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Singers As Storytellers

The voice is a wonderful and singular instrument because of its unique ability to convey story. Composers have used variations in tempo, dynamics, melody, harmony and rhythm to convey a story, but singers have the added layer of text, and are thus uniquely equipped to also be storytellers. Here are 3 things singers must consider as storytellers:

#1. Compassion:
It’s essential for singers to be compassionate, because they are often telling stories of lives they haven’t lived. Conveying the experiences of others, especially when you have not shared those experiences yourself, requires a maturity, and a deep sense of empathy. Shifting your personal perspective to allow for the ideas and opinions of others to receive equal weight is an important aspect of the singer as a storyteller, especially since the stories singers are telling can be hundreds of years old; from a different time, and place.

#2. Narrative:
Telling a story that is sung requires both a compelling understanding of the text, but an even deeper understanding of how to use the music, and the human voice to convey all meanings of that text. A singer must use dynamics, tempo, inflection, enunciation, and emphasis to help them weave the text with the music to convey the true narrative.

#3. Community:
The best stories are the ones that truly resonate with a large group of people. Shared experiences shape our sense of community, and help us determine what holds shard meaning for us. Singers don’t necessarily need to have a community already, but they do need to consider the creation of one as they sing – including everyone, being open and honest, and sometimes vulnerable. Singers must be considerate of how their story will impact others; not everyone reacts to a story in the same way. Creating a safe space for storytelling through community is an important job.

What else must singers consider as storytellers? Tell us in the comments below!

January 15, 2018
Welcome to 2018!

Happy New Year! We are excited to return for another wonderful singing season in 2018. We have many exciting events upcoming, and we hope you’ll join us for many of them!

Winter Camp:

We have an upcoming winter retreat to Camp Horizon for our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir! This is a great time for the choristers to bond, and for us to do some good hard work on our music together! We love camp!

Annual Concert:

Our annual concert will be held on Saturday, March 10th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

Annual Spring Concert:

Our annual spring concert will be held on Saturday May 12th, 2018 at the Rozsa Centre! More details about the concert coming soon!

*We will also have a few other events upcoming – look for more information in our emails, and on our social accounts!

January 8, 2018
‘Johann’s Gift To Christmas’ Concert Roundup!

This past Saturday we held our Annual Christmas Concert at the Rozsa Centre featuring our three performing choirs; the Calgary Junior Choir, Calgary Children’s Choir, and Calgary Youth Choir. We were also pleased to feature performances from our friends, Hilary and Noel of the Amante Duo, as well as our own choristers in the Calgary Youth Choir playing handbells!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvzvT8FsDbs

Centered around the heart-warming holiday story, ‘Johann’s Gift to Christmas’, we performed many songs of the season, as well as popular Christmas carols which we sang with the audience!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f93LWobQeeE

Our Christmas concert is always one of our favourite performances of the year – it always gets us in the holiday spirit!

*All photos and video taken by Heather Louden

We’d love to know – what was your favourite part of the concert? Tell us in the comments below!

December 11, 2017
How To Sing Well In Chillier Weather

We all know how difficult it can be during the colder months in Canada – everything takes longer, and sometimes it’s so cold, it’s dangerous to be out in the elements for too long. This kind of weather has a direct impact on singers as well, so here are three tips to help you sing well during those cold winter months:

#1. Dress for Success:

Dressing for the weather just seems like common sense, but there are a few extra things you can do to help your voice out. Anytime your body shivers, you are creating tension, which directly impacts your sound. Make sure you’re wearing enough layers so that your body doesn’t need to shiver to create warmth. Protect your neck with a scarf, and try to cover your mouth and nose if it’s really cold outsie.

#2. Nourish Yourself:

It can be easy to forget to eat well, since we often turn to more comfortable food fare during the winter months. It’s especially important before a concert to ensure that you’re giving your body the best food and drink possible, so that you can be at your best. Hydration is especially important during winter months, since we often have to exert ourselves more, and the city is so dry in the winter. Make sure you’re drinking enough water!

#3. Warm-up Well:

It’s important to always warm-up before singing, but this becomes especially important during the winter months. Because of the dry air, and the cold air, our bodies produce more mucus, and dries our throat out. Give yourself an extra few minutes to warm up, and make sure to hydrate as you sing!

How else can you prepare yourself to sing well in chillier weather? Tell us in the comments below!

December 4, 2017
3 Myths About Singing

There are many misconceptions floating around about singing, which is unfortunate because it makes many people unwilling to partake in all that singing has to offer. Here are three common myths about singing:

#1. Tone deafness:
People often claim to be ‘tone deaf’ when what they really mean is that they have problems with pitch perception. True tone deafness is referred to as ‘Congenital Amusia‘ and is classified as a learning disability affecting ~ 4% of the population. Those who are truly tone deaf cannot enjoy music in the same way most people can, because their inability to differentiate between pitches, means that music sounds quite tedious to them.
For the rest of the population who feels they don’t have good pitch perception, these problems can often be corrected with time, patience, and lessons in musicianship. Don’t allow problems with pitch to deter you from singing!

#2. Singing as a ‘gift’:
Equally as common as the myth surrounding ‘tone deafness’ is the idea that you either are a good singer, or you aren’t. While there are certainly some people who seem to have an innately beautiful sound with very little effort, there are just as many wonderful singers today who worked hard for the beautiful sound they produce. This idea that someone is either good, or not good, is particularly harmful because it doesn’t give people a chance to learn. Singing is an innately personal instrument to learn, because our bodies are our instruments, we even change our language to reflect this. We often say ‘you are a good singer’, but we tell other instrumentalists, ‘you play the piano well.’ Singing, as with every other instrument, is something to be learned, and learning is a process that involves time, passion, and commitment.

#3. Singers are divas:
*sigh*
While there are certainly some difficult personalities in the world of popular music, the myth that all singers are divas is nonsense.
This myth has several reasons for being so persistent. First, because a singer’s instrument is their body, they spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, and caring for their body. This can involve sleeping more than average, drinking and eating (or not drinking and eating) specific food and beverages, etc… Singers are also usually unable to weather sickness in the way that other instrumentalists are, since illness directly affects our instrument.
Another reasons singers may be unfairly considered divas is because our instrument involves a great deal of positive psychology to function at its best. Singers need to think about their instrument differently than other musicians, and this can be interpreted as ‘diva’ behaviour because it is different.

What are some other common myths about singing? Tell us in the comments below!

November 27, 2017
The Benefits of Singing in the Community

The Calgary Children’s Choir performs three major concerts a year, including our upcoming Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 9th. Interspersed with these concerts are a variety of events out and about in the community, and it’s always such an exciting opportunity for our choir to experience these performances:

#1. Fresh Perspective:
New performance opportunities are always beneficial to the choristers, because it adds variety to their concert series, and allows them to understand performance in a variety of settings. Musical aspects such as acoustics, choir placement, and differences in audiences are all important factors for choristers to learn to adapt to. Having different performance opportunities are always a great learning experience!

#2. Community Service:
One of the best parts of singing out and about in the community is the sense of service this develops in our choristers. When we sing at a Senior’s Home, or a Christmas market, we are contributing to people’s sense of well-being and belonging. This is doubly beneficial for our choristers, because it increases our own sense of what it means to be part of a larger community!

#3. Meeting New People:
Music is all about communication and connection, and the more varied concert opportunities we have, the more we get to meet new people, and connect with all kinds of different audiences. Encountering as many different people, from all walks of life demonstrates how much we all have in common, and the ability to share our musical gift with the community, brings us all a little bit closer together!

What is another benefit from singing in the community? Tell us in the comments below!

We are thrilled to be performing at The Calgary Winter Club’s Christmas Market on Wednesday November 22nd at 6:00 pm!

*Tickets are now available for our Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 9th, 2017!

November 20, 2017
Conductor Profile – Andreas Berko

Written by Heather Louden

New Conductor Has Us Singing His Praises

The Calgary Youth Choir has welcomed a new youth choir conductor, Andreas Berko, as the interim conductor while Artistic Director, Marni Strome is away for the year on sabbatical. Andreas began with the choir in September 2017, but he and his family are no stranger to the group. All four of Andreas’ children are current members of the choir and his wife, Kathryn Berko, conducts the Calgary Children’s Choir. It seems only natural that Andreas be the next addition. Still, don’t let his connections fool you, Andreas holds many musical qualifications himself.

“He’s very talented and very musical, with a good personality that goes well with the kids,” says the choir’s business manager, Linda White.

Andreas received his Bachelor of Music with a focus on education and a Bachelor of Education degree with a focus on Music Education, from the University of Calgary. He then obtained a Masters in Educational Technology from the University of Lethbridge and completed his practicum with the Western Canada High School choir. Andreas explains that his field of study was largely impacted by his involvement in music at a young age. Beginning piano at seven and then joining various Calgary choirs both inside and outside of school, Andreas continued pursuing his passion for music throughout his youth and well into adulthood.

Andreas says he is looking forward to working with such an experienced choir. “It’s nice to make music with [the kids]. It’s nice to be involved in a two-way conversation where I’m not always the one telling them what to do.”

Andreas speaks to how capable the choir is, making it his goal to encourage the choristers to “come out of their shells” and reach their full potentials. He engages the youth in this by encouraging them to be completely involved in the music making experience by listening to, and experimenting with their own sound. He takes a very personalized approach to direction by giving one-on-one feedback to the choristers throughout rehearsal.

