It is my honour to give the BC Choral Federation’s Herbert Kent Award to a most deserving recipient this evening. Herbert Kent was a dedicated director and singer in Victoria whose involvement in the Arion Male Voice Choir spanned more than 60 years. This award is given to celebrate an individual who displays outstanding commitment and responsibility to choral music throughout their life and, in particular, to the BC choral community. This is also coming as a surprise to the recipient. The clues will mount up very quickly.

This person has dedicated HER life to inspiring others to sing. As a career educator, she initiated and supported a variety of endeavours to promote choral music in the schools while singing in community choirs for personal enjoyment. Over the year of living in BC, she started the trophy-winning MadriGALS in the northern regions around Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof. Moving to Bridge Lake and 100 Mile House, she began a women’s group call WindSong and also started up and directed the Chord Wranglers. These groups performed many concerts “always for a cause”. In the Interior, she prepared students for Christmas concerts, assemblies, and many musicals, amongst other choral opportunities. When she moved to Kamloops, she became involved with the Kamloops Happy Choristers and the Jeweltones. In recent years, she has been Music Librarian, Historian, and a member of the Board for the Happy Choristers. She has also been on the organizing committee for the BCCF Seniors’ Chorfest and is an avid supporter of the BCCF.

Now, you may think that this person loves the limelight, being a retired school teacher and administrator, and being so motivated to start up and direct a variety of music opportunities for the communities where she has lived. However, when you meet her, you will notice that she is quiet, a good listener, always enthusiastic about the person with whom she is conversing, and not at all seeking attention. You wouldn’t know that she plays 3 instruments, has a vocal range from first soprano to second tenor, is regularly called on as a consultant for major choral decisions and ideas, works behind the scenes to promote the well-being and success of choirs, and has to have much arm-twisting to take on a NAMED position such as Choir President which is her current status. AND this recipient is in her 88th year – count the keys on a piano; one key for every year of her life. Last year, I asked her if she would like to attend Podium with me — Choral Canada’s flagship event. Of course, she would and DID, choosing to travel to the farthest location in Canada and very likely being the oldest registrant at that event. Nothing stopped her! Enthusiasm and energy abounded. This year, here she is at Chorfest in Kimberley. And she is not one to EVER miss a Seniors’ Chorfest which took place in Kelowna this year.

I will conclude my tribute with 4 remarks made by her fellow choristers:

Here is one:
“I have worked with her for approximately 12 years in duet, trio, and small & large choir settings and she has never ceased to amaze me with her easy-going, cooperative manner and excellent musicianship. She has so much knowledge and experience but never intimidates another person.”

Another:
“Throughout the years, she has assisted me in improving my singing. When I have had difficulty singing some of our parts, she has very subtly sung in my ear. Her assistance has led to an improvement in the quality and confidence of my singing, along with an improvement of my self-esteem. On occasion when the tenors have been faced with particularly difficult parts of songs, she has held sectional practices at her home.”

Next:
“She is one of those very special people who walks quietly amongst us spreading her love and support of music into our lives. She took me under her wing. Each time I thought of quitting, she would come up with another volunteer job. This is one of the most amazing committed women and her love of music is contagious and affects those who think they cannot sing.”

Finally:
“Unlike some things, there is no “best before” date with her. A trooper if there ever was one with organizing, leading and above all encouraging in all things choral… that’s June McClure.”