While Colleen Weimer retired from teaching Choral at Weyburn Comprehensive School at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, she has since taken on the role of Director for Weyburn’s own all-ages singing group, Variations Community Choir.

Weimer, who taught in Weyburn for 36 years of her 37-year teaching career, said directing Variations is something she has truly been enjoying.

“They are just a whole bunch of community people that love to sing,” she said. “I love getting together with them, I love their enthusiasm, I love their passion for their music.”

The group is entirely voluntary, with one main purpose: the music.

“We’re just having a really good time making music together, and that’s what it’s all about, no matter what age it is, it’s about making music together.”

For many years, the group had around 30 to 40 members consistently, but perhaps it’s Weimer’s local celebrity status or her experience as a choral teacher that has expanded the group to around 70 members just this fall.

Weimer suspects the new influx has to do with so many younger people maybe not knowing about the group before, but now they’re truly an all-ages singing group.

“I think we range in age from about 19 to 90 probably,” she said. “And that is a really exciting thing for everybody to be part of. Everyone has something different to offer.”

It’s no surprise that those who loved singing under Weimer’s direction at WCS would be drawn to the adult choir.

“Kids that I taught last year that have graduated and stayed in Weyburn, they’ve come, and then I’ve got some former students who I haven’t seen for quite a while, who have come back to sing, and that’s really fun,” she said, noting that it’s rewarding for her to see them wanting to make music.

Without its core members, however, Variations would not have had the option for growth.

“Our core group of Variations who have been there, some of them for many, many years, they just run things so well, it’s just a pleasure to work with them,” she expressed.

While it is appealing to be part of a group dynamic that has such a solid track record built on a foundation of keeping true to quality entertainment value, Weimer noted that some members are involved with the group just to have a time for themselves, and, of course, to sing.

“Just one night, they go out for a couple of hours and they do something for themselves, and I’ve seen some young moms that have done that, and that’s kind of neat, too,” she said.

With such a large expansion this fall, Weimer said it has only been space on the stage that has been a challenge for the group. Rather than performing at their usual venue, Calvary Baptist Church, they will be giving their annual Christmas concerts at Grace United Church this year, where the stage can hold everyone.

“It's mostly space, and that’s the best challenge of all to have,” she said. “As far as singing with our parts, we just add more people and every section becomes stronger. Everybody has something different to offer.”

“It’s been just a great, great experience, it really has,” she added.

As Weimer continues in her passion for singing within the community, the community continues to benefit from her leadership within the Variations Community Choir.

The group will perform two Christmas concerts this weekend, on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Grace United Church. Advance tickets are available at Music Craft.