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Annual Barbeque: In Memory of Don Gillespie, Founding Member

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On Wednesday, June 5, 2024, the South Shore Saints hosted their Annual Barbeque . This year’s event was special, as it served as an occasion to honor the life of the late Donald (Don) William Gillespie , the last original charter member of our organization to pass away. We were most fortunate that his wife Cathy Gillespie , who made the trip from Ontario, shared her memories of Don with us among a packed house full of kindred spirits from all across the Greater Montreal region. The more than 100 guests who filled the hall Cathy Gillespie with photos and memorabilia of Don Gillespie Don Gillespie (left) When I first heard the news from Alan Briand  (our director, who sings  Bass ) earlier in the year that "Don" (who I had never known) had been the last surviving “Founding Father,” was a tenor, and had passed away on February 13 (having just turned 92), I could not help but feel an instantaneous kinship with him, for I too am a tenor and he had passed away on non...
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Why are you a barbershopper? Pourquoi êtes-vous un "barbershopper" ?

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 Why do people love singing barbershop in a chorus or quartet?  👍 For the love of music 👍 For the love of singing 👍 For the love of harmony 👍 For the love of singing in a choir, a chorus 👍 A cappella focuses on voices because there is no other instruments 👍 For participating to contest 👍 For quartet singing Listen barbershoppers share their feelings about this hobby  here . Pourquoi joint-on une chorale ou un quatuor de style barbershop ? 👍 Pour l'amour de la musique 👍 Pour l'amour du chant 👍 Pour l'amour des accords et harmonies 👍 Pour l'amour de chanter dans une chorale 👍 Parce que le chant a cappella met l'accent sur les voix puisqu'il n'y a pas d'autres instruments 👍 Pour le plaisir de participer à des conventions et des concours 👍 Pour chanter en quatuor Écoutez des "barbershoppers" partager leur sentiments à propos de ce passe-temps  ici .
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Celebrating 65 Years : A Journey Through Time

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With bated breath, we are ecstatic to announce that  the countdown until our 65th Anniversary Show begins today !  The Chorale A Cappella South Shore , also commonly known as the South Shore Saints , is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) , and the only men's a cappella chorus in Quebec that strives to sing songs in the barbershop style, that is, songs arranged in four-part harmony (tenor, lead, baritone, and bass).   To our knowledge, we are also the only men's BHS chorus that sings French songs arranged in the barbershop style !  As our long history of community involvement since our founding in 1960 shows, we remain steadfast in serving our communities on the South Shore and Greater Montreal Area. Most notably, the chorus coordinated the first ever Harmony eXplosion Camp this spring, a BHS-initiative to support young singers in the Northeast District, for the first time ever in Quebec (at Saint-Lambert High School), and will be doing so again nex...
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A Special Annual Barbecue

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Every year, following a long winter and a few weeks during which dormant tree buds and flowers burst open in a flurry of activity, the Greater Montreal Area springs alive to welcome visitors from all over the world during its summer festival season.     This is also the season when the South Shore Saints , the only men’s Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) chapter in Quebec, host an annual barbecue to celebrate the accomplishments of the chorus with family and friends and/or commemorate individuals that have made a lasting impact across the years.     Last year, we commemorated the passing of Don Gillespie , the last of our surviving founders, by raising funds for a plaque in his name, which is now displayed at the BHS headquarters. Luigi (right), with best friend Benoit (left) at the 2024 Saint-Lamberts Festival This year, we invite family, friends, and guests of all ages to join us on the evening of Wednesday, June 18 for a splendid mid-week reset, as we share memorie...
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2024 Spaghetti Supper, Saturday, April 13

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It was Saturday, March 25, 2023. I was in the church standing atop the stairs looking down over the lower hall. I was taking in the view of the neatly set up tables, pristine white tablecloths covering them, and cutlery placed at each seat. And as I watched the members and friends of the chorus who were preparing the spaghetti, salad plates, and rolls, as well as those helping to distribute the bowls of chips efficiently and neatly on each table, I recognized that this event was part of a long tradition. I felt a sense of gratitude, pride, and humility of being part of a classy organization. According to Alan Briand, our Musical Director, the tradition began "as a means to help our members with contest expenses. Being a small chorus, we did not want anyone to miss the experience because of money.”  ( For those of you who are  interested in or thinking of joining us, every year in the spring, we travel down to Lake George, New York, to compete at the Western Regi...
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Why We Love Spaghetti Supper in Autumn (September 28th, 2024)