Andreas says, “[One- on one feedback] is the most efficient way to give constructive criticism in a small ensemble which such advanced singers.”

Andreas said he attributes his conducting methods to his previous choral teachers and draws inspiration heavily from his first conductor, Gerald Wirth, who is now the conductor of the Vienna Boys’ Choir.

Andreas has already impressed us with how quickly he has bonded with the choristers and we look forward to seeing him in action at our first concert of the year!

*Tickets for the Calgary Children’s choir Christmas concert are now available for purchase here.

November 13, 2017
How To Practice Choral Music By Yourself

Practicing your choir music at home by yourself can feel counterproductive, especially since choir is inherently a group activity. Still, practicing at home will help you to learn your music faster, feel more confident in your line, and let you enjoy your choir rehearsals even more! Here are 3 tips to help you practice your choral music by yourself:

#1. Acapella:

For those choristers who don’t feel fully confident reading music yet, practicing by yourself at home can feel much more difficult. If you don’t have a piano, it can be hard to pick the notes out on another instrument as well. This is why acapella practice can be so helpful, and it’s why learning solfege is so helpful. By singing your line by yourself without the aid of another instrument, you can begin to feel more confident about the way the note relate to one another, instead of trying to pick them out from the accompaniment.

#2. Singing with a recording:

There are so many apps and websites now that feature recordings that it can quite easy to find a version of the piece you’re trying to practice. Singing your line against a full choir recording can be an excellent way to improve your musicianship as well! Here’s a tip – if you lose your line, don’t stop the recording and start again. Instead, try and follow along in the music, until you can pick out your line again – this way you’ll get in some ear training too!

If you can’t find a recording online, you can always ask your choir conductor if you could record at rehearsal so that you can take it home for practice. Many choirs create such recordings to aid in at-home practice as well!

#3. Memorization:

This is one of the easier aspects of practicing by yourself at home, since it can be completely silent. Many choirs want choristers to memorize their music, so that the performers can be more responsive, and musical at a concert. There are many different techniques to help you memorize your music more effectively. You can read more here.

What are some other tips for practicing choral music by yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

November 6, 2017
What Makes Music Sound ‘Haunting’?

One of the most amazing aspects of music is how it can help to establish an atmosphere, or evoke particular emotions without words, or gestures; through sound alone. Just in time for Halloween, here are three things that help to make music sound ‘haunting’:

#1. Modality:

Western music has two main modalities; major or minor. Most people intuitively know what the difference between major and minor is, and often a question beginning musicians are asked is whether the music sounds ‘happy’ or ‘sad’. Minor music sounds sad, or sometimes spooky to us, and this is largely the result of familiarity with Western music, which tends to associate major keys with ‘happier’ sounds, and minor keys with ‘sad’ emotional affects.

#2. Dissonance:

Dissonance is the term used to describe pitches produced together which sound disharmonious to our ears. Generally these pitches are close together – like a minor second. The sounds produced together are very jarring to our ears, and can increase our sense of discord, which sounds ‘spooky’. Another way in which dissonance makes music sound ‘haunting’ is when a note which doesn’t belong to a chord is used. This note ‘clashes’ with the others in the chord, until it resolves to another note which does belong in the chord. This creates a sense of tension and release; an important element in creating a ‘spooky’ atmosphere!

#3. Mimicry:

Our instruments are capable of a lot of unique sounds, including the ability to mimic sounds that we might associate with creepy situations; wind instruments can mimic howling wind, or rustling bushes; strings can mimic the creaking of doors, or old floorboards, and can even sound like screaming; and percussive instruments can sound like the rattling bones of a skeleton. Many composers use these elements to create a ‘haunting’ affect to their compositions!

What else makes music sound haunting? Tell us in the comments below!

October 30, 2017
4 Conductor Secrets

#1. We can see EVERYTHING:

For real.

It’s a prerequisite for conductors to have extra ‘nonsense’ senses, but we’re at the front of the room, and often we’re standing while choristers are sitting. We can see you, choristers. Even when you think you’re being sneaky and hiding your phone, or a snack, or a gerbil, behind your music. We can see you.

#2. Mistakes are not a problem:

Many choristers feel immediate embarrassment when/if they make a mistake, especially if their fellow choristers react, or give them some side-eye. Conductors can almost always catch these mistakes too, but our reaction is different. For us, mistakes are par for the course, especially if we’re all still learning a piece. When we hear a mistake, we don’t think ‘uh oh, that’s not right,’, we think ‘I know how to fix that,’. Mistakes are not a problem, and should not be a source of embarrassment.

#3. We think about the beat A LOT:

For the most part, choristers are thinking largely about breathing and tone. And while conductors are thinking about those things as well, we spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the beat. Because we have to set it, and set it well, not just for the choristers, but for the accompanist, and for any other musicians playing along. We also have to think about maintaining a steady beat, while thirty other voices try to push and pull at the rhythm.

#4. We know how you feel:

We won’t make absolutist statements, but there are exceptionally few people who are conductors, who have not also been on the other side of the stand. Which means, that we know exactly how it feels to be conducted. We know which hand movements we prefer, which cues we need, and what kind of energy we want to feel from the conductor. Which is why we as conductors try to send that back out to our choristers.

What other secrets do you think conductors might have? Tell us in the comments below!

October 23, 2017
The ‘Ins and Outs’ of Repertoire Selection

Repertoire is an important aspect of the choral experience, and it’s a topic on which everyone has an opinion – we all have our favourites, of course, but there’s much more that goes into choosing the repertoire for the year than many people think. Here are three things that are taken into consideration when the conductor chooses repertoire:

#1. Choral assessment:

One of the most ephemeral aspects of a choral group is its membership; and after all, a choir is just the sum of its parts. Each year the conductor must assess the choir they will have, and determine what the groups’ strengths are, and what areas need improvement. Assessing the group as a whole means the conductor must select repertoire that will challenge the choristers without overwhelming them.

#2. Learning objectives:

Each conductor has specific learning objectives and outcomes in their mind, and these can be different from semester to semester as the choir grows and learns together. We are fortunate to have such a large body of choral repertoire, so that pieces can be selected to enhance these learning objectives, and the choir can take on new challenges, and prepare to meet them in a fun and engaging manner!

#3. Concert series:

Concerts are a difficult aspect of the musical experience to organize. Halls must be booked, tickets must be created and sold, programs printed, and the concert itself marketed. Thus planning a series of concerts for the year begins long before the first rehearsal.
Repertoire is often chosen to fit a concert theme, or a concert learning objective – particularly if that concert is being shared with other musicians, or performers.

Learn more about our upcoming concert series by viewing our 2017-2018 Concerts section, or accessing the calendar for the year!

October 16, 2017
The Benefits of Solfege in Singing

Solfege is sometimes considered a drag in choir, since some choristers can find it frustrating, or boring, and fail to see the use of the method.

Still, solfege, part of the Kodaly method, is actually an incredibly useful tool, particularly in singing. At the CCC we are most fortunate to have teachers who are well-versed in the Kodaly method, and implementing solfege into rehearsals. Here are three benefits to using solfege in singing:

#1. Movable ‘do’:
Instead of assigning note names to pitches, the notational centre of a scale or piece becomes ‘do’ in major keys, and ‘la’ in minor keys. This has two benefits. First, it allows those who don’t yet have a firm grasp on traditional musical notation to still make sense of the music, and it reinforces the relationship between notes, regardless of key.

#2. Accelerated sight singing:
Once a singer understand the relationship between pitches, and most importantly their relationship to one another, sight singing becomes much easier. Fourths and fifths no longer look like gargantuan leaps of faith, and instead become carefully calculated and precise movements between notes. The nuances of singing semitones, or the subtleties of shifting between major and minor becomes much clearer.

#3. Intonation:
One of the greatest benefits of learning solfege is intonation and tuning. The Kodaly method really allows singers to hone in on the centre of the pitch, and to observe how inconsistencies in tuning can sabotage attempts to sing intervals. The open vowel sounds in solfege also allow singers to observe how changing vowel sounds requires additional modification to their tuning. Since intonation is an essential aspect of singing, and particularly choral music, solfege can have a huge impact on a choir!

What other benefits are there for using solfege in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

October 2, 2017
The Importance of Musicianship in Singing

Musicianship is a musical term used to describe the skills a musician possesses related to their aural skills; intonation, ear training. Musicianship is absolutely a skill as well that can be learned, and should be carefully honed. Here are three reasons why musicianship is an essential skill in singing:

#1. Sight singing:

There are few instruments that require a finely honed ear in the way that voice does. Sight singing is a bit of a misnomer, because it really is about hearing, and how a singer’s brain perceives what they are hearing. Understanding the nuances between pitches, and how to ‘translate’ what’s in the sheet music to the voice, is essential to learning how to sight sing well!

#2. Blended sound:

Because of the unique timbre of each individual singer’s voice, blending is an essential aspect of the singing experience. This is compounded when singers come together to create blended choral sound. The objective of choral sound is to make many voices sound as one. This can be achieved when singers make a concerted effort to listen to the voices of others and modify their own sound. Musicianship skills allow singers to not only hear the differences between voices, but to analyze what specifically they must change to accommodate blend.

