Seaside A Cappella: Nova Scotia group hopes to hit all the right notes during Irish competition

An a capella chorus form Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, hopes to hit a high note at their next competition in Ireland.

An a cappella chorus from Bridgewater, N.S., is set to hit the international stage in Ireland later this year where they hope their performance will be pitch perfect.

Seaside A Cappella is part of Harmony Inc., an international organization with more than 2,000 members across North America. The Bridgewater chapter has 65 members in its all-female chorus.

“A lot of them are from different parts of either Canada or even the United States who sing with us virtually and be with us in person as much as they can,” says chorus director Judy Comeau.

“We started in 2017, and it was with women who like to sing and wanted to learn how to sing better and we called it Ordinary Voices with the goal of making extraordinary music and truly they have done that, and that is just not in my opinion, but also in the opinion of judges who have judged us.”

The group competes locally every year in the Lunenburg County Music Festival, though they will travel a little further from home this fall.

“We’re going to Ireland to compete in the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers international contest,” says Comeau.

“One of the things that we’ll do while we’re there is we’re going to share a song with the international contest winners from last year. They’re going to give us one of their Irish songs and we’re giving them one of our favourite Nova Scotia songs.”

The group will ask the Irish singers to perform “Rise Again” by The Rankin Family.

“It’s almost like a Nova Scotia anthem and we’re so proud to be representing Nova Scotia. We are the first Canadian chorus in this organization to be competing with the other international competitors,” Comeau says.

Among the group’s members is 93-year-old Betty Rhodenizer.

“I’ve been singing practically all my life, but I joined the chorus when it began and they’re just like sisters to me and I love every one of them,” she says.

“It’s such a wonderful group of friends and I can’t wait to get to Ireland with them,” says singer Michelle Tipert.

Tipert adds the group wants to have the full Irish experience.

“So you know that would include some Guinness probably!”

“When they announce Seaside A Cappella from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Canada, it’s going to be with so much pride in our hearts as we represent Bridgewater,” says Comeau.

The Irish Association of Barbershop Singers Convention takes place in Killarney this October.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page