Conrad Grebel University College GREBEL NOW Building a New Community Conrad Grebel University College began its then invited to choose a small piece 45th year of teaching and residence at the of coloured glass and glue it to a clear University of Waterloo with glass vase to create a symbol of a commencement ceremony the new community that began to where the 2008-09 Grebel be forged during orientation week community – faculty, staff, activities, during which 31 student incoming and upper-year leaders planned a variety of different students – came together for activities to encourage the students the first time. to get to know one another. Grebel president Henry “Orientation week helps familiarize Paetkau used the theme first year students with their faculties of Grebel’s stained glass and with their living environment, windows as a metaphor for community. He but since Grebel is the only noted how each piece of coloured glass residence where senior students are part made the whole window breathtaking. of orientation, the week is also all about Dons in the creek Each member of the community was bonding as a whole community,” said ...continued on page 2 DaCapo celebrates 10 Years In this Issue... “It seems like only yesterday that a small group of Building a New Community ...page 1 Conrad Grebel College Chapel Choir alumni were trying to convince Leonard Enns to form a new choir. Now DaCapo Celebrates 10 Years ...page 1 here we are, ten years later, with a few of our original Music Grads ...page 3 singers, a lot of new faces, and a choir that continues to make an impact on the cultural landscape of our region Mennonite Roots ...page 4 and beyond,” says Sara Martin (‘97), current manager Music & Culture in South Africa ...page 5 and member of the DaCapo Chamber Choir since its Service Project ...page 5 inaugural season in 1998. People ...page 6 “DaCapo is Italian for ‘from the head,” explains Enns, a composer and professor of music at Grebel. “I agreed Second Generation ...page 6 to form this choir only if the choir raised the bar significantly. My intent was to develop Sound in the Lands 09 ...page 7 a choir that would sing intelligently and compellingly, and that would present music that was engaging both to the intellect and the spirit. The music we rehearsed and presented Alumni News ...page 7 would need to be aesthetically substantive, intellectually rigorous, captivating both singer Upcoming Events ...page 8 and listener.” Over the last decade, the choir has received a number of very positive reviews for their performances and their debut CD Still (2004). They are asked to sing at an increasing ...continued on page 2 Grebel Now is Conrad Grebel University College’s tri-annual newsletter. Editor: Susan Fish Vol. 25 No. 1 Fall Term 2008 Send all comments, submissions & ideas to: Grebel NOW at Conrad Grebel University College Waterloo ON N2L 3G6 519-885-0220 x24229 [email protected] grebel.uwaterloo.ca ...continued from page 1 is represented with students living at Grebel. Fall Fair Day 08 Mary Brubaker-Zehr, Director of Student Services. “The week was wonderful! It was Over 1600 undergraduate and 39 graduate Hundreds of Grebel family members exciting to welcome 100 new students to students are registered to take courses enjoyed the annual Fall Fair Day on the Grebel community.” at Grebel this term, taking a selection October 4. Highlights of the day included of 36 undergraduate and 9 graduate a square dance, mini-lecture, Chapel Students enjoyed faculty events, dessert courses. Most popular courses include Choir, student videos of Grebel life, pies, at the homes of faculty and staff, the Roots of Conflict, Violence and Peace, a delicious BBQ chicken dinner, room All-College retreat, getting to know one and Popular Music and Culture while new decorating contest, carnival games on the another and eating good food. courses in Fair Trade, Restorative Justice, patio, and a talent show. The week began under sunny skies on and Introduction to Theology are also Labour Day, September 1st, as 100 new attracting significant attention. students from across Canada and around Academic Dean Jim Pankratz reflects on the world arrived at Grebel. At 11:00 a.m. the mosaic that makes up the incoming sharp, parents and students were greeted student body at Conrad Grebel this year: by enthusiastic Frosh Leaders whose energy promised a dynamic week. As dons “As I listen to students speak about their and campus hosts registered students, summer experiences as camp counselors, Frosh Leaders helped students carry bags or volunteers in countries around the and boxes to their rooms. Families were world, or as co-op employees in large welcome to stay for lunch and a short corporations and small ‘start-up’ ventures, orientation and then the students were on I recognize how much