#3. Versatility:

Musicianship skills allow singers to be incredibly versatile in both the genres they sing, as well as in their own vocal technique. Musicianship is what allows the fantastic pitch bending often found in jazz music, and it is a huge contributor to success in such interesting techniques as two-toned singing.

Why else might musicianship be important in singing? Tell us in the comments below!

September 25, 2017
5 Tips To Help You Get The Most Out of Choir

Starting in choir can be a bit intimidating, particularly if you’re new to music, or to singing. Here are 5 tips to help you get the most out of your choir experience!

#1. Listen:
Choir is different from singing solos, for several important reasons (read more about that here.) But listening is an incredibly important aspect of the choral experience. A chorister needs to listen to the other voices in their section, they need to listen to the accompanying piano, or other instruments, and they need to listen for the voices singing other parts, so that everyone can create a blended sound.

Listening to the conductor as well is essential, since they are the person with the best idea of the big picture, and the musical knowledge to bring all of the disparate aspects of choral music together.

#2. Talk to your neighbours:
It may be obvious, but don’t do this while a rehearsal is ongoing. Still, there are breaks, and before and after rehearsal to get to know the people sitting around you! You should absolutely get to know these people, since you’ll be spending quite a bit of time with them!

Choir can be a wonderful experience because of the people, and here at the CCC we feel like family, so get to know your fellow choristers, and those friendships will greatly enhance your musical experience as well!

#3. Bring your music:
You will receive music during the first few rehearsals, and it will be your responsibility to care for your music throughout the year. By all means, make markings with pencil throughout rehearsal to note entrances, or dynamic markings, or anything else the conductor might suggest. While your neighbours will likely be more than happy to share your music on the (hopefully!) rare occasion that your forget it, remembering to bring your own music, with your individual notes on it, will greatly enhance your choral experience!

#4. Personal research:
There is so much that goes into music, and vocal music in particular. While we spend a great deal of time teaching our choristers sight reading skills, some basic theory, and of course good vocal production, there is still so much to learn. If you find an interesting aspect of the piece, by all means – do your own personal research! Forging a personal connection with the music will make your interpretation well informed, and your research can help other choristers learn as well!

#5. Have fun!
We assume you’ve joined choir because you love music, and singing, and because you want to share that with other people, and we assure you that everyone sitting in the rehearsal hall with you feels exactly the same way. So relax, enjoy the music, get to know your fellow choristers, and have fun!

How else can you get the most out of choir? Tell us in the comments below!

September 18, 2017
Welcome to our 2017-2018 Singing Season!

Welcome to the Calgary Children’s Choir’s 31st Singing Season!

Our Calgary Children’s Choir and Calgary Youth Choir start rehearsals tomorrow (Tuesday, September 12th, 2017)
Our Music Makers and Calgary Junior Choir start rehearsals on Thursday (Thursday September 14th, 2017)

We are delighted to be back after our wonderful 30th Anniversary Celebrations in May, and an amazing tour to Italy over the summer!

There are some important changes to the choir this year! Our wonderful Artistic Director, Marni Strome, is taking a sabbatical to finish her Master’s Degree in the United States. We are thrilled that she is continuing to oversee her artistic vision for the choir while she is away, and are very excited for her to bring all of her knowledge and experience back to us next year! Best of luck with your program Ms. Strome!

For the upcoming season, we have some important staff changes:

*Music Makers will be taught by Shinia Van
*The Calgary Junior Children’s Choir will be conducted by Lindsay Phillips
*The Calgary Children’s Choir will be conducted by Kathryn Berko
*The Calgary Youth Choir will be conducted by Andreas Berko

We look forward to new perspectives, and interesting information from our wonderful CCC team! Please give our new staff members a very warm CCC welcome!

We are off to choir camp in just a few weeks! This is one of our favourites events of the year! Please speak to our business manager Linda White if you haven’t signed up for camp yet!

The CCC will be presenting three concerts this year:

Christmas Concert: Saturday, December 9th, 2017 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary – 7:00pm

Annual Concert: Saturday, March 10th, 2018 – Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

Spring Concert: Saturday, May 12th, 2018- Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary 7:00pm

And all of the events for the year can be found on our Event calendar here.

What are you most looking forward to in our 2017-2018 singing season? Tell us in the comments below!

September 11, 2017
Italy Tour – Padova

After a very tiring concert and party yesterday, the choir enjoyed sleeping in late and eating a late breakfast at 9:30. After packing our bags, we got onto the bus and enjoyed the scenery on the way Padova.

In Padova, we had two hours of free time. Padova was an especially nice town because it is significantly less focused on tourism. We were able to find some very nice clothing for very good prices.

After free time, we went to go see St. Antonio’s tomb, which was found in a very lovely church were we had to cover our shoulders and our knees.

