NorMan

Manitoba Choral Association – Annual General Meeting

NOR-MAN Regional Report

January 30, 2007

As usual there was lots of choral music activity in Northern Manitoba in 2007.

Spring 2006

The Faure Requiem Project – This project was spearheaded by members of The Pas Community Choir, in collaboration with Flin Flon’s Borealis Chamber Choir with one performance in each community. The two groups practiced separately and had one joint rehearsal in each venue. The first performance was March 19th in Flin Flon. The first half of the concert was the Requiem, conducted by Tannis Asselstine and accompanied by organist Martin Snell, both of The Pas. The second half was a complete change of mood with The Flin Flon Community Choir performing the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth, conducted by Crystal Kolt and accompanied by Mark Kolt on piano. The second performance was at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas on Palm/Passion Sunday.

Beethoven’s 9th in Saskatoon – On March 27th, The Flin Flon Community Choir and several friends from The Pas joined the Saskatoon Symphony Chorus for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra’s 75th Anniversary performance of “the Ninth.”

The Nor-Man Regional Choral Conference – On April 8th The Flin Flon School Division hosted the Nor-Man Regional Choral Conference with approximately 200 students from Churchill, Thompson, The Pas, Flin Flon, and Creighton, SK participating. Clinicians for the conference were Karen Lamb, for the junior choir, and Spencer Duncanson, for the senior choir.

“Dig It” with The Coppertones – In May, Flin Flon’s Coppertones Children’s Choir gave three performances of the children’s musical “Dig It: A Musical Tale of Ancient Civilizations” by John Jacobson and Roger Emerson. The production, directed by Susan Fulford, featured original choreography by Brad MacDougall, solos and chorus work by the choir, full costumes (including 6 skeletons and 5 mummies) and make-up. It was a great success and an interesting musical theatre experience for the children.

Fall and Winter 2006

Beauty and the Beast Cabaret – On October 7th, the Flin Flon Community choir held a fund raising Cabaret to support and promote their spring show “Beauty and The Beast.” Among the many entertainers were The Borealis Chamber Choir and a new women’s acapella quintet, “The Panty Hose.”

Flin Flon Music Festival – Clinician Ruth Wiwchar was in Flin Flon on Oct. 13–15th working with two adult community choirs, the Coppertones Children’s choir, three school choirs, as well as the previously mentioned acapella group. The festival concluded with a sell-out final concert at First Lutheran Church.

The Aurora Jazz Cabaret – the group in The Pas that joined forces with the Borealis Chamber Choir for the Faure Requiem, formed a new choir called Aurora. Their first performance on November 10th, a Jazz Cabaret, was well received by an audience of almost 100. Both Aurora and Borealis share the view that a chamber choir experience will help the members grow musically in the hope that they can enhance and strengthen the larger community group. It also provides an opportunity for more experienced singers to explore more varied repertoire.

Christmas in Northern Manitoba – Choral music was everywhere over the Christmas season with concerts by: Thompson’s Equinox Chamber Choir, The Pas Community Choir, the Flin Flon Community Choir, as well as, a Service of Lessons and Carols presented by the Borealis Chamber Choir and The Coppertones in support of the Flin Flon Food Bank. The latter featured a new work by Flin Flon composer Mark Kolt with texts from John, Luke, Matthew, as well as, the Koran.

Provincial Honour Choir – In closing, we were very pleased at the number of NOR-MAN participants (20) registered in the 2007 Provincial Honour Choir. That kind of interest and enthusiasm among younger singer gives us hope that there is a bright future for choral music in northern Manitoba.

Respectfully submitted by,

Tim Spencer

MCA Regional Representative