Harold Seaglynn, Colin Newall, & Peter Scales
Sections: Bass
Year joined:
1993, 1997, & 2004
Bad Boy Basses (B³)
Harold’s first choral singing experiences were at the University of Alberta where he sang with the Mixed Chorus. He studied cello in the music department at the U. of A., played in the University’s chamber and full orchestras, and sang in the music department’s choir.
After a successful audition with Edmonton’s only oratorio choir, the Richard Eaton Singers, Harold sang with them for ten years, performing standard repertoire with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. During his first year with the RES, the choir sang Mendelsohn’s Elijah in Edmonton, and then in Manchester, England, while on tour through the West Midlands. The tour repertoire included a mix of baroque, classical, and challenging modern works. A memorable moment for Harold during that tour was at a concert in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon where in the performance, he stood on the grave of the Bard!
After a hiatus from music while he did graduate studies at McGill, Harold arrived in southern Vancouver Island, becoming a member of VCS around 1993. He was living about half-way between Lake Cowichan and Youbou at the time and the rehearsals were at Monterey School in Oak Bay. Harold believes that the four hours of driving every Tuesday evening was well worth it. For those dress rehearsal/performance weekends, the much beloved and long-term member of the VCS, Karen Mayer, and her husband hosted Harold in their home in Oak Bay to help cut down on the many hours of travel.
In Harold’s words: “I’m not sure exactly when the title “Bad Boy Basses” (B³) was coined to describe the special musical association between myself, Colin, and Peter. We sang well together and made an active point of listening to each other and trying to match vocal quality. We shared similar musical views as well as many extra musical attitudes and interests. One of those extra musical interests happened to be a taste for fine single malt whisky. The enjoyment of a fine whisky did have a musical connection, albeit, perhaps, not the most desired one; it could often help in reaching very low bass notes (below low C). However, it made a complete mess of one’s rhythm and so was not encouraged before rehearsals or concerts”.
Colin was sitting in the audience for his first Handel’s Messiah concert in Victoria’s Royal Theatre in December 1996 and said aloud to no one in particular, “How do I get on that stage?!” Subsequently, he joined VCS in January 1997 just in time to sing Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius under the baton of Brian Jackson. A Bass 2, Colin has now performed in at least 46 Messiah concerts and countless other incredible performances.
Peter’s earliest singing memory is of his grandfather, the cantor in a Ukrainian church in Saskatchewan. Peter’s mum always sang, and Peter can’t remember a time when he did not sing. Peter Scales joined the VCS in 2004 when he moved from Ontario to Victoria, days after singing Haydn’s Creation with the Kingston (Ontario) Choral Society. In Victoria, Peter has sung with the Linden Singers, with Tony Booker’s Voces Intimae, with CapriCCio, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, and as a “friend of” with Vox Humana, but always with the VCS.
Along with his years as President of the VCS Board from 2015-2017, his happiest moments in the choir are tied to his enduring friendship with fellow basses Harold Seaglynn, and Colin Newall. Their love of dogs, big oratorios, adult spirits, and the choir have contributed to this good cheer over 20 years, in sickness and in health.