life experience their own. they bring to this community and how that enriches discussions in the classroom A diverse group of students, Grebel’s and conversations in the student lounges. residence for 2008-09 consists of 51% These students are talented, generous, Mennonite students, and students from creative, and thoughtful. I look forward to across Canada and around the world. another terrific year.” Grebel has had a steady increase in residents coming from Canada’s western provinces, while American student numbers remain steady. Each UW faculty ...continued from page 1 number of occasions. a piece written in response to Buhr’s loss Enns and the choir are intentionally Virtually all the music the choir sings of his home to flooding in Winnipeg. expanding beyond the three local concert is written post-1900, and much of it FIRE & AIR (May) will also consider the annual rhythm and are actively seeking is composed post-2000, a defining celestial “fires” and includes a recent work opportunities to perform at least one assumption when the choir was formed, for choir and organ by Jonathan Dove additional concert annually. This coming and a guiding principle in repertoire -- Seek him that maketh the seven stars – season, the choir will perform at the choice. and the premiere of a new work by Murray closing concert of the KW Open Ears Festival, where they performed four years Enns plans the three concerts of each Schafer with text by UW’s Rae Crossman, a composition written especially for the ago, and received very positive responses season around a single concept or theme. from Festival patrons. This year’s repertoire is built around the choir. theme of the four elements: EARTH (No- The DaCapo choir continues to have “I’m thrilled with the group, the vember), WATER (March), and FIRE & AIR strong connections to Grebel. Just under performances, and the audience response (May). half of the current 20-voice choir roster are and community support,” says Enns. former Grebelites or have Grebel connec- “I would like the choir to become an Typically, the November concert falls near important part of the year for many people Remembrance Day, and Enns says “I look tions and over the years there have been many more. All 13 of the singers from in Kitchener-Waterloo, and an important for ways to program a reflective concert. part of the national choral culture. But This year I use EARTH in the sense of the first concert were members of the Grebel Chapel Choir at some point during most importantly for me, working with this receiver of life (exhausted) and giver of life choir is spiritual food.” (renewed) - so we will include music for their university career. Four members of burial (the overwhelming Svyati for cello the current roster also performed during and choir by John Tavener, for example), DaCapo’s first year, and all four are former Tickets for the concerts and more informa- but also music of astonishment at the Grebelites. tion can be found at promise of new life, particularly the hugely “We are very grateful to Grebel for the www. dacapochamberchoir.ca energetic Magnificat by Giles Swayne.” support we receive. We rehearse in the WATER (March) will include the Richot Grebel Chapel and are thrilled to see many Mass by Glenn Buhr (WLU music faculty), faculty members and alumni at our con- certs,” says Martin. Page 2 Grebel Now Fall 2008 Grebel Alumni Making Sweet Music The Music Department at Grebel describes its program as flexible, offering students an opportunity to “explore the many ways that music is meaningful in today’s world.” Music alumni continue to use their degrees in a variety of ways - from performance, teaching and graduate degrees to more unexpected careers. Read on to discover ways that Music alumni are making a difference in the world. Music of Peace Singsation Saturday Musical Mentors In the fall of 1999, the Toronto Sheila Wallace (‘91) was an accomplished Mendelssohn Choir began inviting the pianist when she arrived at UW but had public to attend choral workshops, to sing decided to become an accountant. A few the major repertoire with guest conductors music courses changed her direction. and members of the TMC. Now celebrating Today, she runs the K-W School of Music its tenth anniversary season, the choir and Art where hundreds of students, was pleased to have Grebel’s Leonard ranging in age from 4 to 70, take lessons Enns as its composer-conductor in April in various instruments and genres. 2008. Reception to Enns’ composition was Pax Christi Chorale was founded in the fall described by the choir as “enthusiastic.” Sheila’s experience at Grebel inspired the of 1987, inspired by the choir assembled philosophy of her school. “The professors for the Toronto celebration of the 1986 For more information, go to at Grebel were musical mentors to me.