By Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
We’re halfway through April, and springtime in this region welcomes the singing of the birds every year. This year, it also welcomes the harmonizing voices of a new men’s choir. On Saturday, April 12, 2025, Sonus Voices performed their inaugural concert at Wellington Square United Church, located on 2121 Caroline Street in downtown Burlington. This low voice, tenor-based choir made their debut dressed tastefully in all black, to complement the simple and elegant interior of the church. With Greg Rainville as their artistic director, they performed a graceful lineup titled “We Are,” establishing their new identity as an organized musical collective.
Sonus Voices branched out from the Toronto-based Canadian Men’s Chorus and has made its roots here in the Hamilton-Niagara Region. The group strives to continue the original choir’s legacy with localized talent and finesse. Greg Rainville is devoted to putting much-beloved Gaelic and Canadian music at the forefront, and collaborative accompanist Gary Forbes is a capable Southern Ontarian pianist. The group has also taken an innovative paperless approach to their arrangements. All of the tickets and the programs were digital, and the programs could only be accessed by QR codes. This may be an early sign of a new chapter in the performing arts world, where theatre and concert goers collect programs on their phone rather than in a shoebox.
“We Are” featured a melancholic but soothing repertoire of choral music, folk songs, Broadway hits, and original works by Canadian composers that could easily stand as the soundtrack for an epic fantasy film or TV series. The songs were about longing for love, freedom, companionship, self-fulfillment, and the sea. A break from the wistful range came in the form of the 1830s sea shanty “Drunken Sailor,” which added an extra boost of fun. A notorious crowd-pleaser, “Drunken Sailor” is a riotous, boastful romp where a group of sailors plan a series of elaborate pranks on their inebriated shipmate. Sonus Voices sang it energetically at a brisk, giddy pace. Overall, the program offered a pleasing and well-curated variety.
The group also performed an especially gratifying rendition of a Broadway hit song in the second half of their concert. This was Wicked’s “For Good,” composed by American musician Stephen Schwartz and first released back in 2003. This song was originally devised as a tender and bittersweet duet between two complicated women reminiscing on their friendship. It did not sound at all out of place being sung by a choir of men. In fact, Sonus Voices’ version opened a new conversation about its meaning. “For Good” is really about personal growth and making connections with other people, and these are experiences also enjoyed by men. The pain that accompanies changing relationships is a universal feeling. It was an appropriate song choice to get the audience excited about the second installment of the two-part Wicked film series, set to premiere in the fall. Hopefully, Sonus Voices will continue to experiment with other Broadway numbers for a similar inspirational effect.
The people of Burlington will watch Sonus Voices closely and continue to celebrate and support the group’s successes as they continue to explore their role in the local music scene. To learn more about the group and get in contact with them, you can visit their newly uploaded website. They are also open to welcoming new members to the choir. You can reach out to them for an application through the website or through their Facebook page.
