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.

Barbara Myers, Rachel Rogers, & Charlotte Danard

Sections: Sop 2, Alto 1, & Alto 2
Year joined: 2022, 2019, & 2022

Barbara has sung in community choirs for forty years in Winnipeg and Toronto. Singing has always been her great pleasure and comfort and has provided wonderful opportunities for performance, study and friendship. Barbara sang with The VOCA Chorus of Toronto with Charlotte and Rachel, attended Lake Field Music summer camp at the same time as Charlotte and all shared the great pleasure of performing at Carnegie Hall in NYC with VOCA. Such a treat! Barbara was delighted to find that her fellow singers had landed with the Victoria Choral Society after relocating to Victoria.

A special moment for Barbara in VCS occurred the first time the choir rehearsed with the Symphony. She says: “These musical collaborations continue to be beautiful and moving every time”. Barbara not only sings with the soprano section but also assists from time to time on the Marketing Committee.

For Rachel, growing up in James Bay, music has been central in her world, leading to a Music degree in Oboe at UVic. A Master’s Degree in Library and Information Studies at McGill followed, culminating in Librarian work at CBC Radio in Toronto. Singing is a key part of Rachel’s music making, and when a McGill connection led to her a library position here, her love of choral singing brought her to VCS and reconnection with 3 choristers, Barbara, Charlotte and VCS Alumna Christina Lunn! Performing Prokofiev’s Alexander Nevsky in her first year at UVic opened up a world of choral music for Rachel, honing her vocal skills to make her a most welcome addition to our alto section!

Charlotte sang in two choirs in Toronto. She met fellow VCS members in VOCA Chorus, which sang a marvelous mix of classical, jazz, show tunes, and world music. She also sang in a small jazz choir called “The Jazz Project” where, due to acapella pieces and small numbers of singers per section, “there was nowhere to hide!” In 2022, she moved to Victoria. Her friend Christina arranged an audition for VCS and a week later, she was happily singing in the alto section and shortly after that, became a member of the Board! Charlotte still enjoys attending Lake Field Music Camp in the summer.

Charlotte’s “moment to remember” in VCS occurred at Christ Church Cathedral when the choir sang Coleridge’s Requiem and afterwards, audience members, not known by name, surrounded her to speak of their love of the piece and how it was presented. A special moment, indeed!

Andrew and Heather Russell

Sections: Bass & Alto 1
Year joined: 2023

Siblings Andrew and Heather Russell grew up in Duncan, BC.

Heather spent her childhood begging for violin lessons, which somehow led to piano lessons. After spending nearly three years accompanying the Frances Kelsey Secondary School choir, she decided she’d much prefer singing in the choir and never turned back. Her education took her to Victoria, Waterloo, Seattle, and Geneva, and in each new location she joined a new choir. She returned to Victoria in 2021 to join the University of Victoria as a professor and joined VCS in 2022. She still can’t play the violin.

Andrew is a software entrepreneur by day and a composer and athlete by night. He spent his childhood complaining that he was being forced into piano lessons until one day realizing he actually enjoyed it. Since then, he has learned to play many different instruments in a variety of genres. He joined VCS in 2022 to learn more about the voice and the many ways in which it can be used. His current fascination is telling stories through his compositions, using techniques such as the kishotenketsu method. You can find his music on streaming platforms under “Andrew Russell Band” and “Lavish Dude” as well as many demos on his website: https://ajrussell.ca