SPRING 2020UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA MIXED CHORUS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

UpBeat

UpBeat | Spring 2020 | Page 1

Ring Out a Cheer!

Photo credit: Wayne Poon

As we move closer to spring, I invite you to attend the annual University of Alberta Mixed Chorus (UAMC) Spring Concert on March 14, 2020.

Our Mixed Chorus Alumni Association executive committee is going strong and we are still glowing in the warmth of our 75th anniversary weekend.

At our most recent executive meeting, we discussed how we can engage our alumni members and continue to support the current chorus.

Keep your eyes open for future editions of Upbeat for UAMC updates and alumni activities.

I hope to see many of you soon.

Lisa Heslip, ‘88 BA, ‘96 Dipl(Ed), ‘00 BScN Alto 2, 1984 - 1989 • Chair, University of Alberta Mixed Chorus Alumni Association (UAMCAA)

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What You’ll Hear on March 14, 2020

Another year will soon click over on the UAMC odometer and, at the 76th Annual Concert on March 14, the U of A Mixed Chorus and the U of A Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers will present a program of music that we think you’ll find very enjoyable.

The Chorus will process on to the Winspear Stage to the strains of Sydney Nicholson’s stirring hymn tune, “Crucifer”, in a sparkling arrangement for handbells by Cynthia Dobrinski. The UAMC will then sing “Jesus bleibet meine Freude” from J. S. Bach’s Cantata 147, accompanied by the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers. In case you’re thinking, “Do I know this piece?” it is well-known in the English-speaking world as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The next set of three sacred pieces includes works from the late Renaissance, the early Baroque, and the Classical periods. “Rorate caeli desuper” (Drop down, ye heavens, from above) is the first motet by William Byrd sung by the UAMC. I joined the Chorus in 1967 and our conductor, Jim Whittle, had chosen his magnificent work which certainly prompted me to program a number of Byrd motets for UAMC concerts over the years I’ve been the choir’s conductor. Next, the music of the German composer, Heinrich Schütz: “Ehre sei dir, Christe” from his St. Matthew Passion. Many Chorus alumni will remember this with the English text, “Praise to Thee, Lord Jesus” which is #1 in the UAMC library. The set will close with “Graduale ‘Sancta Maria’,” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

We’ll then turn to sacred music composed by American composers in the 20th and 21st centuries, opening with Z. Randall Stroope’s “Caritas et Amor” (Where there is charity and love, God is there). The piece is based on a well-known Gregorian chant antiphon. This will be followed by Morten Lauridsen’s moving 1996 composition, “O Nata Lux” from Lux Aeterna, and the set closes with Brent’ Pierce’s exciting choral fanfare, “Hosanna in excelsis.”

To close the first half of the program, UAMC Assistant Conductor Adam Robertson has chosen five of Aaron Copland’s Old American Songs: “Long Time Ago,” “Simple Gifts,” “I Bought Me a

Bob de Frece | ‘69 BSc, ‘71 Dipl(Ed), ‘75 BEd Baritone, 1967 – 71 • Conductor: 1986 – present

Cat,” “The Little Horses” and “Ching-A-Ring-Chaw” with UAMC accompanist, Jessica Robertson, at the piano.

To open the second half of the program, the Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers will play William H. Griffin’s transcription of the Bourrée from J. S. Bach’s Partita No. 1 in B Minor. This will be followed by Joel Raney’s arrangement of “You Raise Me Up” by Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland. The Ringers will close their set with Kevin McChesney’s arrangement of the “12th Street Rag”, composed by Euday L. Bowman in 1914.

Next comes a set of songs that have been favorites of members of the UAMC: “Uist Tramping Song” composed by John Bannerman and arranged by Hugh S. Roberton; “Tender Love,” a Cajun folk song, arranged by Norman Luboff; and “Jabula Jesu,” a Zulu folk song arranged by Stephen Hatfield. The program will close with Norman Leyden’s arrangement of a medley of choral selections from Lionel Bart’s musical, Oliver!

