Tag: children’s choir

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
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
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