Tuneagers-Musical Ambassadors

The Tune-agers, Senior Ambassadors of Music Always, in the course of human affairs, it takes one individual to conceive an idea, who then feels called upon to get things rolling and, finally, gets immersed in the task of making the idea, or dream, become reality. This truism applies to enterprises at both extremes of the pendulum of human endeavour, the good, and the bad. Our story deals with an example of the better kind. It begins with an individual of rare talent, enthusiasm and energy. It begins on a day in December of 1969, when Helene Scott, a forty something homemaker in Penticton, gets a telephone call from a friend who asks Mrs. Scott, who also happens to be a trained singer and pianist, whether she would consider entertaining a group of senior citizens who regularly meet for fun and games in the new annex of Penticton's Anglican Church. Specifically, the request specifies, would she sing to those golden agers once a week? Helene Scott agreed to sing to the folks once a week, on Thursdays. In the book "Close Harmony", which was written to tell the tale of her incredible journey through the following thirty years, she recalls that there were times when some of the seniors were more interested in their game of bridge than they were in being carried away on the wings of song. Their arguments about bids in their game would, at times, drown out the singer. Helen Scott was not easily defeated. She returned the following week, and the week after that. And that is when she conceived the idea that she could do more good if she could persuade them to participate, instead of just listening. This led to her dividing her merry little band into two groups and writing, and coaching them in, some two-part harmony. Little did she realize that she had given birth to something that would take over her life for the next thirty years. A lot of her seniors seemed to enjoy singing more than their bridge - at least on Thursdays. What's more, among them she discovered some who played instruments. Thus was born a group called the Penticton Retirement Centre Tune-agers. Now, having conceived the idea and got things rolling, Helene was about to learn that the act of turning the idea into reality was going to take over her life. Thus, the small number of enthusiasts which had been drawn from a recreational therapy group multiplied when word got out, with more song lovers, and more musicians joining the group - until about 70 singers and musicians gathered and practiced and then, in April of 1970, were asked to perform with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra in concert. There was no question that this event did much to raise the Tune-Agers' confidence. Thus began a period of activity seldom seen among seniors whose ages range between sixty and ninety years. Committees were formed to organize events and to prepare tours. Small ensembles were designed in preparation for performances in smaller venues. The group produced three recordings, 3 tapes, all the while preparing for the first of what was to become a total of 20 major tours. Since 1974, the Tune-agers have travelled from coast to coast, performing in venues ranging from concert halls to churches to Seniors Centres. In 1984, they presented a number of concerts in Liverpool, plus one concert each in the Old Kirk of Edinburgh, Sheffield Cathedral, Darlington Community Centre and a model Seniors' complex in Derby. They twice toured Hawaii, were invited to perform at Expo '74 in Spokane, Expo '86 in Vancouver and in the B.C. Legislature, as well having had requests to perform in the Federal House of Parliament in Ottawa. As mentioned earlier, the Tune-agers encompass smaller combos. Among them, a rollicking male chorus, a ladies' choir, a Dixieland group, a classical combo consisting of strings, flute and piano. Their repertoire includes orchestral favourites, classical choral selections featuring sacred songs, folk music and selections from Broadway musicals, interspersed with comedy skits. All in all, the material, and the performances have produced standing ovations from Hawaii to England and in dozens of places in between. Consider the work which went into those tours: 1974 - tour of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. 1975 - tour of the Kootenays. 1976 - hosted the 3rd annual Festival of Sound and Song in Winnipeg. 1977 and 1978 - tours of the Prairies. 1980 - Tour of Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland. 1981 - the Cariboo tour. 1982 - Lower Mainland in Spring and Vancouver Island in the Fall. 1983 - the two-week Hawaiian tour, with 7 concerts, with the Mayor of Maui proclaiming February 11th as "Tune-agers' Day". 1985 - tour of the Maritimes, 12 concerts in 3 weeks, plus workshops. 1986 - concert on the stage of Plaza of Nations, as part of Expo '86. 1987 - the great tour of Great Britain. 1988 - another tour of British Columbia. 1989 - more of the same, in Richmond's Gateway Theatre, under the sponsorship of the Minoru Seniors. Enough, enough. You get the message. The Tune-agers, Penticton's own dynamite ensemble of musicians and singers who, at almost biblical ages, give the lie to the concept of superannuation. Conceived and nurtured by the dynamic Helene Scott, aided and abetted by an executive committee headed by such local luminaries as tour committee chairman George Gay, now sadly deceased, Gwen Marsh, and, more recently, the effervescent assistant conductor Patti Craig, who, in 1999 took over the baton from Helene to become the principal conductor. More tours were organized by the indefatigable committee, including the trip to Hawaii in 1991, to Alberta in 1992, to Vancouver Island in 1993, and the highlight cruise, in 1995, in the Caribbean aboard S.S. Norway, on the occasion of the Tune-agers" 25th anniversary. Two concert were given aboard, with Helene Scott being honoured for her work with the Company. 1997 saw an Alaskan cruise on the M.S. Windward, again with 2 concerts aboard. The tradition goes on. The stage is filled with ladies in flowing pastel caftans and gentlemen in maroon blazers and grey slacks. Now it is Patti Craig who gives the downbeat, and then another evening begins, an evening of great music, entertainment and love flowing freely between performers and audience. Now, an idea occurs: Since the Tune-agers have never sung in Kelowna, is it possible that the time has come for a concert? Perhaps, may we speculate, a benefit concert to help the Okanagan Symphony get back on its feet, just to say thanks for the Tune-agers' launching 33 years ago? Now, that would be glorious. And, we have no doubt, George Gay would approve. (See and hear the Tune-agers at www.pentictonseniorsrecreation.com)       Rudy Loeser

 

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