REGINA MALE VOICE CHOIR 1970 – 1979
Oil and gasoline prices went through the roof. The computerized Axial Tomography Scanner (CAT SCAN) was invented. The Sydney Opera House opened its doors. in Australia. Nixon resigned as President of the U.S., over the Watergate Scandal. Elvis Presley is dead. The first test-tube baby is born. Margaret Thatcher became the first Lady Prime Minister in Britain. Red Rum is the first horse to win the Grand National for the third time.
While all this and a whole lot more was going on around the world the Regina Male Voice Choir carried on with men blending their voices in song!
Date Conductor Accompanist Guest Artist(s)
May 13, 1970 Bill Otis Harvey Nicholson Catherine Vickers, Pianist
May 9, 1971 Ralph Wetzstein Harvey Nicholson
May 14, 1972 Ralph Wetzstein Harvey Nicholson
May 16, 1973 Raymond Hoffman Harvey Nicholson Graeme Mitchell, Flautist and
Dianne Burrows, Soprano
April 27, 1974 Peter Pasklar Diane Letts Wendy Topping, Clarinetist.
April 29, 1975 David Escott Mrs.M. Pedersen Graeme Mitchell Bass & Flautist
and Regina Boys’ Choir
May 11, 1976 David Escott Leslie Reed Catherine Rempel, Contralto
May 11, 1977 David Escott Leslie Reed Elgin Steen, Saxophonist
May 9, 1978 Larry Klopoushak Leslie Reed
May 4 1979 Ken Danylczuk Leslie Reed Patricia Knox, Soprano
All of the Annual Concerts noted above were in the F.N.Darke Hall.
There were several other concerts and they are listed below:
February 26, 1971 in Zion United Church, Regina. Conductor: Ralph
Wetzstein. Accompanist: Harvey Nicholson. Adults: $1.00. Children: 50¢.
June 5, 1972 in St. Paul’s Pro Cathedral, Regina. A Memorial Service for Edward,Duke of Windsor conducted by Reverend Archbishop G. F.C. Jackson. Conductor: Ralph Wetzstein. Accompanist: Harold Gallagher, Organist.
October 19, 1973 in the Regina Public Library as part of the program, ‘Choirs In
concert!’ conductor: Peter Pasklar. Accompanist: Rae McConnell.
June 12, 1977 in the Saskatchewan Hotel The Regina Male Voice Choir, Regina Ladies’ Choir and the Cayer Family presented a program of musical entertainment by soloists Doris Bennett and Ken Jenkins, violinists Andrea Cayer, Anthea Cayer were accompanied by their mother Mrs. Judith Cayer. Andrea was 9, Anthea was 7.
HOMECOMING ’71 was an invitation to former Saskatchewan residents to return to the Province for a visit. This was a busy time for the RMVC. Several out-ot-town concerts were in places such as Balcarres, Milestone and Pangman. The Wascana Centre Authority featured a series of summer concerts in June, July and August with the RMVC doing a number of concerts in the park. The choir had adopted an ‘Open-Door-Policy’ for the concert on Mothers’ Day, the 9th of May 1971, This was in the F,N.Darke Hall at 3 pm, -no charge for admission.
Some of the musical selections presented during this decade were –
Divine Praise Just As I Am Shall We Gather At The River There Rolls The Deep Saskatchewan
Westward Drink to me Only With Thine Eyes Prayer of Thanksgiving Close Thine Eyes
The Broken Melody Come, Sweet Death The Riff, song. Blow Away The Morning Dew
My Good Ol’ Man
Money, or the lack thereof, was always front and centre during meetings. For example, the reported bank balance on August 31, 1969 was $1.78. This was on receipt of $1,420.91 and expenditures of $1,419.13. The following year the bank balance was $31,85. 1972 had a bank balance of $85.66 with an operating deficit of $228.37. A year later the balance was $20.87 with no deficit. 1976 balance was $255.02, 1978 was $450.73 Finances, throughout the history of the RMVC, have had the good years and those that were not-so-good. Listed below are financial items as noted on statements in the past.
INCOME ITEMS. EXPENSE ITEMS.
– Annual Concert ticket sales – Rental for practice locations
– Membership fees – Rental for Annual Concert Hall,
– Donations from members caretaking, etc. .
