Performing Has No Age Limit: CHS Camerata and Surrey Chorus

A much beloved tradition was bittersweet this year. Each year in May, the Surrey Chorus and the Conestoga High School Camerata Choir perform together at Surrey and then enjoy an ice cream social. This much loved intergenerational event would not be happening today if not for the innovation and dedication of Suzanne Dickinger, Choral Music Director for CHS. It was Dickinger’s idea, along with Sharon Potter, Surrey’s former Chorus director, to bring the two groups together for a shared concert. This is traditionally a final concert for the graduating seniors in the highly selective Camerata Choir.

This year, the groups will celebrate in song and then wish Dickinger a happy retirement. After 28 years leading the CHS Choral Music Department, she is putting away the score. But not quite yet. She has a few busy weeks ahead preparing for the CAPPIE awards, an international awards program for high school theater and journalism students. This year, CHS is nominated for a record 18 CAPPIE awards and they’ve been asked to perform a number from this year’s musical “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” at the awards ceremony on May 20.

Surrey Chorus members are hopeful that the year end performance will continue under the new director. “It is so wonderful to perform with the students, says Mary, a Surrey Chorus member. “We remember when we were that age, and we still feel that same excitement when we perform.”