About Us
Chaverim is a group of young Christian singers and musicians aged 11 to 20. The members represent many denominations; Alliance, Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian and United, to name a few. Chaverim began in Vasey United Church and now rehearses at Grace United Church in Barrie. The members of the group come from the Midland, Orillia, Barrie and Stayner area of Central Ontario. Each season, Chaverim performs up to 20 times in locations across Ontario. We join congregations for Sunday morning and evening worship as well as Saturday evening praise services. Being a member of Chaverim is a way to express our Christian beliefs through music, which is something we all enjoy. It also gives the young people a chance to meet people they might not know if not for Chaverim.
We have a lot of fun in Chaverim, singing and performing Christian music. Because we're good friends and love to do what we do, Chaverim is one reason each member looks forward to the weekends when we perform.
Led by Rev. Karen Hilfman-Millson the members wrote a covenant to follow to make the group more life-giving.
Statement of Purpose
- To provide a group where young people can discover that Christianity is relevant to them through performing contemporary Christian music.
- To provide a ministry of contemporary Christian music.
- To provide a group for young people to explore their musical abilities to discover what place music has in their lives.
- To increase young people's self-esteem and self-confidence through the mission of our music.
- To provide a positive alternate peer group.
Our History
Chaverim began in March 1986 at Vasey United Church. Since its creation, they have performed over 650 times in Churches of all denominations and sizes, holding only 50 people as well as venues holding 1000. The group has played all over Southern Ontario and the Ontario near North - from London, to Ottawa, to Elliott Lake and everything in between. Chaverim has played at United , Alliance, Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Community, Mennonite, Pentecostal, and Presbyterian Churches, as well as public venues like the Oro Fairgrounds and the Martyrs' Shrine in Midland.
Chaverim performs contemporary Christian music with a few secular pieces in the mix. The music arrangements are from many sources with some privately arranged, but many arrangements are our own. We are constantly looking for new appropriate music that will bring God's message to the members in the group as well our audiences and congregations.
The group has done four recordings in the last 25 years. Each recording has had its own challenges musically, plus working our way through licensing, budgets and the actual recording process. The directors have learned as much as the members by doing these projects. Chaverim owns all its performance sound equipment but also has to maintain or eventually replace it.
The biggest challenge over the years has been to maintain the consistency of the performance of the group. Each year, we lose as much as eight members as they move on to new parts of their life such as university, college or work. The challenge is to find young Christians who can sing and/or play instruments well, and want to do it as part of a group throughout each year. As with adult choirs, tenors and basses are hard to come by and are cherished and nurtured; similarly, senior pianists are constantly sought. We are constantly encouraged to continue with this ministry since the Chaverim members of today will be the church leaders of tomorrow.
Founders
Cathy Brown and Rick Brown
Cathy and Rick Brown founded Chaverim in 1986 as a youth band.
Cathy has sung in various choirs for more than thirty years including the Queens University Choral Ensemble conducted by Denise Narcisse-Mair and the McMaster University Choir conducted by Wayne Strongman.
In the beginning, Cathy has been the Music Director and the driving force for the wide range of music that Chaverim performs. In her other life she is Director, Human Resource Services for Georgian College. Rick is currently the Media Services/ IT Technician for Georgian College at the Orillia campus.
Cathy and Rick have two daughters - both past members of the group.
A Note From Our Current Conductor
I have had a passion for music my entire life. As a young girl I took interest in the piano and have worked over the years to become a professional pianist. Currently, I am majoring in Music at York University.
I have participated in many musical theatre productions on many different levels. Throughout high school I participated as a pianist for plays such as Footloose and The Wiz. In the recent past, I was Music Director for Anne of Green Gables and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
I was involved with Chaverim for 10 years beginning at age eleven. The Chaverim experience for me, helped me to progress and profess my faith as well as solidify my belief in God. Now, as the newest conductor for Chaverim, I hope to take the group on a unique journey full of new ideas, goals and spiritual mission.
Spiritual growth is an important element in Chaverim and as the director I hope to take the Chaverim youth on a journey that betters their relationship with God through music, ministering to others and to themselves. Many bible verses stand out to me but one that stands out the most is "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1 (NIV).
Life is a journey and we need to trust in that journey and our creator who already has our path laid out for us; our Lord and Saviour; Jesus Christ. The Message Bible words Hebrews 11:1 in a unique way that defines Hebrews 11:1 even further: "The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living"
With faith and anticipation for the upcoming year,
Danielle Aaron