PCSS Choirs, Naturally --- by David Fitz-Gibbon (1966)

 

I am certain that we can all recall our early days at Port Credit high school and some of the mistakes we made. I am naturally inclined to make most of them. Unlike those entrants from 'the village', I was a product of a junior high in Toronto Township. A true sophisticate, I already had my very own Port Credit jacket, the thoughtful hand me down gift of a neighbour who was a recent graduate.

I knew it all!

Yeah, sure. Naturally I eschewed those activities which seemed beneath me. I never had been much of an athlete, so I would only ever be a football spectator and never a Golden Warrior. Foolishly, I pooh-poohed the notion of being a choir member as well. Well, maybe a male chorus member once I attained the exalted status of Upper School.

Mistakenly, I expressed these feelings out loud and in the hearing of others. One day I was accosted in a quiet corner by a small group of much larger young men. They politely introduced themselves as members of the football team. I forget which one it was. It doesn't much matter. They advised me that they were also members of the choir and that I SHOULD BECOME one as well. I got the picture and joined immediately.

This was an exceedingly good idea. It preserved my health! It also served as my fortunate introduction to the next five years of Junior, Senior and Male chorus. Each of these I enjoyed to the fullest. I believe that it was also no accident that there was NEVER a scheduling conflict between PCSS's football and choral activities. Was this a fortuitous coincidence or the result of a deliberate conspiracy between the music and physical education staff?