When the Muskoka Rock Choir returns to the stage on April 29, the Algonquin Theatre will be filled with the sounds of optimism and hope. Those are the themes capping off the choir\u2019s eighth season, in what director Ian Crowley is calling their biggest, best concert ever.<\/p>\n
Here Comes the Sun<\/em> is an up-tempo show that includes some old favourites and some new, says Crowley, including some songs that might be expected \u2013 like Queen\u2019s Somebody to Love <\/em>\u2013 and some not so expected, like Trouble Me<\/em> by 10,000 Maniacs.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the songs are why people get excited \u2013 they come and they know the songs but it\u2019s cool to have a choir sing them en masse. A lot of people sing along and there\u2019s this great energy.\u201d<\/p>\n The songs are tied together by Crowley\u2019s narration. \u201cWe talk about the benefits of being an optimist and we talk about hope\u2026 What we\u2019re saying is life is a lot better if you live in hope. You live longer, you have less stress, and you make better, healthier choices. Rock Choir is really about feeling good.\u201d<\/p>\n He is grateful for the choir members who come out every week \u2013 67 of them \u2013 to rehearse for the 12 weeks leading up to the year-end performance. \u201cThey come when they could be doing other things. Tuesday is a good T.V. night,\u201d he jokes. \u201cWe sing off book \u2013 our members memorize every word and we are the only choir in Muskoka that does that \u2013 but I think because we sing off book we sing with more cohesion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t\t