GMC 2/15 February 2015
Goulbourn Male Chorus – Newsletter
Music Director: Well I think we can all agree that the hunt for a new music director was
great!!! 7 candidates showed interest, 5 were interviewed and auditioned! And these
auditions were enlightening – what amazing talent is out there!!! Wasn’t it fantastic how these
candidates were able to bring out new passion in some of our “old standards”?
Now the votes are in. The AC reviewed the chorus’s votes as well as taking into account all that
could be learned from their CVs and the interviews. Three candidates floated to the top – Elias,
Scott and Byron, but in the end the Artistic Committee was unanimous in their selection.
Welcome Byron Hermann – the new GMC Music Director. Byron is well qualified – take a look
at this!!
McGill University :Master of Music: Major: Educational Theory and Composition
University of Western Ontario: Bachelor of Music: Honours Theory and Composition
U of T:Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Ph.D. ( Incomplete) as well as
Master of Arts in Educational Theory Major:
Computer Applications in Music Education
Byron is currently Music Director at Grace St Andrew’s United Church in Arnprior, and is an
independent music producer, composer, arranger, etc….
(and he’s kind of our age!!! Yeah!!! – He’ll understand when we have to grab a breath or sit
down to give our backs a break!)
Byron’s contact info is : (613) 752 1585 (613) 464 2987 byron_hermann@hotmail.com
Board Vacancy: Rory MacDiarmid has offered to fill the vacancy on the Board left by Rene, and
this has been accepted.
Spring Term Music: With the appointment of the new Music Director, top priority is to choose
some new music for our Spring term – I am sure we are all getting a little tired of ”Let all Men
Sing!” and “We’re the Men….”. (Though our candidates did breathe some new life into them
didn’t they?) Gary K added two new pieces at our Feb 10th rehearsal – and Byron and the AC
will be looking to add a few more. If any members have specific pieces they would like us to try
– let the AC know!!!
Spring Concert: A booking remains for the church for a May concert, and we have time to get
some pieces in place. One way or another, there will be a concert of some kind this spring.
Ensembles: The future of ensembles will also be determined as we progress in the Spring term,
but meantime the a’cappella ensemble “Men of Note” welcomes Barry Read, but is looking for
a 2nd tenor and a Baritone or Bass. (Volunteers are so much better than enlisted men!!!). See
Doug if you are interested.