Volume 1: Issue 2 Winter 2019 Noteworthy Official Newsletter Publication of the Manitoba Choral Association, Inc. Enjoy access to our new online Newsletter! Manitoba Choral Association Office Vol. 1 No. 2 Winter 2019 Editor: Karen Giesbrecht Co-Editor: Millie Hildebrand Executive Director: Robert Neufeld ​ President: Catherine Robbins ​ Past President: Millie Hildebrand ​ Treasurer: Adam Kilfoyle ​ Marketing & Communications: Karen ​ Giesbrecht P.D.: Roberta Matheson ​ Library: Janna Banman ​ Membership: Stephanie Pinette ​ Choralfest: Brittany Mielnichuk 5-276 Marion Street ​ Winnipeg, MB Provincial Honour Choir: Marilyn ​ Canada, R2H 0T7 Redekop Ph: (204)942-6037 Fundraising: TBA Fax: (204)947-3105 ​ Email: [email protected] ​ Regional Representatives: Website: www.manitobasings.org ​ Michelle Chyzyk, Edward Cloud, Michael Dueck, Kim Jones, Mary Siemens 2 Table of Contents Editor’s Note 5 President’s Message 6 Choralfest 2018 7 Choralfest- Celebration in Images 9 Choralfest Jazz- In Images 11 Provincial Honour Choirs 2019 13 Regional Reports 17 Central Region 17 Eastman Region 18 Interlake Region 20 Norman Region 21 Westman Region 22 Spotlight on Manitoba Music Educators 25 Elementary- Stephanie Pinette 25 Middle Years- Heather Clyde 29 Senior Years- Kristel Peters 32 Vocal Health-Catherine Robbins 35 MCA Online and Social Media (and the Bus!) 39 Submissions for Future Articles 40 3 4 Editor’s Note Happy New Year! For many educators, September generally feels like the start of everything new. For many Music Educators, we have just come through the start-up of the year, our touchstone Choralfest (many photos included in this issue), prepping choirs for first performances, and of course, the many Winter and Christmas concerts that we stage with our school, community and church choirs. I’m hoping you have all come through this busy season feeling invigorated and re-inspired. With the new year comes time for pause, a moment to re-evaluate where things are at within programs and for each of us personally. There is a general buzz of excitement on the MCA board and definitely within the ranks of the Marketing and Media Committee. We took your suggestions and are featuring fellow Music Educators in this issue of Noteworthy. We will take a peek into the music programs of Stephanie Pinette (Ecole Robert Browning) , Heather Clyde (Ecole Morden Middle School) and Kristel Peters (Steinbach Regional Secondary School) . As well, we will see a refreshing perspective from Choralfest as both a director and clinician from the highly energetic and inspiring Kendra Obach. And as always, we tap into our Regional Choral Reps and feature the goings-on of our very busy regions around Manitoba. Our Resources section features our President, Catherine Robbins’ article on Vocal Health in its entirety. Valuable tips and information indeed! There are many opportunities to “Raise Your Voice” in our wonderfully musical province. All the best to my fellow music educators, as you prepare for festivals, rehearse for your musicals, plan your tours , and otherwise keep music happening on a daily basis in your classrooms! And as always, keep in touch with MCA on Facebook, our Website (www.manitoba-sings.org), on Instagram and through our e-Notes. If there is anything ​ ​ that you would like highlighted or brought to a larger audience, let us know and we can make that happen on one of our many social media platforms! Cheers! Karen Giesbrecht - Noteworthy Editor 5 President’s Message Happy New Year Choral Friends! In this issue you will catch a glimpse of the vibrant choral life in Manitoba. It is truly incredible to see how much happens in our province, and the diversity of choral events taking place throughout Manitoba. To those involved in making Choralfest and Provincial Honour Choir such wonderful experiences for the hundreds of singers involved, a most heartfelt thank you. We are grateful for the continuing commitment of the many volunteers that make these large event a success. In particular, thank you to Marilyn Redekop for her tireless work as PHC Committee Chair, and Stuart Sladden who headed the Choralfest Committee and its many moving parts. For me, it has been a joy to see the comradery shared by our visiting and local conductors, adjudicators, and the participants from across the province. MCA is committed to sustaining programs that encourage such connections, and to creating spaces where singers and conductors can showcase their hard work and continue to grow. I would like to formally welcome three new members to the MCA Board: Brittany Mielnichuk, our new Choralfest Committee Chair; Michelle Chyzyk, Representative for Westman Region; and Edward Cloud, Representative for Interlake Region. Great thanks on behalf of the board to Stuart Sladden for his work as Past Chair of the Choralfest Committee, to Andrée Dagenais in the Westman Region, and to Lauren Dobko, former Interlake Representative. Your service to MCA is so greatly appreciated and valued. Manitoba Choral Association exists to support the choral community. Please take advantage of our many resources, programs, workshops, and singing opportunities. If you know someone who wants to join a choir in any area of the province, have them contact us to get singing. If you would like to advertise membership in your choir, or to publicize your concerts or choral events, please contact us so we can get the word out by posting on our website and through social media. We are a strong choral community and Manitoba Choral Association connects us all. We want to connect with you, our membership. Raise your voice, Catherine Robbins MCA President 6 Choralfest 2018 Choralfest from the Eyes and Ears of Director & Clinician - by Kendra Obach Choir is community. Choir is supporting each other, listening to each other and learning from one another. Choir is joy in sharing; sharing music, sharing ideas, sharing joy, bus rides, and McDonalds stops. This is choir, and this is ChoralFest! What a week it was! I am so incredibly thankful! What an absolute honour it was to have the opportunity to work with your ensembles. It was so exciting (and if I’m being honest, a bit daunting) to share ideas with so many colleagues, from brand new teachers to choral legends. Thank you to the conductors, who not only prep choristers and music, teach vocal technique and inspire singers daily, but also complete field trip forms, bus requisitions, sub plans, etc. There is so much involved in getting to an event like this (trust me! I know!). But you do it! You do it because it is such an awesome opportunity for your singers to perform, learn and experience the choral community in Manitoba. The singers that I had the chance to work with varied from the most committed and keenest choristers, to the ones dragged into choir by their friend (you know, because they don’t have to write very much) – but either way, our singers were kind, willing to try new things and engaged young people. This is a beautiful thing. This year, I had the unique opportunity of both sitting at the adjudicator’s table as well as conducting at the podium. I have long known the excitement and nervousness of performance, the awkward standing in between songs, the hope that singers will remember where to stand, and of course, the huge benefit of my singers learning from someone other than me. Now, I feel as though I have a better idea of how genuine and encouraging our adjudicators are, wishing the absolute best for each choir. I know how much thought and care actually goes into that little piece of paper that we get to take and read with our classes. I’ve also increasingly realized that everyone is different, each conductor/adjudicator comes with their own interpretation, their own values and their own experience – all you can do is be YOU. 7 Many people have asked me what I learned from my week at ChoralFest, here are my responses: 1) Repertoire! My oh my! So much amazing, amazing choral music out there! I wrote down so many titles. If you ever have the chance to just go and watch a week of ChoralFest, do it! Wow! 2) Priorities. Really and truly, ChoralFest helped me take stock of what I find important in choral singing. Yes, singing with full body engagement, using emotion to guide musical decisions, but first and foremost – growth as community. Being proud of what you are doing, not comparing your choir to other choirs, be strong in who you are as an ensemble. Thank you so very much to all the volunteers, the ChoralFest committee, conductors, singers, all the people who make this possible (along with so many other events). MCA – you are just awesome. Thanks also to Dr. Debra Cairns and Kathleen Allan for support, ideas and teamwork. It truly was an honour. ChoralFest has left my ears and my heart full. Kendra Obach conducting the Warren Collegiate Choir. 8 Choralfest- Celebration in Images In celebration of our amazing Manitoba choirs that participated in Choralfest, here is a montage of photos showcasing our many voices rising in song! Arthur E. Wright Community School Gr. 7 & 8 Choir - Director Geung Kroeker-Lee (above) Robertson singers, (grades 4-6) from Robertson School - Director Joanne Kilfoyle (below) 9 Top l-r: Garden City Collegiate (Stacey Nattrass); Maples Coll. Sr Choir (Erin Thorleifson); SRSS Chamber (Kristel.Peters) Centre l-r: Stuart Sladden with Stonewall Collegiate choir; Nostra Canzona, Killarney (Lisa Campbell); Kathleen Allen with Sisler Gr.9 Bottom l-r: Ecole Sisler Boys Choir (Carolyn Boyes), SRSS (Kristel Peters), Northlands Parkway Sr (Karen Giesbrecht) 10 Choralfest Jazz- In Images Top l-r: VOX soloist; Lisa Martinelli (clinician) with Harmonix; NPC’s VOX (Karen Giesbrecht) Middle l-r: Lisa Martinelli in workshop; Cynthia Peyson Wahl (clinician) & Stuart Sladden; MCI’s “Resonate” (Christina Banman) Bottom - l & c: Garden City Groove (Stacey Nattrass); Rob Monson (clinician) working with VOX 11 Maples Collegiate’s “Baby Sugar” (Dorothy Dyck) at Jazz Choralfest @ Westwood Collegiate.