Frequently asked questions
Q: Who is the Living Skies Chorus (LSC)?
A: LSC is a group of people from Regina and area with diverse backgrounds and ages, who love to sing. LSC has been singing in Regina and area since 1961.
Q: What type of music does LSC sing?
A: LSC’s roots are in four-part, a cappella singing in the barbershop vocal harmony style. Barbershop singing is a style of a cappella close harmony, or unaccompanied vocal music, characterized by four-part chords. Each part has its own role: generally, the lead sings the melody, the tenor harmonizes above the melody, the bass sings the lowest harmonizing notes, and the baritone completes the chord, usually below the lead.
Q: How do I know what part I sing?
A: Some LSC members have sung in a chorus or choir before joining and know their singing part. For those who don’t know their part, our music director will help you determine what singing part would suit you best, by listening to you sing a song you are familiar with.
Q: What type of music does LSC sing?
A: LSC sings music that is familiar to our audience. Our repertoire today is filled with favorite songs from the 1930’s to the present, spanning a broad style of music from Doo Wop to Gospel, and everything in between.
Q: Do you have to read music to sing with LSC?
A: No. As a matter of fact, most of our members can’t read music and are provided with digital learning tracks that make it easy to learn new songs.
Q: What is LSC’s Mission?
A: LSC’s Mission is to enhance the lives of our members and the people in our community by singing and performing four-part a cappella harmony. Our goal is to inspire individuals to join the chorus so that we can continue to advance our Mission. LSC values fellowship, friendship, the joy of singing and ringing chords and service to our community through our music. The Chorus believes that music plays a vital role in the development of healthy, creative, responsible members of society, and supporting vocal music arts for children, youth, women and men, will enrich the lives of everyone in our community.
Q: What structure does LSC have in place to support its mission?
A: LSC is a registered, non-profit organization governed by a board of directors, and guided by Board Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and Charter.
Q: How does LSC raise revenue to cover its operating expenses?
A: The vast majority of LSC’s annual revenue comes from our annual Christmas & Spring Shows, our community performances, and through our fundraising projects where guests are treated to a meal, garnished with plenty of four-part, a cappella harmony.
Q: Where does LSC have its annual Shows?
A: At Darke Hall, a 474-seat premier concert and performance venue focused on programming and promoting the work of local, national, and international artists. the non-profit Darke Hall Society offers a state-of- the art venue where artists and arts organizations can thrive in an environment that is affordable, accessible, and respectful of diverse artistic and cultural practices.
Q: How often does LSC perform in the community?
A: Our “singing year” runs from September through to the end of June. We take a break in July and August. We organize a Christmas show in mid-December, and have one show in the spring of the year. During the Christmas season and following our annual spring show(s), we seek opportunities to perform in the community, at seniors’ residences, long term care facilities, other community venues or organizations in Regina and area.
Q: How does LSC support vocal music arts in the community?
A: As a not-for-profit organization, our goal at the end of the year is that our revenues are equal to our expenditures. At times, when our revenue exceeds our expense, we will donate to our charity of choice, Sing Canada Harmony (SCH).
SCH, a Canadian Charity, raises funds and provides scholarships to individuals and ensembles for a cappella harmony education. The SCH Scholarship Fund was created to assist Canadians by providing financial assistance for educational and training opportunities in vocal music performance, vocal music leadership, vocal music administration and vocal music composition, arrangement, adjudication and staging. The intent is to provide funding for learning opportunities for Canadian men and women, particularly youth and children to gain expertise and experience in the field of singing a cappella vocal music harmony in quartets and choruses.
In addition to contributions from LSC, our Chorus encourages its members to make individual, tax deductible donations to SCH.
Q: How often does LSC practice?
A: The women’s Chorus meets every Wednesday night – after the long-weekend in September and until the end of June - from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Holy Family Parish, 1021 McCarthy Blvd., Regina.
The men’s Chorus meets every Monday night – after the long-weekend in September and until the end of June - from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at Thom Collegiate Auditorium, 265 Argyle St N, Regina. LSC does not gather when a Monday falls on a long-weekend.
Q: If I sing with LSC, am I expected to attend every Chorus meeting and sing in all performances?
A: One of LSC’s priorities is to support, appreciate, seek the talents, approach the needs, and give a high, efficient return on the investment of time, energy and resources to each member, through harmony, fellowship, and fun. As such, we’d like members to come to weekly practices when they are able, and to perform if they feel comfortable doing so.
Q; Does the Chorus have any other member gatherings during the year?
A: Chorus members and their significant other are treated to an evening dinner ‘on the Chorus’, at the end of June, to wind up the singing year, and in December, before the Christmas break. There are other informal, social gatherings at times throughout the year.
Q: Are members expected to have experience performing in front of audiences?
A: No. Most of our Chorus members have had no performing experience.
Q: What is LSC’s annual membership fee?
A: LSC membership fee is $150/year.
Q: What do I have to do to qualify to sing with LSC?
A: The only qualifying requirement is that you’re a person who loves to sing.
