Jessie Chapin is once again teaching voice and directing choirs in Williams Lake.
She and her husband Dave Chapin lived in Williams Lake in the early 2000s where she taught voice and directed the Quintet Plus choir for some of those years.
In 2012, the Chapins did a term of humanitarian work in the Middle East. Upon their return to Williams Lake, they made the decision to sell everything and in December 2013, left to do more humanitarian aid overseas, in Afghanistan then in Tajikistan, bringing their four children with them.
Last year they moved back to the lakecity,
Dave opened a new aviation business, and Jessie went back to directing Quintet Plus and teaching voice lessons.
This fall she has also teamed up with Becky Thomas, a local piano teacher, and they have started two children's choirs. One for children in Grades 1 and 2 and the other one for children in Grades 3 to 7. The choirs meet on Fridays after school at Thomas's Hummingbird Centre.
Chapin said Quintet Plus has existed since the mid-1980s.
"There was a quintet that came and performed in town. People were really inspired and they wanted to start a singing group but because there were more than five that wanted to join they called it Quintet Plus and it just kept growing and growing and became a full blown choir since way before my time."
Her own musical background stems from growing up singing with her dad who played old country music on the guitar. The family went to church where there was lots of singing solos, being in children's choirs and musicals. She was also in high school musicals and choirs.
"I never did have a lot of voice lessons until I went to college though," she recalled.
She grew up in Washington State, but attended Prairie College in Three Hills, Alta. where there was a "really good" music program.
"I did a bachelor of arts in sacred music there, was in a few musicals and was in a touring choir. I had a really excellent voice teacher and very good choir director."
The touring choir went to the Ukraine, which she remembered being a wonderful experience.
It was while attending college she met Dave. He was there taking the aviation program.
"We got married in July 1999 and a year after that we moved to the Northwest Territories for Dave's job."
While living in Fort Smith, NWT, she grew as a musician leading worship singing and directing a Christmas choir. At the time, she also taught a few voice and piano students.
"Eventually I got an arts grant to record a CD and there was a guy in town who had a recording studio. We also had a music festival every year and I would play at that."
Her CD was called Light in the Darkness and is the only one featuring her own material.
While living overseas she helped at an international school teaching English, drama and music.
"That was really fun and we put on productions with the students."
One of the bonuses of being back in Williams Lake has been the opportunity to see the friends she missed while living so far away.
Their acreage north of the city is a lot of work, but beautiful, she added.
"I'm really happy."
The Chapins' children range from ages 11 to 21 and two of them are still living at home.
Jessie is also pursuing a master's degree in music education and is about two/thirds through the course work.
Quintet Plus practices on Monday evenings at St. Peter's Anglican Church where the acoustics are "amazing" she said.
"It's a wonderful place to sing and a beautiful space to teach. They have a piano that I really love too."
Describing the choir as a "great group of people," of a "wide variety" coming together, she said they sing for charitable fundraisers and events, such as Tuba Christmas, Remembrance Day or even the Medieval Market.
With the 100 Mile House choir, they put on a big concert last May and it benefited the hospital auxiliary. They hope to do that again and will possibly bring the children's choirs on board.
"I think we have a pretty healthy arts community that is really positive and supportive of each other," she said. "If we all do well, we all do even better."
