto recitative)
20. He shall feed His flock (Alto and Soprano duet)
21. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light (Chorus)
Part II
22. Behold the Lamb of God (Chorus)
23. He was despised (Alto aria)
24. Surely He hath borne our griefs (Chorus)
25. And with his stripes we are healed (Chorus)
26. All we, like sheep, have gone astray (Chorus)
27. All they that see Him (Tenor recitative)
28. He trusted in God (Chorus)
29. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart (Tenor recitative)
30. Behold and see (Tenor aria)
31. He was cut off (Tenor recitative)
32. But Thou didst not leave (Tenor aria)
40. Why do the nations so furiously rage together? (Bass aria)
41. Let Us Break their bonds asunder (Chorus)
42. He that dwelleth in heaven (Tenor recitative)
43. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron (Tenor aria)
44. Hallelujah (Chorus)
Part III
45. I know that my redeemer liveth (Soprano aria)
46. Since by man came death (Chorus)
47. Behold, I tell you a mystery (Bass recitative)
48. The trumpet shall sound (Bass aria)
53. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain (Chorus)
54. Amen (Chorus)
Get more information
Contact our General Manager, at gmgcc22@gmail.com to make your dedication!
by Cathy Landolt | Sep 3, 2024 | News
We’re proud to introduce our Emerging Artists for the 2024- 2025 year: Laura Fleming and Hannah Piercey.
We’re looking forward to working with these talented musicians over the next few months.
Laura Fleming
Laura Fleming is a Grade 12 plus student at John F. Ross CVI, and is a part of many of the arts programs there, including drama, music and dance. She has been part of the Guelph Youth Singers for 10+ years and briefly worked as an assistant for Choirs I and II. She has been studying cello with Andrea Cook since the age of four, and is a member of the Senior Ensembles at the Suzuki String School of Guelph. She has been studying voice with Marion Samuel-Stevens for ten years. She also studies trombone with Dorothy Vreeskwyk Kidd at John F. Ross and is a part of many school bands.
Laura has been involved in a variety of productions with the ensemble Arcady, in Brantford, for as long as she can remember.
Laura has competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival for many years and has sung at the OMFA Provincials three times, earning an honourable mention in 2019.
She is currently serving as a choral scholar at St. Georges Anglican Church, and is hoping to pursue a career in Music and Drama.
Hannah Piercey
Hannah Piercey has been studying music for the past decade, exploring her passions in performance, composition, and teaching.
She has recently obtained her Honours Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University and an Opera Diploma at the same university. Hannah currently studies under the direction of Kimberly Barber.
Hannah has had the pleasure of being part of many opera and musical theatre productions. With Opera Laurier, she sang in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro as the Countess (2023), Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas as Dido (2023), and Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods as the Baker’s Wife (2024). Hannah has also played the title role in Handel’s Xerxes (2024) with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, as well as Bunsen/Vocal Captain in Disney’s Newsies (2024) with Penny and Pound Theatre. This fall, Hannah will join Grand River Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel as the Mother.
She has also performed in the chorus of Verdi’s La Traviata in collaboration with Opera Laurier and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (2023), as well as one of the 4 Voices in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with Opera Laurier (2023). Throughout her undergrad, Hannah was the music director of Noteworthy, one of Laurier’s A Cappella groups, and frequently performed in the quarter-finals at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA).
In her free time, Hannah loves to create! Whether it is designing a knit sweater or writing a new song, she loves to express herself in many creative art forms.
Hannah is excited to start her journey with the GCC Neufeld Emerging Artist Program for their 2024-2025 season! Hannah is eager to get back to her choral roots, as well as learn about rehearsal leadership and program curation along the way.
