The Summit Singers marked their 10th anniversary this year with the announcement that, following the May 13 concert, the group would close its music books for the last time. Morley and Val Fleming, the founders of the non-auditioned community choir, said they’re ready for new adventures and time with their family. But they both agreed, this won’t be the end of choral music in town.
“This group wasn’t the first choir in Jasper and it won’t be the last,” said Morley, after receiving gifts from the 13 members of the choir. While at the podium, he also took the opportunity to thank the 80 other singers who participated in the choir over the years.
And, in an unscripted moment, he also said a special, heartfelt thank-you to his wife, Val.
“This choir, this town and I owe a huge thank you to her,” he said.
Morley, the choir’s conductor and accompanist, is a university trained musician who has been playing piano since he was a toddler. He moved to Jasper in 2002 and has been the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge resident pianist since his arrival. The Summit Singers were formed the following year, when he realized there wasn’t much for JPL staff to do during the winter.
The choir’s concerts, which usually took place twice a year, have been selling out since the start.
But, if you ask Paul Butler, who’s been singing with the choir for the last five years, the performances are more fun for the singers than the audience, because the singers get their own personal show.
“You don’t see what’s going on up here,” he told the audience, referring to Morley’s humourous faces and movements. “This choir is fun. It’s really fun because Morley makes it fun. We’re really going to miss it.”
