Concordia University College of Alberta
Concordia Concert Choir Spring Tour - A Great Success
June 7, 2006
The Concordia Concert Choir recently completed its annual spring tour, travelling to Calgary, Kamloops and the Okanagan, up to north-eastern BC and north-western Alberta, before returning to Edmonton and their closing spring concert. Under the direction of Dr. John Hooper and Michael Kurschat, the 26-member choir was warmly welcomed by the host congregations and communities.
Concert venues permitted a wide variety of choral performance. The choir was able perform in the round, not only for a closing chorale, but also for settings of plainsong and aleatoric works. Double choir formations, both side-to-side and front-to-back allowed audiences to get the full effect of dramatic works. Soloists could be placed in front, in back, and even hidden from view. The repertoire was virtually all a cappella, featuring works by Edmonton's Robin John King, a new performance edition of George Wagner's motet erroneously attributed to J. S. Bach, and a work for singing choir and handclapping choir in which the choir undertook both parts. Processionals and intertwined works unified the programme under the theme of God's glory. The audiences even sang with the choir on Hooper's setting of Kyrie-Gloria from the upcoming Lutheran Service Book.
The choir also sang for a senior's lodge and an elementary school, sharing music and conversation.
The members of the choir enjoyed other travelling activities – from jet boating and wine tours to "bus Olympics" and special awards based on the personalities of the singers. Many singers introduced the selections in concerts, one in Spanish, one in German, and one in spoken polyphony! The final concert was held at McDougall United Church in Edmonton with an enthusiastic and appreciative audience.
The Concert Choir is drawn from students at Concordia University College of Alberta, located in Edmonton. Additional information can be found at the Concordia Concert Choir's website.