As always, the members of the UAMC and the Handbell Ringers are excited to share their music with you. The turnout of over 900 alumni at the 75th Annual Spring Concert was thrilling for all of us on the stage. We realize that alumni who live far away are not going to be able to come to the annual concert every year, but I’m hopeful that those who live close-by will come out to support the UAMC as the choir continues the traditions begun 76 years ago. And yes . . . we will sing the “U of A Cheer Song” and we look forward to having you “Ring out a cheer” with us.

Conductor Bob de Frece

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Coming together as a community - Mixed Chorus Endowment Fund Update

Myles Chykerda | ‘04 BA(Hons), ‘10 MA Bass, 2000 - 11

Many readers are no doubt aware that funding opportunities for artistic and cultural institutions in Alberta have become extremely unstable under our current government. The Alberta Lottery Fund has been dissolved, and while the government has promised funding streams will continue, there is little certainty in light of significant budget cuts in the Ministry.

The UAMC heavily relies on casino funding, particularly for Spring Tour, and any disruption to the Alberta Foundation for the Arts would have significant impacts on the Chorus’ operations.

Fortunately there are areas of opportunity.

Over the years efforts to broaden funding channels have taken place, including the formation of the Conductor’s Endowment Fund. The idea behind this fund was that it would generate interest revenue each year that could be used to provide a competitive salary for our artistic team: Conductor, Assistant Conductor, and Accompanist.

While the Alumni Association has been relatively quiet on the endowment front in the last few years, I’m pleased to report that the fund now sits at $162,000. This has been built through the generous donations of choristers, alumni, and the UAMC executive.

We cannot sit on our past success, however, but must continue to push forward. The Mixed Chorus is a community that has produced lifelong bonds between its members throughout its 76 years and is worth every cent, every dollar, and every minute of volunteer time.

We must continue to grow the endowment, and that’s where each and every one of us can help out.

The University of Alberta will be launching a new fundraising campaign soon, but in the meantime please consider donating a gift to the Endowment Fund. Every dollar helps build future stability for the UAMC. This can be a one-time donation or a reoccurring monthly contribution.

If we had 100 people donating $25 a month, the endowment would grow by $30,000 per year! But even $5 a month will help the UAMC ring out a cheer for the next 75 years.

To donate, please visit www.uab.ca/giving and click on the “Give to the UofA” link and fill out the amount you would like to donate (either one-time or monthly). Then under “Direct my donation to:” select “An area not listed.” Lower on the page expand “Would you like to direct your gift to an area not listed?” and write in “Mixed Chorus Endowment Fund.”

Cheques are also acceptable, and must be made payable to The University of Alberta (note it MUST be made out to the University of Alberta or they will return the cheque to the sender) with a notation to ‘Mixed Chorus Endowment Fund’ and send it to:

Mixed Chorus Alumni Association c/o Alumni Relations University of Alberta 1-050, 10230 Jasper Avenue Edmonton AB T5J 4P6

All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt.

The UAMC is a truly unique community that has touched all of our lives in so many ways. Together we can help ensure that these experiences continue for decades to come.

75th Anniversary recap2019 was a special year for the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus - a weekend of festivities celebrating 75 years! Friday evening was a celebration of song, food and reminiscing with Mixed Chorus alumni from near and far. Saturday morning a large group of alumni came together to join in song - for the love of singing. The annual Spring Concert was brought to the Edmonton community by the current Mixed Chorus and Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers followed by a post-concert reception where, you guessed it, there was more singing! Ring out a cheer! For photos and videos of this special milestone, check out the Facebook page of the Mixed Chorus.

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Now in its 76th year, the U of A Mixed Chorus has many traditions. Some date back to the very beginning of the UAMC’s history. For example, photos taken in 1945 show choristers dancing the Hora on the choir’s first Spring Tour.

Over the 35 years that I’ve had the honor of being the Conductor of the UAMC, we have concluded many concerts with medleys of songs from Broadway musicals. But when did that begin?

