Fundraising entertainment lifts participants
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/07/2022 (801 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
William Leake was in his late 60s when he discovered a new passion: singing.
Leake is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Rock, a non-profit entertainment group that helps Manitoba organizations raise funds. Dressed in traditional black-and-white nun habits, the choir — which includes both women and men — gives 90-minute performances loaded with energy, harmony, rhythm, choreography and humour.
The 73-year-old retired steamfitter joined the choir in November 2017, a few months after he first saw them perform.
“They really put on an entertaining show,” Leake says. “It was just a wonderful evening and I knew I wanted to be involved with that group.”
Learning to sing and memorize 90 minutes of music was challenging, Leake says, but the choir’s leaders provided assistance.
“You do not have to be musically inclined to join our group, that’s for sure,” he says. “They help you to achieve what they want you to achieve.”
Carole Stone put the choir together in the fall of 1992 to provide entertainment for a fundraising dinner at Grey Street United Church, where she was the choir director at the time.
Stone modelled the group’s performance after Sister Act, a popular movie from that year. In the comedy musical, actress Whoopi Goldberg plays a lounge singer who seeks shelter in a convent after the police place her in witness protection. She goes on to revitalize the convent’s choir.
It was supposed to be a one-off performance, but the Sisters of the Holy Rock soon found themselves more bookings. In the years since, they have entertained more than 200,000 people and helped numerous organizations raise around $3.5 million.
All of the members, as well as support crew, are volunteers.
Leake likens the choir to a family and says a highlight of being involved is seeing the response from the audience. “A lot of people tell us we did a great show and that they loved every minute of it.”
Even some people who don’t appear to be enjoying themselves have kind words. Leake remembers one audience member who sat stone-faced throughout an entire performance. When Leake approached the man afterward to see if he had enjoyed himself, the man piped up before Leake could ask.
“He stuck out his hand and he gave me $50 and he said, ‘Put that toward your charity,’” Leake recalls. “‘You guys were absolutely unbelievable.’ Although he never cracked a smile through the show, he enjoyed every minute of it.”
Leake is a hardworking volunteer who is up for anything, says Roberta McLean, musical director. That includes dressing up like Tina Turner for one of the choir’s performances of the singer’s signature rendition of Proud Mary.
“He’s just a fun, creative, great guy who’s always willing to solve any problem that comes up,” says McLean, adding Leake also helps set up for performances. “Anytime we need to fix a problem, Bill is there suggesting a solution.”
Prior to the pandemic, the Sisters of the Holy Rock performed six months of the year: March to May, and September to November.
The group hasn’t performed since late 2019, but have recently gotten back to rehearsing in person in anticipation of perhaps booking a few shows this year.
McLean is currently looking for men to join the choir. Anyone interested can visit sistersoftheholyrock.com for details.
“It’s lots of hard work, but it’s a family and it’s a lot of fun to belong to,” Leake says. “We sound pretty good when we’re right on key, that’s for sure.”
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca
