Cool Chats

It's September 2021 - and after a year of being unable to sing together in the same room, Cool Choir is preparing to return to our in-person rehearsals in a few days. But, unfortunately, with a wealth of information online for the general public to access regarding the health, safety and science of COVID-19, this comes with an equal level of misleading medical information too. In Episode 14 of the Cool Chats podcast, Jamie has the opportunity to put some questions directly to an experienced general practitioner, Dr Zabal, about best practices for keeping ourselves as safe as possible while returning to enjoying activities, like singing, once again.

In the final episode of our Season 2 podcast, Jamie chats with the effervescent ball of energy that is Pam Ostick - one of our original members of Cool Choir! Pam sings in about five different choirs simultaneously on average and has long enjoyed singing as a "herd" singer (in her own words). Jamie gets rather choked up as Pam complements him on his name-learning abilities and other endearing qualities as a director in this final, heartwarming episode!

Can music save your life? This week, listen to the emotional story of Cool Choir member, Rhonda Metz and how the music and singing pulled her through some very difficult family tragedy over the last few years. Rhonda has also given so much back to the community - from personal food treats in rehearsals to opening her entire home for a Summer social! What an amazing lady!

This week I chatted with the lovely Myra Skerrett - a descendant of the original Manitoba settlers in 1879! As the podcast evolved, some unexpected and uncanny links between Myra's past and that of Jamie's popped up, adding to the spontaneity of the chat further!

This week Jamie chats with one of our few but highly valued male choir members, Tik Tycholaz about his rich musical background, meeting a ton of celebrity movie stars and well.....the story behind his extremely cool name!

In 2015, Creative Director Jamie Serafi left the UK for a brand new life in Canada. Having setup and established a beautiful community choir organisation already in the UK - called 'Alive and Singing', he was now left with the heartbreaking decision of first letting all his dear friends in the choir know he was leaving - and then trying to find another dynamic leader to take over and ensure 'Alive and Singing' would LIVE ON! Cue Barbara Fleet - one of the members of the choir at the time who just happened to be at the point of her school music teaching career when she was ready to leave the profession and make a living as a musician. They say "timing is everything" in life and this was no exception as the stars aligned beautifully. Listen to the journey of how Barbara 'saved the choir' (which is still very much active today) from closing after Jamie moved to Canada!

In these difficult times we need to hear from inspirational people to remind us that in life, we can make a choice - feel sorry for ourselves or LIVE! This week, Elaine La Pointe talks very frankly about her life in a wheel chair, having been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy in her early 20's - but make no mistake - there's no "disability" as far as THIS incredible dog-loving, beloved Grandmother is concerned!

As Cool Choir turns 5 years old this week, we chat with founding Cool Choir member Barbara Sawaryn about how she and Creative Director, Jamie Serafi first met - long before Cool Choir launched! Barbara also recalls some of her fondest memories of Cool Choir over the last five years and how being part of it has profoundly impacted her life as she journeys through her own spiritual awakening amid the pandemic.

How does Tina's long-suffering executive assistant cope working alongside Creative Director, Jamie Serafi? In this podcast we learn how - plus Tina reveals some rather unexpected yet fascinating skeletons in her own closet about her past working life!

This week Jamie returned to recording in-person podcasts (socially distanced!) and had the pleasure of chatting with Cool Choir member Christina Millis (and her pet rabbit!) in the beautiful NW neighbourhood of North Haven. Christina tells us how being part of Cool Choir has improved her confidence, friendship circles and brought much needed solace from her long-term health conditions in this truly heart-warming episode of Cool Chats.

It's 'double trouble' this week as Jamie speaks with old-time friends Marian Mulligan and Terry Burstrom - infamously known as the 'Crazy Old People' of Cool Choir! Don't worry - this isn't a personal insult - it's their very own unique brand of 'crazy' - manifested as a series of quirky Youtube videos by the same name! Listen in to learn more about these two wonderfully eccentric and comical members of our Cool Choir community!

This week, Jamie chats with Lincoln Park member Marina Connors about the evocative rhythms of Brazilian music and how some of its history and culture manifest itself in day to day life.

This week we make Cool Choir history once again by introducing two members of our Cool Choir Outer Calgary North expansion (Cochrane, Airdrie and Hawkwood), Ken and Barb Strother about online dating, life in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and well...boxers and briefs!

We kick off Season 2 of the Cool Chats podcast with a highly energetic chat  with Cait Matchett about all things Yoga, British TV, Calgary and...DRAG!!!

We maybe at the height of the Corona pandemic but this didn't stop Creative Director Jamie Serafi recording this weeks' episode of 'Cool Chat's online through Zoom! Jamie chats with 'original' Cool Choir member Svetlana Bidikhova about growing up in Russia and her move to Canada in 1999. Jamie also receives a quick language lesson, learning how to ask his favourite question! Tune in to find out!

One of our few but highly valued gentlemen of Cool Choir, Bill Gould, talks to Cool Choir Creative Director, Jamie Serafi, about keeping the memory alive of his beautiful daughter Natasha, through her music and his own singing participation in Cool Choir.

We've had some time out of the Cool Chats Podcast but it's wonderful to welcome in Spring 2020 with an uplifting new episode of Cool Chats featuring Inglewood Cool Choir member, Deneise Sherlock. Deneise has had quite the journey these last few years but with the help of Cool Choir, she has come through it - what an inspirational lady!

This week, Cool Choir Creative Director Jamie Serafi chats with Cool Choir member Marielena Nuñez about linguistics, Venezuela (including food!) and how singing with Cool Choir has profoundly improved her use and understanding of English as a second language!

This week, Jamie chats with one of our youngest members of Cool Choir, Ben Schmalz about all things Debussy and his love of classical piano. Ben also plays live at the piano an extract from Debussy's impressionist piece 'Estampes'. Let these beautiful melodies and harmonies wash over you.

Spring has sprung after a long Winter and what better than to record this episode outside in the company of Cool Choir childhood sweethearts Dominic and Maria Gagliardi (and the odd "meow" from my cat Oreo in between) who chat about growing up in Calgary but still staying close to those lovely Italian traditions.

In this special "St Paddy's" themed episode of the 'Cool Chats' podcast, Jamie Serafi speaks to Irish Cool Choir member Veronica about Irish traditions, music and leprechauns!

In this episode Jamie Serafi, Creative Director of Cool Choir chats with Inglewood member Margot Leahy about her life in Calgary's beautiful Italian quarter, Bridgeland

In this episode Jamie Serafi, Creative Director of Cool Choir chats with Award-winning Calgary poet, author and Cool Choir member Richard Harrison about how singing in Cool Choir has positively impacted his presentation skills as a writer and public speaker.

The very first episode of 'Cool Chats' Cool Choir podcast. In this episode Jamie Serafi, Creative Director of Cool Choir chats with Hillhurst Sunnyside member, Elizabeth Newbold-Koenders.