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Why We Love Spaghetti Supper in Autumn!! I first set foot in Montreal as a new resident of Quebec on September 3, 2021.  Looking back, it was the best time of the year to arrive.  The air was cool, the skies wide open, the fresh harvest of produce at local markets bountiful, and the fall foliage most dazzling.  Naturally, autumn became my favorite time of the year. Although it is unclear exactly when the tradition began, the South Shore Saints have long held two Spaghetti Suppers every year as fundraisers.  The aim?  To help defray the registration fees for our members to attend the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) Contests and Conventions ¾ once in the spring at the division level, and again in the fall at the district level. (see the following blog post for more details: https://southshoresaints.blogspot.com/2024/03/2024-spaghetti-supper-saturday-april-13.html ). While the pandemic forced the chorus to suspend this tradition in 2020 and 2021, the practice was ...
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Souper spaghetti de septembre pour supporter notre participation au concours d'automne

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  Une facette de la mission de la Chorale Barbershop South Shore Saints consiste à aider des organisations de différentes façons.   Et c’est sans surprise que j’ai découvert, dès ma première année à titre de membre des « Saints », que la chorale aide également ses membres.   Nous tenons à ce que l’aspect financier ne soit pas un frein à la participation d’aucun de nos membres. Cette fois encore, dans la tradition des South Shore Saints, nous tenons un souper spaghetti afin d’amasser des fonds qui aideront à défrayer les coûts de notre participation au concours d’octobre à Worcester, Massachusetts, et les frais d’un coach de chant. Ainsi, à nouveau en septembre, nos membres s’activeront à préparer la salle et les tables, et aussi à préparer différentes sauces, pâtes, salades, et jusqu’aux bols de chips, pour rendre cette soirée des plus agréable. Pour aussi peu que 20 $, vous aurez l’opportunité de déguster un spaghetti garni d’une sauce spécialement pré...
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A Moment to Remember: Saint Lambert Days 2024

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On a delightful summer evening on Saturday, August 24, 2024, members of the South Shore Saints came together on the premises of Saint Lambert Days , an annual festival hosted by the town of St. Lambert, Quebec, on the South Shore of Montreal. Preparations before the 6:00 p.m. prime-time performance at the Parc du Village It was one of the most memorable public performances for the chorus in recent memory.  The last time the chorus participated in this event was on Sunday, August 28, 2022, in the early afternoon.  On that day, a smaller contingent of members sang on a narrow stage tucked in between Avenue Victoria and Avenue Notre Dame along Green Street.  At the time, I recorded my impressions of that day as follows: “Went to St. Lambert festival to sing for the Saints today.  We were rushing but on pitch most of the time.  Singing outdoors takes some getting used to. …  I sang ‘Bare Necessities’ and ‘What Kind of Fool am I’ with Brian, Andre, and Pierre-E...
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Sean Henry, Host of CBC Daybreak to MC 2024 Annual Show!

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Last year’s show,  Tout le monde à bord (All Aboard) , showcased a spectacular fun-loving international-level quartet in  Daily Special , and a riveting repertoire of journey-related songs, including a fabulous rendition of  Stardust, the most recorded song in history.  If you were there, you likely recall the mesmerizing standing ovation at the end, which seemed to suspend time.  Building on that success, we are excited to inform you that our 2024 show will feature a distinguished guest as our MC:  Award-winning Host of CBC Daybreak,  Sean Henry !  How did this come about? It began in early January of 2023.   I was listening to CBC's Radio Noon with Shawn Apel. Rebecca Ugolini, Cultural Reporter for CBC Daybreak, sitting in for Shawn, was discussing topic of the day: "What are some hobbies that enrich your life?" , and was inviting listeners to call in.  Since joining the chorus in 2021, we had discussions of our need ...
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Memorial for Claire Garrett

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On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, our quartet, 4Give 'n 4Get, was invited to attend a Memorial for Claire Garrett, wife of former member Walter Garrett. I had never met Walter before, but having been informed that Claire had been to our annual shows until quite recently, I thought that perhaps I may have met her at some point during my 3 years with the Saints. Regardless, I felt grateful to be present. The gathering took place at Mount Bruno United Church, an unassuming little building located in the suburb town of St. Bruno, tucked in across the road from a picturesque park next to a lake with a fountain. After we practiced our three songs outside, we joined the gathering. The memorial was touching and moving. Many a person stood up and shared their stories and memories of Claire freely and openly. Their collective testimonies painted a picture of a woman who was warm, strong, welcoming, kind-hearted, open, and straightforward—just like those whom she had touched unforgettably for life...
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