My wife, Cathy, and I were married in 1975. Since we had met in the U of A Mixed Chorus, we were excited to attend the UAMC concert in 1976, under the direction of Dr. Ron Stephens. That concert concluded with a wonderful medley of songs from Lionel Bart’s musical, Oliver! At that time, I was a high school music teacher, teaching choral and instrumental music. I really enjoyed the Oliver medley sung by the Chorus and decided to perform it with my high school choir to close our spring concert. In subsequent years, I chose medleys from other musicals and so did Dr. Stephens. His choices included Fiddler on the Roof (1979), Westside Story (1980), Brigadoon (1981), and The Sound of Music (1983).

After I became the conductor of the UAMC, I continued the tradition and we have performed medleys of a number of musicals, including The Sound of Music, Oklahoma, The Little Mermaid, The Music Man, Big River, Les Misérables, Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, My Fair Lady, and Mary Poppins—The Musical. But this year, we’re going back to the source and concluding the 2020 Annual Concert with the delightful selection of songs from Oliver! arranged by Norman Leyden. I’m sure that hearing these songs will bring back many fond memories for those who sang under Ron’s leadership from 1972 to 1986.

When Did That Begin?

Bob de Frece | ‘69 BSc, ‘71 Dipl(Ed), ‘75 BEd Baritone, 1967 – 71 • Conductor: 1986 – present

University of Alberta Mixed Chorus 2019 - 2020. Photo credit: Michaal Leenheer, SUB Photo

University of Alberta Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers 2019 - 2020.

Photo credit: Michaal Leenheer, SUB Photo

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U of A Mixed Chorus Memories Many thanks to the Mixed Chorus alumni who have shared their UAMC memories for inclusion in past issues of UpBeat. Keep those memories coming in, UAMC alumni. We will include this feature in every issue of UpBeat. E-mail your Mixed Chorus Memories to Bob de Frece at rdefrece@ualberta.ca. Photos with captions are also welcome.

CONTACT INFORMATION

University of Alberta Mixed Chorus Alumni Association 1-050 Enterprise Square 10230 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton, AB T5J 4P6 chapters@ualberta.net (780)492-6566

CONRAD PEREIRA- | ‘92 PhD Tenor 1 and 2, 1985 – 1991

I was glad that I made it to the 75th anniversary ‘rehearsal’. I’d been missing UAMC rehearsals for almost 30 years, since I left Edmonton. I never stopped being a chorister though. You see, I carry UAMC with me wherever I go. It is part of me.

I’m sure the 75th anniversary celebrations did not happen by magic, so kudos to all the magicians who made it appear so. That was real magic. Hats off to Bob who brings harmony to all the decades of nostalgia. Bravo to the choir for their wonderful performance and for allowing me to imagine that we sounded even half as good, those many years ago. And let’s ring out a cheer for all the choristers who made it to the celebration, for those who were there in spirit and for those who were remembered in conversations, just because we are all choristers.

I met dozens of people who I had sung with, in my years in Chorus and I was truly happy to see each one. It was like finding long-lost family again. I loved the music, but Chorus was always more about people. That was the best part of the 75th anniversary for me – connecting again with family.

What’s Next?Following the great success of the 75th Anniversary Concert alumni events, the UAMC Alumni Association has met to ask, “What’s next”? Anniversaries are easy to rally around, but the intervening years don’t receive as much attention. We aim to change that! To hasten this change, we are considering alumni events to occur regularly throughout the year which are roughly centered around Alumni Weekend in September, Christmas/New Year and the Spring Concert.

Focus has been on a mix of family

events and chorus receptions during the year. Some events are able to be targeted at particular chorus cohorts, providing another way to connect with chorus friends.

Here are some of our ideas: - Alumni Weekend reception and rehearsal of the Cheer Song, to be sung along with UAMC at reunion function. - Bear’s Den parties at Pandas games - Christmas Carolling Party - Saturday rehearsal/reception in New Year, learning encore song

- Spring concert-Alum reception and performance with the UAMC of the encore you learned

These are just some of our ideas. We need your suggestions. What event(s) would you like to see?

75th Anniversary Mixed Chorus - from left to right Conrad Pereira, Coleen Graham, Davis Graham and Barb Powers. Photo credit: Conrad Pereira

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