After that, we left Padova and headed to our hotel near Venice for a little bit of relaxation and a lovely dinner, where we all got to show off our new clothes! It was a great day! We look forward to our last days in Italy!

Ciao!

-Patrick and Josh

July 10, 2017
Italy Tour – Pisa and Lucca

After our relaxing and radiant day yesterday, the choir was in good spirits and ready for more walking! We kicked off the day with a delicious breakfast at the hotel, and made our way onto the tour bus. We arrived at Pisa, at the site of the famous leaning tower, and we were set free in our chaperone groups to roam the street market areas and the main area where the tower, cathedral, and baptism domes are located. We can assure you that many cheesy pictures with the tower were taken!

The next stop for the day was Lucca! We explored the town for an hour or so in areas including cathedral square and amphitheater square.

Then we made our way to the church to prepare for our concert with the local Italian choir, Arco Baleno. The church had very good acoustics but it was very humid and hot, sono calda!!! The concert was an experience none of us will forget. The Italian choir had a very powerful, strong, forward sound. Their repertoire was based off of humanitarian, and social topics such as friendship and love and inclusion. Most of their songs were accompanied by a recorded track of music. This style was quite different from our very pure choral sound with piano accompaniment. We were nervous at first, since our sound was so different, but after finishing our pieces, we received many smiles and loud clapping and our final piece, an Italian piece, was a total hit! The whole church was on their feet! The concert ended with a song both the choirs could sing together. It was an absolutely incredible experience!

The families of the choristers from Lucca cooked us all a huge amount of food set up in a hall in buffet form. Intriguing and slightly “lost-in-translation” conversation with the other choristers during our meal quickly turned into dancing. We taught them “Cadillac Ranch”, and they taught us dance after dance after dance. Most of them were in a sort of learn-as-you-go style, with leaders at the front and everyone else mirroring their movements as best we could! Everyone was hot and glowing, and had very dirty feet due to our dancing location; the dry dirt and grass field in the back of the dining hall. We danced for hours and hours having the time of our lives. We took turns sharing music with each other and dancing with each other. It was great to see the kind of parties the local youth have here. Italians reeeally know how to party!!

After many hugs and cheek-kisses and goodbyes, we made our way onto the bus again, everyone still buzzing with excitement but ready for bed! Until tomorrow, Ciao!

-Emilia and Elena

July 10, 2017
Italy Tour – Cinque Terre

The sixth day in Rome for the choir started bright and early as we all hopped on the bus at 7:20AM and headed to the docks where we would depart for our day in Cinque Terre!

Our tour of Italy’s coast was absolutely breathtaking! We had the opportunity to take lots of pictures as we floated between each cliff side town along Italy’s coast! It was around lunch time when we arrived in Cinque Terre for our day of beach fun and small town adventures! Cinque Terre is a series of five beautiful little towns along the coastline of Italy full of small shops and charming cafes! Cinque Terre is famous in Italy as the home of the inventor of pesto! Many of the choristers indulged in the towns’ famous sauce for lunch! After some time at the beach and exploring, the choir hopped on the train back to our hotel where we had some free time to swim in the pool and relax after a very vigorous few days in Italy!

The choristers were finally allowed to wear there casual cloths to dinner! Tonight we dined in the hotel and the staff were absolutely charming! As gratitude for all they had done the choir sang for all the waiters! We think they like it!

To end our night we gathered together to share our favourite experiences in Italy so far with one another! It was a fantastic time filled with laughter! Today was a resounding success and we all look forward to days we have left in Italy!

~ Buona notte (good night) Josh

July 9, 2017
Italy Tour – Florence!

The Calgary Children’s Choir had a bright and early start this Friday morning, having breakfast at 6:30am. After breakfast we packed up then hit the road. We embarked on the journey from Rome to Florence on our Luxurious coach.

After resting for 2 hours, our tour guide, Adrianna, gave us a brief overview of the Rnaissance culture in Italy. From the bus we walked around the streets of Florence and experienced the Famous Florence Market, which is known for it’s leathers. Many of us purchased fine quality bags and backpacks.

Next we headed to the academic gallery Museum, where we met our local tour guide for the day. We learned lots about different pieces of artwork, especially those created by Michelangelo.

The choristers went outside and continued sightseeing with the local tour guide. We saw the Florence Cathedral, the Centre Place Plaza and the spectacular Bridge Scenery. Thanks to Adrianna, the choristers got to shop for 2 more hours and eat on the beautiful streets of Florence. After our delicious meal, we the sea of green seaweed of the CCC went to a viewing point that over looked the city of Florence.

After, we hopped on the bus and went to Montecatini for the night.

~ Ella and Olivia ~

July 8, 2017
Italy – Rome Day 3!

