Memories from GAS 2025
July 12, 2025
By Sandy Hale
The DCAT Chorus once more traveled to the U.S.A. to take part in another G.A.S. Planning for this year’s event raised some very mixed feelings among our members. Certain American politics were creating a great deal of angst for many Canadians and some of us questioned whether we should travel to the States. Concerns were raised firstly about our ability to cross the border without incident and secondly, about the kind of welcome we would experience once we arrived. Fortunately for the chorus, we all crossed the border quickly and easily, and found the ‘welcome mat’ on display for us throughout our visit to the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.
We are also happy to report that we all traveled with current passports!! No travel drama this year – oooops – there was one brief ‘turn-back’ because of a forgotten uniform, plus one late arrival due to a messed-up GPS. Eventually, we all arrived safely and happily on Wednesday, April 30th, and checked into our rooms.
Our travel group included eighteen singers, Wyatt Gill (Music Director), two spouses and one son-in-law! Sopranos were Diane Beauchamp, Pat Ison, Teresa Mellors, Sandy Hume. Alto singers were June Beaumont, Dolly Fox, Sandy Hale, Denise Hodge. Tenors included Dave Cameron, John Fox, Barb Jennings, Brian Collingdon. The baritones were Mark Beauchamp, Ort Beaumont, Jim Jennings, Doug Johns. The two basses were John Parkinson and John Moffatt. Ian Hale (Treasurer) and Brian Hodge were the spouses in attendance and James (Jamie) Reilly chauffeured the Jennings and the Foxes. Although we were few in numbers compared to years past, THE DCAT CHORUS was in the house!
All our rooms, with one exception, were out on the patio, next to the pool. The Genetti Hotel was as accommodating as possible regarding special requests from our members. The weather cooperated and we were able to have some impromptu gatherings outdoors. Most afternoons we could be found on our patios, doing a little sipping, snacking, singing and chatting! We hope to be allocated the same slot of rooms for G.A.S. 2026!
Some of us decided to venture away from the hotel for a break and headed to the Little League Baseball Hall of Fame. The museum was well set-up with plenty of hands-on activities, audio and video presentations and photos galore. We had hoped to catch a bit of a game on one of the diamonds, but we were probably ‘out of season’. About a dozen of us explored the venue, tested our short-stop skills and tried to ‘beat the ball’ home before we returned to the Genetti.
Thursday evening, we gathered at the Bullfrog Brewery near the hotel for dinner. As before, we enjoyed excellent food, great service and lots of laughter. Then it was back to the Genetti for Karaoke Night! DCAT performers included John Moffatt, Denise Hodge, Wyatt Gill, and a few of the Audubon ladies.
Wyatt’s plan for our 2025 show included lots of variety. We began the show with our version of the William Tell Overture, complete with a cameo by the Lone Ranger himself (aka Ian Hale), who was followed by the clean-up crew (Jamie Reilly)! Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Wee Small hours of the Morning, Stars and Stripes, The Maple Leaf Forever and You’ll Never Walk Alone made up the rest of our performance. The audience was very appreciative of our music, especially during the numbers that celebrated our two countries and their flags. When Wyatt announced that we would finish our set with ‘Walk Alone’ the entire audience stood and joined hands, unprompted. It was a very special moment.
The hours of rehearsals paid off for our chorus and our performances were rewarded by appreciative audiences. Our trip to G.A.S. 2025 was a success and a great deal of fun as well. I feel certain that there were many other adventures and lots of tales to tell, but none of those have been reported. Apparently, what happens in Williamsport, stays in Williamsport!