– Donations from others – – Honoraria for conductor, Guest Artist, Accompanist
– Donations from out-of-town concerts – Presentation flowers
– Miscellaneous, interest, etc – Printing of posters,tickete, etc
– Music purchases
– Stationery
EXPENSE ITEMS. – Postage
– Insurance – Advertising
– Uniforms, ties, etc – Bus travel out of town or
– Social events car allowance for members
– Guest Artist honoraria, travel expenses – Telephone, telegrams
– Piano moving, rental and tuning – Şervice charges
– Plaques and other awards, certificates, etc – Entry fees re: festivals, etc
– Reception expenses – Photographs
– Amusement tax – Recordings
– Ushering – Miscellaneous
– Auditing expenses – Kitchen expenses
– Rental of risers
One of the items that would have been under “miscellaneous” was the purchase of an electronic piano. In 1988 Keith Knox arranged for the RMVC to perform on the third Wednesday of December in the Bushwakker Brew Pub on Dewdney Avenue in Regina. There was no piano at the place so for the first couple of years an electronic piano was rented. Since this was going to be a yearly expense it was decided to purchase an electronic piano of our own. It would be used at the Bushwakker and at any other places that did not have a piano. It turned out to be a good investment because the Bushwakker continued right up to the time of this writing. It was also used during the weekly rehearsals giving the Accompanists a chance to get used to it and it did not need to be tuned on a regular basis. Money to make the purchase came from member donations over and above the regular yearly membership fee.
More of the musical selections presented during this decade.
Kentucky Babe When The Saints Go Marching In The Gypsy And The Bird Speed Your Journey
In Canso Strait The codfish Shanty There Is Nothin’ Like A Dame The Lark In The Clear Air
The Battle of Jericho Homing The Russian Nightingale Old Mother Hubbard
The Heavens Are Telling Seeing Nellie Home Bonnie Eloise In A Monastery Garden
Waltzing Matilda They All Call It Canada
Plus Many Others
During this decade Conway Crozier-Smith, President, planned mostly local appearances, usually once a month, to provide an objective for the rehearsals, to give more face time in front of an audience and to encourage more men to sing with the RMVC. To that end the following additional performances were held. Some of those listed are shown on the previous page.
October 19, 1973. Concert in the Regina Public Library.
November 11 Remembrance Day Service in the Regina Armoury.
December 12 participation in the Rotary Carol Festival.
December 14 Concert for the Regina Police Boys’ Band.
December 23 Concert in the Regina Public Library.
January 1, 1974 Sang during the New Year’s Eve Levee in Regina City Hall.
January 5 Sang during the funeral service for Lionel Allen, a former Conductor of the RMVC.
March 8 Concert in Pioneer Lodge for the residents.
April 27 .. Annual Concert in the F.N. Darke Hall.
May 5 Concert in First Baptist Church, Regina.
May 8 Concert in the Salvation Army Senior Citizen Centre.
May 15 Concert in the Wascana Hospital.
The planned additional appearances continued under the leadership of President, Ray O’Shaughnessy following this schedule.
September 10, 1974 participated in the Tribute Service to Mrz-M.. Jo. Coldwell in the Centre of the Arts. October 20 Concert in Oxbow.
November 11 Remembrance Day Service in the Regina Armoury.
December 10 participation in the Rotary Carol Festival.
March 1, 1975 St. David’s Day concert in the United Services Institute. **
April 14 Sang during a dinner meeting for the Directors of the Salvation Army.
April 27 Concert for the Salvation Army Seniors’ Home
April 29 Annual Concert in the F.N.Darke Hall.
More of the musical selections presented during this decade.
Night Blow Away The Morning Dew A Safe Stronghold Our God Is Still Crimond Now Let every Tongue Adore Thee Sylvia Ye Watchers And Ye Holy Ones
The Lost Chord Battle Hymn Of The Republic Cwm Rhonda Hob A Derry Danno
John Peel Soldiers’ Chorus The Sound of Music (Medley) Sweet Love Doth Now Invite
The Trumpet Shall Sound Winter Song Some Enchanted Evening It’s A Grand Night For Singing
Come To Me Bend To Me The Impossible Dream Blue Bird Of Happiness The Lord’s Prayer
Russian Picnic Steal Away Grandfather’s clock The song of The Jolly Roger
With a Little Bit of Luck The Riff Song Oklahoma No Man Is An Island
My Lord What A Morniny De Gospel Train Click Go The Shears Poor Lonesome Cowboy
Aura Lee The Green Cathedral Lorena June is Bustin’ Out All Over I Shall Not Be Moved