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HITTING A HIGH NOTE
By BRENNA VISSER
COAST WEEKEND
N
ot a minute is wasted at the Cannon
Beach Chorus.
Every Monday night, the lobby
of the Cannon Beach Community Church
is packed with more than 60 singers with
name tags that show people from Oceans-
ide, Oregon, to Ocean Park, Washington,
ready to sing at 6:30 p.m. They come from
all walks of life, with some members still in
high school and others more than 80-years-
old.
And at the helm is their director, John
Buehler, who made sure warm-ups began
no later than 6:31 p.m.
“The discipline is what allows people
to do this casually,” Buehler said. “You
don’t get this time back, so I plan to the
minute. There are many different needs that
need to be addressed every minute, and it’s
supremely important that people’s time is
honored.”
But moments of seriousness are laced
with lighthearted fun.
“Bless your heart but not your throats,”
Buehler said after the choir was trending
fl at after multiple repetitions of a phrase, a
comment met with a roll of laughter.
Now in its 30th year, the choir, current-
ly in the throes of preparing a Christmas
Oratorio, is known to perform regularly
in the community and across the coast. To
celebrate, the choir will have a piece com-
missioned especially for them to premiere
next spring.
Continued on Page 15
PHOTOS BY COLIN MURPHEY
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Cannon Beach Cho-
rus, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, re-
hearses under the direction of John Buehler.
Members of the Cannon Beach Chorus practice
under the direction of John Buehler, right, as the
group prepares for upcoming performances.
John Buehler conducts the Cannon Beach Cho-
rus during a rehearsal. The group is celebrating
its 30th anniversary this year.
Cannon Beach
Chorus celebrates
30 years