We had another amazing (albeit very warm) day. The choir started the day off singing a concert at St. Agnes’s church, a beautiful space. Around the age of 12-13, St. Agnes became a martyr. She had made a vow of chastity, and when a prince of Rome tried to break that vow, he was smited by an angel. When she was accused of witchcraft, she prayed and brought the prince back to life. It is said that her skull is preserved in the chapel of heads.

After our concert we had two hours of free time and a delicious lunch in the Piazza Navona.

After lunch we had even more free time! We took a short walk to the Trevi fountain, which we had seen on day one (but trust us, it is worth seeing twice). We went on a little walking trip to Compo Dei Fiori, a little square near our restaurant. On our walk we visited a wonderful church. Look at the ceiling, do you think that’s real or painted?

After all that walking we were tired so we decided to do…… some more walking! We took a little trip to a famous neighbourhood called Travestere. The group saw some amazing things, including this amazing Middle Ages church!

After our delicious dinner, we headed back to the bus, where we had to bid farewell to our lovely driver, Federico. As we leave Rome, we will leave you with the best view Rome has to offer.

Farewell & goodnight, Grace and Adriana.

July 6, 2017
Italy Tour – Rome Day 2!

We had an early start today being on the bus at 7:45, which then took a scenic route to the renowned Vatican City. As you could imagine it is a very popular place, but with the help of our fantastic tour guide Adriana we took the fast track and promptly met up with our Vatican guide Rosanna.

She was astoundingly knowledgeable and helpful whenever we had questions about the art or how to turn on our guide head sets. We saw so many priceless sculptures and extravagant hallways within the museum, including a spinning sculpture, as demonstrated by Rosanna.

We were then led to the famous Sistine chapel. As soon as we entered both the choristers and the chaperones were in awe. We couldn’t help but take in the story of creation on the ceiling as well as the 100 plus body portrait on the front wall. Truly a masterpiece.

Reluctant to leave, we found our way out of St. Peter’s and were once again struck by the beauty, and the heat, of St. Peter’s square.

After a quick lunch and some well deserved gelato, we got into our concert attire and took a very sweaty hike up to the basilica. For the umpteenth time today we were taken aback. The intricacy and pure grandeur of the basilica was so incredible that we agreed no picture taken on an iPhone nor a Nikon could do it justice…. but we sure did try. Finally it was time to sing in the afternoon mass. Guided into the choir space by the music director David, we sang truly for the joy of it. It was a lovely mass in Italian and Latin that brought us to the end of our first concert in Italy and it sure did set the bar high.

Ciao until tomorrow!

-Heather

July 6, 2017
Italy Tour – Rome!

This morning was our first rehearsal of the tour! We found a cute little conference room on the upper level of the hotel, and practiced for about two hours. Following the rehearsal, the choir went to the small bars (little restaurants) just outside of the hotel for lunch.

The remainder of the afternoon consisted of a TON of walking and sight-seeing. On the way to the Colosseum, the choir stopped at the Altare della Patria, which turned out to be the very first place we were told to NOT sing! We thought the security guard assumed we were busking and stopped us mid-song. Despite the disappointment, the building was stunning nonetheless.

Next on the tour, the choir was able to go into the Colosseum! Luckily we didn’t have to wait in the long lines for the public, as Adriana (our magnificent tour guide) used her connections to get us in quickly. The views were breathtaking, and the architecture even more unbelievable. It’s astonishing that such a structure could still be (partially) standing 2000 years later. Our Colosseum tour guide was fantastic, too!

In our chaperone groups, the choir was let free to explore a few streets within the city centre. Within the two hours that we had, groups had the opportunity to buy souvenirs, enjoy gelato, and familiarize with the area. The streets were so charming, and the shop owners were lovely as well.

Following our excursions, the choir met up at a local restaurant for another fantastic three-course meal. We sang a thanks to the staff and owner and headed back to the hotel. Today has been very eventful, and I’m sure our sore feet will enjoy a rest before the even more eventful day tomorrow!

Goodnight from Roma

-Kyla and Hannah

July 4, 2017
Italy Tour – Travel and Rome!

Hello, it has been a very long day for all of us here in Italy!

First things first, at 9 AM on the 2^nd of July we met at the Calgary International Airport, bright eyed and exited to fly to Italy!
Except first we had to fly to Toronto and wait a bit, having some dinner while we did so. Then, at 8:00(ish) their time, we hopped on another flight! This one going direct to Rome!
Don’t we look awake!

Eight hours later we arrived, collected our things, and set out with Adrianna, our lovely guide. Please bear in mind, we had now been travelling, more or less constantly awake, for at least 15 hours. But it was only noon in Italy! So we headed to our lovely hotel, found some delicious lunch from local places, and settled in for an hour or so. I am told there are some who did not sleep during this time. I was not one of them.

