Would you like to join a fun and enriching choir in 2024?
Join the Spiritoso Singers!
We are a new, Christian-based, SATB choir, led by Sarah Templeton! If you are age 13 to 103, and have a little bit (or a lot) of singing experience, this is for you!
We started the choir in the fall of 2023, and did our first concert this past December. Here is what some of our choristers have to say about their experience with the choir:
“I joined the choir in September, and what a positive experience it has been! Meeting old friends and making new ones. I have benefited very much from the Feldenkrais approach which Sarah uses for our warm ups! It has helped me reach those high notes again! A great group of people! You won’t be disappointed.”
-Debbie Courtney
“The Spiritoso Singers… what a great experience! From the moment I walked in for my audition, Sarah and Chris were amazing. Such great leadership and talent. It had been many years since I sang in a choir and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was way beyond my expectations! A challenging, yet very rewarding experience. I would highly recommend it. If you have been contemplating joining a choir, do it!”
-Marie Fitzpatrick
“I found my time with the choir to be a very positive experience. My love for singing was rekindled and I so appreciated Sarah’s professional leadership and guidance. Meeting people in the choir with the same interest was a definite plus. We had fun!”
-Patricia Rideout
“My Spiritoso choral experience was amazing, from the initial audition to our grand finale, performing in a beautiful Christmas concert. Sarah is an awesome choral director and Chris is an outstanding accompanist. Sarah's professionalism and warm personality provide a very comfortable learning environment which encouraged a strong bond among our like-minded group. Sarah gave us the best choral tutelage, including proper posture, warm-up exercises and sectional sessions, as well as posting pieces online for practice. She went above and beyond, opening her home studio to us for several extra rehearsals to set us up for success.”
-Jo-Ann Clarke
“When I first saw the ad to join a new choir, the Spiritoso Singers, I was intrigued. I could not wait to meet with Sarah for an audition. I attended all practices prior to the concert. Sarah was diligent in posting information for the songs online. She provided all materials needed and was always there to help out and answer questions. With her experience and guidance, we had fun learning new music together and sang in a wonderful concert for our family and friends.”
-Florence Simon
“At first glance of Sarah’s advertisement to join this choir, I was immediately interested. I love music and enjoy singing. I have not been in a choir for many years so the doubts kept popping into my head and I felt that I wasn’t good enough to be in a choir. Then I met Sarah and she showed so much professionalism in her approach to this choir that I dispelled all doubts and jumped to the challenge. I am so thankful to Sarah and the other members of the choir for giving me this memorable experience. I look forward to many more experiences under the direction of Sarah.”
-Miriam Hornell
“I really enjoyed the fall session with the Spiritoso Choir. It had been almost 10 years since I sang with a choir and I responded to a Facebook post. Sarah and her husband Chris were wonderful - always positive and patient with us. Sarah selected very beautiful pieces - most I hadn't heard before! They were challenging but I really enjoyed learning them. Sarah provided recordings of our parts so it was easy to practise on my own. I also met some very nice people. Everyone was encouraging and tried to help each other. I will definitely join again.”
-Regina Clarke
“I would like to express my positive experience, of the concert, the choir and the learning. So much gratitude to you and your family. You went over and above. That I can be completely at ease with you, both musically and emotionally, is a testament to the gift of you! My husband was very happy that he was able to participate in the concert. He has expressed his positive experience: participation of the audience, the standing up, the movement of music, the quality of the music. I’m still feeling so happy with it all.”
-Marie Wall
Our conductor, Sarah Templeton, teaches voice, acting, and movement, and is a classical soprano who has performed all over, including Vancouver, Germany, Italy, and New York City. Her training as a conductor included assisting Canadian composer and choral conductor, Mark Sirett, with the award-winning Cantabile Choirs of Kingston. Sarah was trained as an actor in New York City, has a Master’s in Music in Vocal Performance, sang in the chorus of Vancouver Opera for several years, has sung in many operas and musicals, and ran her own opera company in Vancouver. She was happy to move back to St. John’s three years ago, after a 28-year hiatus!
The choir will meet once weekly for 12 weeks, from February to June, 2024, culminating in a springtime concert in June. The repertoire will be mostly Christian, including both classical and modern songs, with some other fun and beautiful folksongs to round out the concert.
Why join this choir? For any of the following reasons:
You are an adult or teenager who wants a fun experience in a choir
You don’t necessarily want the time commitment of a full-year community choir with many performances
You want a fun and educational experience in a choir, without a huge time commitment
You want to learn more about good vocal technique, breathing, and posture, and how it all ties in to singing songs, from an internationally-trained voice and movement coach who loves to teach!
You are a teen who wants an affordable, succinct but meaningful musical experience
You want to praise God through song!
Rehearsal dates: Saturdays from 10:30am-12:30pm, Feb 24 to June 1 (excluding 2 weeks at Easter and one other Saturday)
Rehearsal location: St. David’s Presbyterian church, 98 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s.
Performance date: June 2nd, 2024 at 2:30pm
Cost: $300/chorister.
What’s included in the tuition fee?
Rehearsals, concert, and practice tracks for all songs. As well, in every rehearsal, you will learn about healthy habits for posture and breathing (Sarah’s specialty!), music theory, performance practice, and musicianship.
Our pianist is Sarah’s talented husband, Chris Morano. Chris has a Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance. He is a contemporary music specialist, and has performed with orchestras, soloists of every kind, and many professional ensembles. He has been the Music Director at several churches throughout Canada, and is an experienced vocal coach and piano teacher. Collaborating as pianist and singer is how Chris and Sarah met!
How to join the choir:
Very low-pressure and friendly auditions will be held on February 3rd. Please sign up below, we will send more detail. You do not need to prepare anything for the audition! It is mostly to test out your singing range, and will be guided by Sarah and Chris. Do not panic! We are very friendly.
Sign up for an audition, now, and we’ll see you soon!
Want to hear Sarah sing, and Chris play? Here you go!:
