ABOUT
Summerside Community Choir
Choir 101: Explore our History, Repertoire and Meet the Choir
Our mission is to create meaningful musical experiences that inspire connection, celebrate creativity, and enrich the cultural life of our community.
History
Summerside Community Choir
Bill Leuty's Vision
In 1978, Bill Leuty had a vision to form a community choir in Summerside, PEI and he made it a reality. Forty years later, in 2018, the Summerside Community Choir proudly celebrated four decades of choral music with more than fifty members.
Since then, the choir has been guided by several dedicated directors, each shaping its sound and direction. Most recently, Musical Director John Wervers has brought renewed energy and artistry to the ensemble, revitalizing its repertoire, strengthening musicianship, and inspiring both longtime and new members alike.
Today, the Summerside Community Choir is home to 76 members, spanning four vocal sections (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), and performs two major concerts each year (December and April).
Many performances also feature guest instrumentalists who add richness and depth to the choir’s sound. Beyond the stage, the choir continues to support community outreach initiatives throughout the year.
Our Music
Expressive Repertoire
That Connects us
The Summerside Community Choir performs non-denominational choral music that is accessible, layered, and emotionally resonant.
Our repertoire includes
- Familiar choral classics and contemporary works
- Programs shaped around themes of home, connection, and lived experience
Occasional guests
From time to time the SCC engages guest artists both vocally and instrumentally to enrich seasonal concerts. More recently the choir has engaged school choirs, organists, brass ensembles, flautists, percussionists and others into their creative programming.
Recent selections
The Choir sings a wide range of repertoire ranging from seasonal favourites to folk songs and from early music to the works of contemporary composers. More recently, the choir performed works by John Rutter, Dan Forrest, Tom Fettke, Jeff Smallman, Bob Buckley and more.
Meet the Choir
Musical Team
John & Tanya
John and Tanya serve as our musical leaders. Collectively, they bring a renewed energy and passion for quality choral music in a refreshing and professional manner. Under their musical leadership, the Summerside Community Choir is growing in number, enthusiasm and musicality. The choir continues its long tradition of community music while embracing new and creative performance opportunities.
The Choir
Connect. Belong. Sing.
The Summerside Community Choir is a mixed-voice, open-membership ensemble of nearly 80 singers, representing four vocal sections: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass.
Our community minded singers come from all regions of the island. The villages, towns and cities of the island are unique and diverse; the members representing these various communities enhance the choir's collaboration in a positive way.
We welcome new members for the first three weeks of rehearsals at the beginning of each term in September and January. There is no formal audition process for new members.
Past Performances
“See Amid the Winter's Snow” | Summerside Community Choir | December 21, 2025
See Amid the Winter's Snow", was SCC's most successful concert ever. Our largest choir of 75 members performed for our largest audience of 500 appreciative listeners. The eclectic program of classic and playful material delighted the attendees.
Special guests Island Brass Quartet, Harpist Lacey Gauthier, and Soloist and flutist Adia Laureijs added a variety of beautiful live music. The candle lit finale of Silent Night sung a cappella was a memorable conclusion to an extraordinary afternoon.
“Canada - This Is Our Home" | Summerside Community Choir | April 2025
"Canada - This Is Our Home" was the theme of the Summerside Community Choir's spring concert, held 27 April 2025 at Trinity United Church. It featured inspiring songs about freedom and love for country. During our months in rehearsal, these songs became more poignant as the US President began threatening Canada with tariffs and worse.
John Wervers conducted, Tanya Bernard collaborated on piano and Wendy Murray provided flute accompaniment. The program opened with Canada's national anthem and closed with the rousing, bilingual tribute "This is my Home." Other highlights included a trio of humorous songs set in PEI, several works by John Rutter, Oscar Peterson's "Song for Peace," and a medley of "Amazing Grace" and "My Chains are Gone."
It was an emotional experience for both singers and the appreciative audience.