At 3:30, 21 hours into our day, we met back in the lobby to go into central Rome and have a walking tour. It was nominally supposed to take us to a number of different fountains, including the famous Trevi fountain. I would give you play-by-play details, but it was just so phenomenal. Every corner you turned, every side street you took, led you to another breathtaking piece of artistry. We learned to drink from ancient roman fountains, and even managed to sneak quickly into the Pantheon since there were no lines! We even sang a little, just to enjoy the sound of our voices in the ancientness streets.

By about the time we were ready to drop, we arrived at a perfect place to! Dinner was lovely, even if most of us were too tired to properly enjoy it, and the gelato for dessert was phenomenal.

At long last, around 26 hours from when we first collected together, we made our way back to the coach to take us home to sleep for the night. And sleep we shall.

In fact, I’m off to do that right now.

Sweet dreams, and ci vediamo domani (see you tomorrow)!

Victoria GM

July 2, 2017
30th Reunion Roundup!

This past weekend was our 30th Reunion celebrations! An absolutely wonderful time was had by all, and a big thank-you to all of the volunteers , parents, teachers, conductors, alumni, and the wonderful Mrs. White who helped us make this weekend a success!

On Friday night we had a reception at the Crescent Heights Church. It was a wonderful chance to see everyone and catch up with old friends, as well as meet new ones! We shared lots of memories, and some of our photos from past tours were beautifully displayed on trifolds, so many of our alumni took a trip down memory lane! Following the reception we had a rehearsal, so we could all go over the music together. We had 30 years of favourites to cover, and many voices to blend together!

On Saturday morning we all met at the Rozsa Centre to rehearse. It was so wonderful to hear all the voices together, especially with the beautiful accompaniment of the instrumentalists!

Following the rehearsal there was a light lunch served in the beautiful foyer of the Rozsa. We were treated to two delightful performances; first Katie gave a wonderful performance of a musical theatre piece ‘Practically Perfect’ from Mary Poppins (which she hilariously dedicated to Marni Strome!), then brother and sister duo Josh and Kristen performed a duet together!

Then we opened up the floor to anyone who wanted to share some memories, or since something for us. We were fortunate to have a number of people speak, and it was wonderful to hear which choir moments had stuck with people over the past 30 years. Even more poignant were the moving tributes people gave; poignant stories about how choir had personally impacted their lives, and even shaped their decisions, and life choices. We had many laughs, and shed many tears together!

Our evening concert began at 7:00 with a selection of pieces performed by the current members of the Calgary Children’s Choir. After intermission, the current members were joined onstage by our CCC Alumni! We sang several of our favourite pieces, all orchestrated by the amazing Tim Janz!
(photos and videos below are courtesy of Donna Pahl)
It was a wonderful concert, full of friends, laughter, and of course – wonderful music! As Marni Strome said, “Here’s to another 30 years of the Calgary Children’s Choir!”

You Shall Have A Song:

Away From The Roll of the Sea:

A Child’s Carol:

Streets of London:

One of our alumni, Alex Guebert, put together this amazing video, with footage from the past 30 years. We showed it at our luncheon on Saturday afternoon, and had so much fun looking back at the last three decades of CCC!

What was your favourite part of the 30th Reunion Celebrations? Tell us in the comments!

May 15, 2017
Celebrating 30 Years of the CCC

We are very excited about our 30th Reunion celebrations this coming weekend. We have spent the past few weeks looking back on the changes we have seen in the CCC community over the last 30 years, and we look forward to the exciting future ahead for the Calgary Children’s Choir.

Our founder, Rosmarie Sherban started the Calgary Children’s Choir 30 years ago to provide children in Calgary with the opportunity to learn choral technique, and to have an enjoyable activity in which to participate outside of a school music programs.

The CCC program thrives on inclusiveness, engagement, and is incredibly focused on singing as an enjoyable pursuit, for anyone who wants to learn more about music. Our motto, ‘Singing For The Joy Of It’, has served us well for the past three decades; enhancing our delight in singing, strengthening the bonds between our choristers, and introducing us to a variety of wonderful musicians and artists – not just in Calgary, but all around the world!

We are so excited this weekend, to celebrate that core mission, to reunite with old friends from near and far, to perform some of our old favourites (and some wonderful new commissioned works), and most of all to celebrate our shared love of music at this weekend’s upcoming 30th Anniversary Celebrations. We hope to see many of you at our Reunion concert!

The CCC has been a proud member of the choral and musical community in Calgary for the past 30 years, and we look forward to another 30 years (and more!) of wonderful music, fantastic friends, and great community!

What are you most excited about for this weekend’s upcoming 30th Anniversary Celebrations? Tell us in the comments below!

May 8, 2017