Former choir boys and girls invited to share stories and win prizes

All Saints Anglican Church Choir, Andrew Thompson circled (All Saints)

Did you ever sing in a choir as a kid? Did you ever have any funny experiences as a choir boy or a choir girl?  Did you torment your conductor or your fellow choristers? Or were you the very image of an angel? Do you have any photos of yourself from that time that you have the nerve to share?

SCENE wanted get in on the act. Michael Thompson is co-founder of Camerata Nova. He was a chorister at All Saints Anglican Church for many years.

Here's his story:
 
Before going to England in '85, I had started putting Hydrogen Peroxide in my hair to turn one side of it blonde (isn't that what every 15 year old boy does at that age?). When we got to England, I wanted to keep doing it as it had not turned blonde enough. I went to a chemist and bought a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. In Canada, peroxide you buy at the store is 3%. This was 9%, a fact that was lost on me at the time. In no time I had platinum blonde hair on one side of my head.

Many of the other boys were fascinated by this and wanted to try it out. I was done with the bottle and gave it to the first person who asked me for it. Richard Moody. Suddenly there was a rash of strange hair in the choir, much to the chagrin of the visiting moms.

You can share your choir boy or girl picture and tale with Camerata Nova. Send photos and stories by email to communications@cameratanova.com. The deadline is November 12th.  The winners will be announced at Camerata Nova's annual free holiday concert at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church at 8:00 pm on November 26 and 2:00 pm on November 27.

Michael Carolyn Boyes (Alex Boyes) Michael Thompson, age 15 (St. James Collegiate), Clive Balfour (Roxy Studio)