Membership - What's it like being one of "US"?

What would you like to know? Here's some tidbits about who's who and how we all work together. Enjoy the behind the scenes look at the choir.

Fearless Leaders

Ted Winter is our Music Director. You heard from him on the very first page you read. We won't bore you with that again.

Jackie Halter is not only a diva soprano, she's also our Artistic Director. She graduated from Wilfred Laurier with a Bachelor of Arts with a Music and English major. The following year Jackie received a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario and is currently an elementary school teacher with the London District Catholic School Board . A charter member of the choir, she is also a well known local entertainer and singer. Always ready for a challenge, she is also Ted's significant other.

Jennifer McQueen has been the practice accompanist & director’s assistant for the Ingersoll Choral Society since 1999. Jennifer graduated with her Associate diploma in Piano Performance from The Royal Conservatory of Music in 2000. Since then she has been pursuing her love of music through performing and teaching privately. Her musical talents are known throughout the Ingersoll-Woodstock area for performing for local events, private functions and ceremonies. Jennifer enjoys both sacred and secular music and enjoys the life and music of the the Ingersoll Choral Society.

The Board of Directors

It's all about the music, but there needs to be some administration too. Like any charitable organization, we have a constitution that governs our overall presence in our community, and the Board of Directors makes sure we adhere to it. At any given time, our board consists of the Music Director, the President, Past-President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three directors chosen from the other members of the choir to act as their liaisons with the executive.

The Show Planning Committee

Long before we set foot on a stage or a riser, a whole lot of things happen hidden from public view. A theme is decided upon and music sources everywhere are tapped. Once the committee gets music, songs are chosen for choir, some choir members audition pieces for possible inclusion. While the choir is practicing those pieces, the planning committee is hard at work figuring out how to order the program and "make it happen" at the chosen venue. Things are planned to fine detail: music, people, choreography, costumes, sets, lighting, sound, tickets, advertising. It's a lot of work and there's always last minute adjustments to tweak. Yet, every year, the show planning committee pulls it off, and we look great.

The Choir

This year, we're about 50 people strong with an impressive presence. It's a great experience being in the choir. There is a lot of singing in which we blend our voices. Our repertoire ranges from Broadway and movie themes to old favourites and sacred choral works. We sing in harmony from three to six parts.

We don't all read music, so don't be intimidated by that if you're thinking about joining.

Even though we are a large group, we each bring our own set of unique talents to the group. Besides singing together, we often get chances at small acting parts. Some of us can dance and some of us try really hard. Some of us croon. Some help with the set construction for shows. Sometimes we get to make fools of ourselves on stage, on purpose (and sometimes not!).

However, there is one thing none of us get to do... And that is swoop. If you want to know what that means, you'll have to join us.

Being One of Us

It's easy to be one of us. Start off by getting in touch with Ted. He will give you more details after you tell him a bit about yourself and the enjoyment you get from singing:

You can write an email
Call Ted (519-485-5728)
Have a choir member contact him for you.

Otherwise, here's a little bit about the life of the choir: