LUMINOUS VOICES PRESENTS October 18 New Music Release

Photo by Kenton Smith

Zoom October 18, 2020 3PM OUR WHY: CHORAL MUSIC OF EXCELLENCE AND REFINEMENT TRANSCENDS TIME AND PLACE, EXPRESSES EMOTION AND EXPERIENCE, CONNECTS, AND TRANSFORMS COMMUNITIES. OUR HOW: LUMINOUS VOICES, ’S PROFESSIONAL CHAMBER CHOIR, WAS FOUNDED IN 2012 BY CONDUCTOR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR TIMOTHY SHANTZ. WE UNITE LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO ILLUMINATE CHORAL MUSIC OF THE PAST AND PRESENT, SPANNING CULTURES AND TRADITIONS. WE ENGAGE AUDIENCES IN CALGARY AND BEYOND THROUGH EXCEPTIONAL SONIC EXPERIENCES ENCOMPASSING LIVE AND VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES, RECORDINGS, WORKSHOPS, NEW COMMISSIONS BY CONTEMPORARY COMPOSERS, AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT.

Luminous Voices, founded in 2012 by conductor and Artistic Director Dr. Board of Directors Timothy Shantz, continues to thrill Cathy Billington | PRESIDENT audiences in Calgary and beyond David Partridge | VICE-PRESIDENT through performances, recordings and Christina Jahn | SECRETARY workshops. Tom Mirhady | TREASURER Rod McKay | DIRECTOR The choir has two recordings to their name, the most recent is The Far West Meghan Goguen | GENERAL released in May 2016. Joshua Kosman of MANAGER the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “beautifully sung, as everything here is, by the aptly named Luminous Voices under Timothy Shantz.” The Far West is the winner of the 2018 National Choral Award for Outstanding Choral Recording and 2016 National Choral “NO CHOIR CAN ACHIEVE THIS LEVEL OF Award for Outstanding Choral EXCELLENCE IN SUCH DIFFICULT MUSIC Composition from Choral Canada. The WITHOUT FINE SINGERS AND A first recording, Mendelssohn’s TeDeum CONDUCTOR OF TALENT AND ADVANCED released in March 2015 was the winner MUSICAL CAPABILITY. AND THIS of the 2016 Choral Canada award for LATTER ROLE LUMINOUS VOICES HAS Outstanding Choral Recording. WITH TIMOTHY SHANTZ.” Luminous Voices illuminates Kenneth DeLong, Calgary Herald exceptional choral music of the past and present while supporting contemporary composers by commissioning new works.

www.luminousvoices.com TIMOTHY SHANTZ Founder and Artistic Director

Timothy Shantz brings a wealth of expertise and artistry to his roles as Chorus Master, Conductor and Artistic Director. He is an experienced conductor, collaborator, and tenor soloist. He is the Chorus Master for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Founder and Artistic Director of Luminous Voices and served as Artistic Director of Spiritus Chamber Choir during a very successful period with the choir. In 2019, Timothy Shantz joins the Department of Music at The University of as an Associate Professor. As a conductor, Shantz is recognized for his work Timothy Shantz has several recordings to in early-music, contemporary works, and his name, including Zachary Wadsworth’s virtuoso unaccompanied choral music, as well as The Far West (2016) of which Joshua large choral-orchestral masterpieces. Kenneth Kosman of the San Francisco Chronicle DeLong of the Calgary Herald wrote, “It is hard wrote “beautifully sung, as everything here to believe that it has been a full decade since is, by the aptly named Luminous Voices Timothy Shantz became the chorus master of under Timothy Shantz.” “The Far West“ was the CPO Chorus. During this decade, Shantz, awarded the 2018 National Choral Award always energetic and full of initiative, has for Outstanding Choral Recording and 2016 transformed the choral life of the city.” Under his National Choral Award for Outstanding direction, Spiritus Chamber Choir earned the Choral Composition from Choral Canada. Healey Willan Grand Prize from the Canada The choir’s first recording, “Mendelssohn’s Council in 2017 and 2013 and has toured Te Deum” earned the 2016 Choral Canada internationally, earning second prize at the award for Outstanding Choral Recording. Fleischmann International Choral Competition Other recordings include, James in Cork, Ireland as well as second prize at the MacMillan's Seven Last Words (Spring Florilège Vocal de Tours in France. 2014), All the Stars Looked Down (2012) and Of Stars and Solitude (2010) with Spiritus Shantz's preparation of choruses for major Chamber Choir. Performance highlights as orchestral works has been equally successful. He tenor include Händel's Messiah at Carnegie has collaborated with conductors Rune Hall, soloist and ensemble singer at the Bergmann, Christoph König, Matthew Halls, Carmel Bach Festival (2008-2016) and twice Paul Hillier, James MacMillan, Nicholas with the Lucerne Festival Academy under McGegan, Roberto Minczuk, John Morris Russell, the direction of Pierre Boulez. Yoav Talmi, Ivars Tuarins and Jean-Marie Zeitouni among others. He has also performed Shantz holds a Doctor of Music degree in as tenor in under the direction of Pierre Boulez, Choral Conducting from Indiana University Frieder Bernius, Paul Goodwin, Paul Hillier, Jacobs School of Music with a dissertation Andrew Megill, John Poole, Leonard Ratzlaff, analyzing the unaccompanied choral work Daniel Reuss, Robert Shaw, Richard Sparks, Jon Sun-Dogs by composer James MacMillan. Washburn and Bruno Weil. Program

To See a World Sven-David Sandström (1942-2019) Recorded Saturday, October 3, 2020 St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary

Ein Deutsches Requiem Johannes Brahms IV - Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (1833-1897) Heather Schmidt, piano Live performance recording Sunday, February 12, 2017 Bella Concert Hall, Calgary

And the swallow (Psalm 84) Caroline Shaw (b. 1982) Recorded Saturday, October 3, 2020 St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary

Ein Deutsches Requiem Johannes Brahms VII - Selig sind die Toten Cheryl Emery, piano Recorded Saturday, October 3, 2020 St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary

In Canadian Woods (2017) Heather Schmidt* (b. 1974) Katie Partridge, soprano Heather Schmidt, piano Live performance recording Sunday, February 12, 2017 Bella Concert Hall, Calgary

O Schöne Nacht Johannes Brahms Cheryl Emery, piano Recorded Saturday, October 3, 2020 St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary

If Ye Love Me Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) Recorded Saturday, October 3, 2020 St. Laurence Anglican Church, Calgary

*Canadian Composer Luminous Voices

Saturday, October 3, 2020 Soprano Alto Tenor Bass

Julie Crouch Julie Freedman- Boyd Graeme Climie Kathleen Smith Hansen Dave Latos Warke Julia Millen Oliver Munar Wes Nickel Sara Staples Jason Ragan Cheryl Emery, piano Paul Chirka, audio Mark Riddle, video Deluxe Design Group (DDG)

Special thanks to: St. Laurence Anglican Church for the use of the space for distanced recording and rehearsals

Sunday, February 12, 2017 Soprano Alto Tenor Bass

Julie Crouch Aoife Bonaventura Bill Hamm Roderick Bryce Christina Jahn Julie Freedman- Boyd Hansen Paul Grindlay Jolaine Kerley Smith Stuart MacQuarrie Bryan Hryciw Benila Ninan Julia Millen Oliver Munar Dave Latos Katie Partridge Meghan Prescott Caleb Nelson Wes Nickel Kathleen Sara Staples Rod Olson Jordan Van Biert Warke Patricia Thompson Heather Schmidt, piano Mark Ellestad, audio Mark Riddle, video Deluxe Design Group (DDG) Texts & Translations

To See A World Text: William Blake

To see a World in a Grain of Sand, And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour.

Ein Deutsches Requiem (Mvmt IV) Text: Psalm 84: 1,2,4

Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen, How lovely are thy dwelling places, O Herr Zebaoth! Lord of Hosts! Meine Seele verlanget und sehnet sich My soul requires and yearns for the nach den Vorhöfen des Herrn; courts of the Lord; mein Leib und Seele freuen sich in My body and soul rejoice in the living dem lebendigen Gott. God. Wohl denen, die in deinem Hause How lovely are thy dwelling places, O wohnen, Lord of Hosts! die loben dich immerdar! Blessed are they that dwell in thy house; they praise you forever. How lovely are thy dwelling places!

and the swallow (psalm 84) Text: excerpts from Psalm 84

How beloved is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts, My soul yearns, faints; my heart and my flesh cry out. The sparrow found a house, and the swallow her nest, Where she may raise her young. They pass through the valley of Bakka, they make it a place of springs, the autumn rains also cover it with pools. Ein Deutsches Requiem (Mvmt VII) Text: Revelation 14:13

Selig sind die Toten, Blessed are the dead die in dem Herrn sterben, von nun an. which die in the Lord from henceforth. Ja, der Geist spricht, Yea, says the Spirit, daß sie ruhen von ihrer Arbeit; that they may rest from their labors; denn ihre Werke folgen ihnen nach. and their works do follow them.

In Canadian Woods Text Selections from Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie and The Backwoods of Canada by Catherine Parr Traill

Across the wide and stormy sea To trace our foaming track, And know the wave that heaves us on Will never bear us back?

From the cedar swamp the gaunt wolves howl, From the oak loud whoops the felon owl; Our fate is seal’d! “Tis now in vain to sigh For home, or friends, or country left behind. Come, dry those tears, and lift the downcast eye

The moan of the wind The deep stillness of the woods Of sunshine and shade, Of storm and calm.

No painful regret No fearful misgiving Establish peace; the wilderness become.

Can you in Canadian woods With me the harvest bind, Nor feel one lingering, sad regret For all you leave behind? Thy country shall be my country Thy people shall by my people Fire-flies illuminate the air with their brilliant dancing light Falling stars in mid-air

As I sat in the wood in silence and in darkness, My thoughts wandered back to my old home A holy and tranquil peace came down upon me, Soothing and softening my spirits into a calmness

O schöne Nacht Text: Georg Friedrich Daumer

O schöne Nacht! Oh beautiful night! Am Himmel märchenhaft The moon is fabulously shining in its Erglänzt der Mond in seiner ganzen complete splendour in the sky; Pracht; Around it, sweet company of little Um ihn der kleinen Sterne liebliche stars. Genossenschaft. Oh beautiful night!

Es schimmert hell der Tau The dew is shimmering brightly on Am grünen Halm; mit Macht the green blades of grass; Im Fliederbusche schlägt die The nightingale sings ardently in the Nachtigall; lilac bush, and Der Knabe schleicht zu seiner Liebsten The boy steals softly to his lover. sacht - O schöne Nacht! Oh beautiful night!

If ye love me Text: John 14:15-17

If ye love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another comforter. That he may bide with you forever: E'en the sp'rit of truth. Luminous Voices Biographies

Soprano

JULIE CROUCH

Julie Crouch grew up in a home filled with music, studying piano for 12 years before switching to voice. She sang in touring choirs in both high school and college. After a five- year hiatus, she credits her sister -- singer and vocal instructor Michelle Crouch -- as well as Eva Bostrand (Storefront Studios, ) with getting her back into the singing that she loves so much. A longtime member of the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir and a founding member of Luminous Voices, Julie also enjoys regular collaborations with VoiceScapes and Early Music Voices.

When she's not singing, Julie facilitates healing through her hands at Acadia Massage Therapy.

CHRISTINA JAHN

Soprano Christina Jahn is very grateful to have appeared both as a soloist and ensemble singer for over 25 years with leading Canadian early music groups and professional ensembles such as the Consort, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Opera Atelier, Early Music , Vancouver Cantata Singers, Toronto Masque Theatre, Aradia Baroque Ensemble, Sine Nomine Ensemble for Medieval Music, Alberta Baroque Ensemble, and at the Carmel Bach Festival in California. She has recorded for Marquis, NAXOS, Skylark and CBC Records. Christina founded musica intima in Vancouver and since her return to Calgary in 2000, formed and is Artistic Director for VoiceScapes, Calgary’s critically-acclaimed professional vocal ensemble. A strong proponent of developing emerging talent, she has provided stepping stone opportunities for over 150 young singers through the Debut Singers program at VoiceScapes Sing Along Messiah and through regular collaborations on VoiceScapes programs. Christina is a founding member of Luminous Voices – both as a singer and on the board. In addition to extensive work in early music, Christina has also premiered and recorded a number of new compositions by Canadian composers, and has done fun engagements like singing to over 25,000 people at Globalfest’s Fireworks Finale. Christina has contributed significantly to community arts and service organizations over the last 30 years, serving on boards in AB, BC and ON. This year she returns to the Luminous Voices board and will be an inaugural board member for String Theory Music Collective. Outside of music, Christina has recently set up her own consulting practice as a learning & development specialist and coach.

JOLAINE KERLEY

Jolaine Kerley is active as a soprano soloist, voice instructor, adjudicator, choral conductor, and clinician. She is currently Assistant Professor of Music at Concordia University of Edmonton, while maintaining a large private voice studio in Edmonton and area. Jolaine is artistic director of Ariose Women’s Choir and conductor of the Archbishop Jordan High School Choral Program, as well as interim director of Bella Voce Women’s Ensemble. Jolaine has received undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees in voice and choral conducting from the University of Alberta, and a graduate degree with a major in voice and minor in choral conducting and music history from the Early Music Institute at Indiana’s Jacobs School of Music.

BENILA NINAN

Benila Ninan was born and raised in Edmonton and moved to Vancouver in 2009. She graduated from the University of Alberta with degrees in Voice Performance and Education. Benila also studied at the Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Hungary. She is nearing completion of a Master's degree in Music Education at the University of . in addition to Luminous Voices, for which she is a founding member, Benila has performed as a choral singer with Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton) and musica intima (Vancouver). She has represented Canada as both a singer and section leader for the World Youth Choir through the International Federation for Choral Music, which has taken her on numerous international tours. Benila's most recent engagements as a soprano soloist include Bach's Mass in B Minor with Summer Chor, Saint-Saëns' Messe de Requiem with the Oratorio Singers, and Bach's Wachet auf, ruft uns die stimme with the Vancouver Cantata Singers. She is an adjudicator and clinician of choirs, most recently at the Cantando Festival (Whistler), Choralfest North (Edmonton), and the Music Festival (Oshawa and Brampton).

Benila is currently a section leader with the Vancouver Cantata Singers. She has been on the faculties of such prestigious schools as Victoria School of Performing and Visual Arts (Edmonton) and Collingwood School (West Vancouver). She currently teaches music at York House School in Vancouver.

KATIE PARTRIDGE

Katie Partridge received her vocal training at the University of Calgary and the Banff Centre for the Arts and studied early music with The Hilliard Ensemble, Paul Hillier, Suzie LeBlanc, and Peter Phillips. She was a founding member of the Early Music Consort of Calgary, with whom she released two recordings.

Katie spent three seasons with the Elmer Iseler Singers and, while living in Toronto, performed with the Amadeus Choir, Sine Nomine, and worked with conductors Helmut Rilling and Tonu Kallujste. She has been a core member of Luminous Voice since 2012 and is featured on their recordings of Mendelssohn’s Te Deum, The Far West and their upcoming release of works by Peter Togni. Katie was the soprano soloist in Luminous Voices’ performances of Togni’s Responsio and will be a soloist in his commissioned piece for the Calgary Renaissance Singers and Players in 2020. Last year, Katie performed with Early Music Alberta in a concert featuring the music of François Couperin.

KATHLEEN WARKE

Kathleen Warke began her singing career in the fine Lutheran choral tradition at Augustana University. She has been a chorister and soloist with Pro Coro Canada, Ensemble de la Rue, VoiceScapes, Windsor Classic Chorale (Ontario), New Art Voices (Indiana), and many different university ensembles, most notably the award-winning University of Alberta Madrigal Singers. Currently, she is a proud member of the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir in Calgary, Canada. Kathleen studied voice for many years with Eva Bostrand, and holds a Master's degree in Ethnomusicology. She is a founding member of Luminous Voices.

Alto

AOIFE BONAVENTURA

Mezzo-soprano Aoife Bonaventura, a founding member of Luminous Voices, is a music graduate of the University of Toronto and the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) in London, UK. She currently studies with Winston Noren at Mount Royal Conservatory, and has studied with Diane Forlano, Jean MacPhail, and Jonathan Papp. She was also a member of the core in the RAM production of Rameau’s Dardanus under the direction of Laurence Cummings. Aoife sang as a chorister with the Opera Atelier productions of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Acteon, the Toronto Symphony’s performance of Bach’s Magnificat with a select ensemble under the direction of Ivars Taurins, and three times with the International Festival Ensemble under Helmuth Rilling in Stuttgart, Germany. Currently, in addition to Luminous Voices, she performs often with VoiceScapes and La VIe. In addition to her musical education, she also holds an engineering degree from the University of Calgary. She works as a drilling engineer and is currently on maternity leave with her baby daughter.

JULIE FREEDMAN-SMITH

Alto Julie Freedman Smith has been singing since childhood and has travelled the world with her music. A founding member of Luminous Voices, she loves to perform and to teach, having spent many years as a music teacher, voice instructor, choral conductor, soloist and clinician. Since 2002, she has encouraged parents across the country as co-founder of Parenting Power.

JULIA MILLEN

Julia Millen holds a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance (Lethbridge) and a Master of Music degree in musicology (Toronto). She has sung with Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and Opera Atelier. She has worked with Dr. Elmer Iseler, Lydia Adams, Kevin Mallon, Ivars Taurins, Jon Washburn, and Herve Niquet. She is principal alto in the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, and a longtime member of the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir. She is a founding member of Luminous Voices.

Julia also has a career in science communications and environmental education, and is currently the community and partner relations team lead for Alberta Parks (Kananaskis Region). Her interests include hiking, botanizing, cross-country skiing, and insect illustration. MEGHAN PRESCOTT

Meghan Prescott is originally from the Waterloo region of Ontario, Canada, where she studied piano, voice and violin at the Beckett School of Music, and was a student in the Eastwood Collegiate Arts Program. She spent three years travelling throughout the United States as a singer and vocal coach with Life Action Ministries. She studied voice with Stephanie Kramer at the University of Waterloo, taught piano and voice at the Guelph School of Music, and maintained a private piano studio for many years. A lifelong choral singer, Meghan sang seven seasons with the Grammy-nominated Elora Festival Singers (Noel Edison, director). She is also a founding member of Luminous Voices.

When she's not singing or at the office, she enjoys spending time in the mountains or exploring the city with her husband.

SARA STAPLES

Sara Staples, Mezzo-Soprano, has been singing and performing ever since she discovered the stage. She fell in love with classical music at a young age, while singing for many years in a Calgary children’s choir. She continued on to take private voice lessons and began to discover her love of art song and opera. She went on to achieve a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from the University of Southern California.

While pursuing her studies, Sara performed the operatic roles of Nancy in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring (USC Thornton Opera), Hermia in Britten’s A Midsummer Night's Dream (U. of North Texas Opera) and Hora in Cavalli’s Egisto (U. of North Texas Opera). She has also portrayed roles in numerous scenes from the operas L’incoronazione di Poppea, Candide, I Capuletti e i Montecchi, Don Giovanni, La Calisto and Così fan tutte. Equally at home on the concert stage, Sara has been featured as a soloist with The Richard Eaton Singers, Calgary Bach Society, Luminous Voices, Voicescapes, Symphony of the Vines, and The Horizon Music Group. In 2009, Ms. Staples was a soloist at both the Taipei International Choral Festival and the Boston Early Music Festival. Also an active recitalist, Ms. Staples has performed as a part of the MountainView International Festival of Song and Chamber Music, The Paso Robles Paderewski Festival, The Sunday’s Live Concert series at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Casalmaggiore International Festival.

Since returning back to Alberta, she has performed the roles of The Foreign Princess in Dvořák’s Rusalka (Opera NUOVA), and Doris Whithers in Mr. Moreover’s Magic (Opera NUOVA) for the 2011 Fall School Tour in Edmonton. In Calgary she has portrayed La Suora Zelatrice in Suor Angelica (Calgary Concert Opera), Hansel in Hansel and Gretel (Cowtown Opera), Mercédès in Carmen (Calgary Concert Opera) Maria in The Sound of Music (Cowtown Opera) as well as a number of other local concerts and performances. Sara also teaches voice lessons in Calgary, and hopes that students of all ages will share the joy in music that has been such an essential part of her life.

PATRICIA THOMPSON

Mezzo-soprano Patricia Thompson, a founding member of Luminous Voices, is the soloist you hear in Schubert's Ständchen (Zögernd leise) on Luminous Voices' award- winning Mendelssohn's Te Deum album. She has been a frequent soloist with the Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra; the Bach Societies of Louisville, West Lafayette, IN and St. Louis; the Hale Library Concert Series; and the Masterworks Chorus of New Jersey, making her Carnegie Hall debut in 2009. She has sung with the famed Dale Warland Singers, where she was featured on the award-winning recordings Cathedral Classics and December Stillness with the Ensemble Singers of Vocalessence in Minneapolis.

In recital, Patricia has been praised for "bringing to the texts an expressive intensity, interpreting their emotional values with a sympathetic grasp that effectively revealed their inherent drama, all without sacrificing beauty of vocal production."Patricia recently celebrated her 12th season as a recitalist and member of the Professional Chorale of the Carmel Bach Festival. She is a member and soloist of the Spire Chamber Ensemble of Kansas City. Also an enthusiastic jazz singer, her first vocal jazz album, It's Only Natural, will be released this winter. She holds degrees from St. Olaf College (BM), and Indiana University (MM and DM), and is Associate Professor of Voice at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.

Tenor

BILL HAMM

Bill Hamm, a founding member of Luminous Voices, has been the Music Director of Rosebud Centre of the Arts since 1989. He has degrees in Choral Conducting, studying primarily with Bill Baerg () and Don V. Moses (U. of Illinois). He has sung in many choirs throughout his career. He currently conducts four choirs, teaches voice and speech classes, and has acted and directed music for numerous theatre shows. As well, Bill currently sings with the Canadian Chamber Choir, and chairs the Rosebud Festival Society. His diverse musical interests (Bach to Bluegrass) and experience as a trumpeter, choral director, and theatre musician allows him to experience a rich life. The Luminous Voices schedule affords Bill the opportunity to participate in the finest choral music-making even though he comes from out of town, for which he is most thankful. Bill lives in Rosebud with his wife Renita. They have four children and two grandchildren. He loves running, mountain biking, hockey, and renovating their 1928 farm house.

BOYD HANSEN

Boyd Hansen began singing at the age of seven with the Calgary Boys' Choir. This early exposure to the joys of choral music and the rich experience it affords led him to continue singing with choirs including the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Chamber and Jazz Choirs, the University of Lethbridge Singers, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Vocal Point Chamber Choir (Toronto), Strata (Hamilton, ON), and Il Sono Men's Vocal Ensemble. He has performed with VoiceScapes and in joint concerts with Pro Coro Canada, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus.

Boyd is a founding member of Luminous Voices. He holds degrees in physics and engineering, and is currently employed as an integrated circuit design engineer.

STUART MACQUARRIE

Stuart MacQuarrie is a record producer, songwriter, remixer, and composer. He has been performing for audiences in Calgary and around the world for more than 30 years, both as a chorister and featured performer. His original music has been licensed internationally into feature films, television series, video games, and advertisements. Stuart feels profoundly privileged to sing with Luminous Voices, and feels blessed to perform with such a remarkable ensemble of gifted musicians. OLIVER MUNAR

Oliver Munar is a veteran ensemble singer who is in increasing demand as a concert and operatic tenor. A founding member and frequent soloist with Luminous Voices, Oliver also collaborates as chorister and soloist with Edmonton-based Pro Coro Canada, and as soloist and chorus conductor with Calgary Concert Opera Company.

Oliver was recently celebrated in an unexpected, “remarkable” debut as the title role of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also recognized for “considerable vocal gifts” as a soloist in Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine with Early Music Voices and Rosa Barocca. Other recent soloist performances included Mozart’s Requiem with the award-winning Da Camera Singers (Edmonton), Handel’s Messiah with the Foothills Philharmonic Society, J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, and Mozart’s Vesperae solennes de confessore. On the operatic stage, he performed the roles of Gastone in Verdi’s La traviata, the Philistine Messenger in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila, and the title character of Britten’s Albert Herring.

Oliver completed a Master of Music performance degree with operatic tenor John Tessier and vocal coach Shannon Hiebert, with both of whom he continues to train.

CALEB NELSON

Caleb Dale Nelson was born in small town Wetaskiwin, Alberta and grew up on his parents farm. Singing is a natural expression for Caleb as his family atmosphere has been described as a re-incarnation of the VonTraps on more than one occasion. While attending post-secondary, Caleb joined the Madrigal Singers as a classical tenor while also playing trumpet in the U of A and MacEwan collaborative jazz bands. While at the U of A Caleb met many other musicians with his passion for the voice and other instrumentation, as well as the vision to bring choral music into the mainstream for young men through a cappella arrangements. That group has grown into a 6-man powerhouse, 6 Minute Warning. In 2010, Caleb began working as a recording engineer for Edmonton’s Wolf Willow Sound doing dialogue editing for television shows and video games. His work at the studio has influenced the push for a home recording studio to have a space to perform on more instruments, write and record original songs, as well as help other artists with their own creativity. Caleb’s skill set expands from voice and trumpet to piano, guitar, bass, and will continue to grow as he dedicates more time to his craft.

ROD OLSON

Tenor Rod Olson, has an extensive and varied career as a choral singer; the Augustana Choir, Pro Coro Canada, the National Youth Choir, Vancouver Cantata Singers, Calgary’s Spiritus Chamber Choir and Voicescapes. He performed and recorded with Edmonton male ensembles ecō and Voce. Rod has done solo work with VoiceScapes, and with the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus during his time as principal tenor. When Rod is not singing, he operates Leaf & Lyre Urban Farms helping provide Calgarians with nutrient dense, locally grown vegetables. He is currently very excited to be working on a 30 acre community growing project called Land of Dreams that brings three of his passions together; regenerative agriculture, reconciliation with our indigenous communities and welcoming newcomers.

JASON RAGAN

Born and raised in Magrath, Alberta, tenor Jason Ragan completed a Master of Music degree at the University of Western Ontario under the tutelage of Theodore Baerg. He also graduated from the University of Lethbridge where he studied voice with Blaine Hendsbee. As a member of Calgary Opera's Emerging Artists Program, Jason performed the roles of Blind in Die Fledermaus, both First Priest and Armed Man in Die Zauberflöte, and Graf Albert in the Canadian premiere of Korngold's Die Tote Stadt. Previous roles include Gonzalve in L'heure espagnole, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, and male chorus in The Rape of Lucretia with UWOpera.

Bass

RODERICK BRYCE

Hailing from Edinburgh, Scotland, Roderick was in great demand there as a baritone, teacher, vocal coach and choral director. As a singer he broadcast often on BBC Radio 4 and regularly sang with Cappella Nova, including on their third disc of music by James Macmillan (Linn Records). He has recorded Bach’s Matthäus-Passion (Linn Records), and sung across Scotland, Northern Ireland and France with the Dunedin Consort. He has appeared with Masaaki Suzuki’s Bach Collegium Japan at the Edinburgh International Festival. Roderick was director of the Scottish Chamber Choir; founder and director of Sospiro Baroque and chorus master for the Erskine Stewart’s Melville Choir.

In addition to a busy private teaching practice, he also taught singing for City of Edinburgh Council, Loretto School and Fettes College. Living now in Edmonton, Alberta, Roderick is Director of Music at St Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton. He has sung with the professional choirs Pro Coro Canada (Edmonton), Voicescapes (Calgary) and Luminous Voices (Calgary), appearing as soloist on the latter’s recording of Mendelssohn’s Te Deum. Other recent solo engagements have included Orff’s Carmina Burana; Hatzis’ Everlasting Light; Bach’s Ich habe genung; Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem; Bach’s Mass in G- minor with the CPO; Bach, Pachelbel & Graupner cantatas with Early Music Alberta, Handel’s Alexander’s Feast in Calgary, Bach Magnificat and Actus Tragicus with Voicescapes and Rosa Barroca, and Fauré’s Requiem with the Red Deer Symphony as well as a recital of German and French cantatas with Early Music Alberta.

GRAEME CLIMIE

Graeme Climie is a Calgary based bass/baritone and associate member of Pro Coro Canada who will be traveling to Newfoundland as a member of the 2018 National Youth Choir. Graeme is a singer and board member of the nationally-acclaimed Spiritus Chamber Choir and has represented Alberta twice as a member of the National Youth Choir of Canada singing under Timothy Shantz and Jeff Joudrey. Graeme currently works as the Director of Business Strategy and Marketing for Cantaré Children’s Choir – his childhood choir.

Graeme has become a dedicated advocate for bringing contemporary business strategies into the unique environment of the arts world. Graeme has been a competitor and finalist at the JDC West Business Competition, the RBC Fast Pitch Entrepreneurship Competition, and the McDonough Hilltop Business Strategy Challenge at Georgetown University. In 2017, he was one of four students selected to conduct a study auditing marketing practices of arts organizations under the supervision of Associate Dean Dr. Scott Radford in partnership with the Rozsa Foundation. PAUL GRINDLAY

I feel fortunate to have been blessed with a unique bass voice. Perhaps I can take credit for the “ten thousand hours” of practice and commitment spent getting to know my instrument, but mostly I am indebted to many amazing teachers, mentors and colleagues who have inspired and supported me on my musical journey, including my parents, grandparents, wife, brothers and so many others. I have enjoyed a quarter century of professional performances on three continents and recorded CDs for NAXOS, Toccata Classics and Marquis. I was appointed Artistic Director of the Calgary Boys’ Choir in 2004. I also direct the choir at Knox Presbyterian Church and teach at Mount Royal Conservatory of Music. When not immersed in music, I can be found with family and friends, fly fishing, hiking, biking, swimming, cooking or writing poetry.

BRYAN HRYCIW

Bryan Hryciw, a founding member of Luminous Voices, has been involved in music since the age of five. Educated on violin and viola, he played with string ensembles and orchestras until graduation. He also performed with choral and concert band programs throughout high school and university. Bryan began a percussion career as a performer in 1996, joined the music staff at the Stampede Show Band in 2001, and was the percussion caption head and arranger from 2006 until 2010. Bryan sings with the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir, and collaborates regularly with Il Sono Men's Vocal Ensemble, The Cathedral Church of the Redeemer Choir and VoiceScapes.

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (Calgary) and works as a software developer. DAVE LATOS

Dave Latos has been an avid musician for many years. He began singing in choir at age 6 and hasn’t stopped since, and he also spent a few years with a trombone along the way. He just about went to university for engineering, but ended up seeing the light and choosing music instead. His Bachelor of Music degree was obtained from the University of , where he studied voice with Janice Paterson and Garry Gable and performed with the Greystone Singers and Musical Theatre Ensemble. Since returning to Calgary, Dave has sung with various choirs in the area, including the Festival Chorus, the Bow Valley Chorus, and the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus. In addition to Luminous Voices, he also sings currently with Spiritus Chamber Choir and Il Sono Men’s Vocal Ensemble.

Another element of Dave’s musical life is composition, which he studied at the University of Calgary. While he has written music in many styles and for many instruments, his current compositional activities centre on the writing and arranging of choral and vocal music of various genres (everything from original pieces in the classical realm to Boney M), a reflection of his lifelong love of singing.

WES NICKEL

Wes Nickel has been singing since childhood. He began his musical studies on the violin at age seven. He has studied with Imant Raminsh and Dr. Francis Chaplin. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Brandon University.

Wes' choral singing experience began at the Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg under Dr. George Wiebe, and then at Brandon with Dr. Earl Davey. Since then, he has sung with accomplished choirs in , British Columbia, and most recently in Calgary with the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir, with Il Sono Men's Vocal Ensemble, and Luminous Voices, of which he is a founding member. Wes served as principal bass for the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus for six seasons, and has participated in programs with VoiceScapes, Pro Coro Canada, the Calgary Bach Society and Supersonic Men's Choir. Wes works in the renovation sector of the construction industry and is an experienced log-builder. A purist with an "old-school" approach to common ideals, he loves to cook over an open wood fire.

JORDAN VAN BIERT

Jordan Van Biert is based in Edmonton, where he conducts the chorus Vocal Alchemy as well as the chamber choir Chronos Vocal Ensemble, which won the Healey Willan Grand Prize in the 2015 National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, has performed at two national Podium conferences and released three well-received recordings. He is also Director of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church in Edmonton, and leads Ante Meridiem, a daytime choir for adults. He has been nominated as an Emerging Artist in the Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts (Edmonton), and also honoured by Choir Alberta with the Con Spirito award, which recognizes the “spirit and dedication of individuals and their commitment to choral music in their local community.” He is a founding member of Luminous Voices and has performed regularly with the ensemble since its inception. Acknowledgements

Luminous Voices Music Society is a registered charity Special Thanks To: that issues tax receipts for all donations. Please consider supporting our ongoing mission to present world-class performances, workshops, and recordings Meredith & Pat Cashion of exceptional choral music. Season Supporters for We extend our sincere appreciation to the following Luminous Voices' 2020-2021 for their generous support to the society for the Season period of July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. Our performances wouldn't be possible without the generous support of these individuals, foundations, and government funding agencies.

If we have inadvertently omitted your name or if you would like to make a change in the listing, please call Cathy Billington at (403) 554-2379.

Cathy Billington, President Donors

Government

Foundations

Corporations

Artisan Wines Ltd. GOOD Company The Chocolate Lab ATB Financial Hotel Arts The Printing House Canada Helps Pascal's Patisserie University of Alberta Empire Provisions Inc. Telus Viewpoint Decking Ltd. INDIVIDUALS List of donors for the period of July 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020

Luminous Supporters ($5,000 +) Manfred & Marilyn Hackemann Pat & Meredith Cashion G.K. Hryciw Lewis & Valerie Warke Allan Huber Dave Luetkehoelter Radiant Supporters ($1,000 - Peter & Anne Millen $4,999) David & Katie Partridge Ellen Borak Richard Oppenheim & Peggy Bob & Norma Farquharson Wedderburn Shirley Foster Michael & Lee Ross John Ghitan Leroy & Carol Shantz James Hutchison Geoffrey & Joan Simmins Christina Jahn & Paul Grindlay Po Yeh Margot Jahn Nicholas & Marian Zekulin Craig & Valerie Johnstone Lison McCullough & Pascal Pagioli Glowing Supporters ($20 - John & Jean Partridge $364) Don & Janice Rempel Anonymous* (2) Timothy Shantz Deborah W. Alexander Christoph & Christine Wuerscher Barbara Beaton Geoffrey Bell Vivid Supporters ($365 - $999) Cathy Billington John Burge Jan Brigden Ian & Gwen Burgess Michael & Joan Bruch Tristram & Sue Chivers Lloyd Byers Julie Crouch Tor Camren Brian & Evelyn Donnelly Ivan Cancik Tom & Deborah Fellows Mauro Cimolai David & Beverley Foy Alison Crabb Siobhan A Goguen Glowing Supporters (continued) Helen Day Graham MacDonald Gleba Deacon S R Martin Diane Douglas Catherine McClelland Steve Frederick Roderick & Jean McKay Julie Freedman-Smith Russell & Vickie McKinnon Tony & Liz Fricke Mary Ann McLean Donna Friesen Alexandra McMeekin Glenn Friesen Richard Mercer Linda Gagnon Julia Millen Effie Galway Shelli Orton Sylvia Gazsi Gill Micheal Packer Jeff Goguen Marnie Patrick-Roberts Patricia Grindlay Marie Patton Arlene Groh Maureen Jenkins Pender Nicole Halasa Kathleen Pyper Nyomi Hauta Len Ratzlaff Bryan & Tracy Hryciw Kristyna Rempel Elizabeth Hryciw Peter Rilstone Helen Isaac Chad Rushton Lorita Janzen Susan Scott Rob Kelly Anne Stang Heather Klassen Christine Stuart-Smith Amy Klintberg Laura Sugimoto Mryrna Kostash Carl Svoboda Gordon & Hedy Latos Daniela Trnka John Laurence Kathleen Warke Edith Lewis Leona Workun Anonymous* - Donations received through Benevity, Inc. are only included until August 30, 2020. If you would like to have your donation through Benevity, Inc. acknowledged, please include your name in the "Comments" section.