Although parents usually pass things on to their children, Soundscape A Cappella Chorusdirector Donya Metzger put a twist on it and literally passed the baton to her father, Charlie Metzger.
After directing the chorus for six years, Donya and her husband, Phil are moving to Bogota, Colombia for two years, where Phil will teach Economics at the University of the Andes. Donya passed the director duties to her father, a director of a cappella choruses for over 40 years, including The Gentlemen of Fortune, an award-winning men’s barbershop chorus.
Charlie, a Surrey teacher for 25 years, retired from The Gentlemen of Fortune directorship last September and took up the Soundscape reins this summer with performances at the Thunderbird Equestrian Show Park.
The father and daughter are not the only family members involved in Soundscape.
Karen, wife/mom of the director team, is a founding member of the chorus, which was created 20 years ago by local Sweet Adeline director/arranger, Joey Minshall.
Soundscape is a mixed-voice, auditioned chorus of amateur singers of all ages, who come from Surrey, Langley, Delta and as far away as North Vancouver and Mission.
They sing popular pieces and show tunes for their own fun and the pleasure of audiences.
Soundscape Chorus rehearses every Monday evening from 7:15-9:30 p.m. at 16328 110 Ave., and is accepting prospective members now.