Knox United Church, Willow and Tiefengrund

Chorale and Women's Choir completed a full weekend of performances, highlighted by 3 events.

On Friday, December 12 in the evening, the Women's Choir and Chorale presented an intimate and heartfelt program at Knox United Church in Saskatoon.

Women's Choir directed by Louella K. Friesen

Combined Chorale & Women's Choir directed by Richard Janzen

Chorale directed by Richard Janzen

Knox is a beautiful and glorious building both visually and acoustically. The concert at Knox is an annual highlight for the singers. A few of Louella K. Friesen's vocal students from RJC also sang a number of Christmas songs.

THE ANGEL CAROL by Mac Huff
RJC Women's Choir
Louella K. Friesen, director
Nancy Epp, piano



See more videos from Knox at the RJC YouTube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/rosthernjrcollege

On Saturday afternoon, the Chorale travelled back to Saskatoon for a special presentation at Willow Design Studio on 2nd Avenue.

Chorale in their "Hymn Sing" pose.

Willow is owned by RJC alumna Sandra Young (she is also the mother to current RJC student and Chorale member Miranda). At the studio, the Chorale sang numerous Christmas carols for the patrons there. At the same time, a silent auction of "Art Stars" came to a close.

Julia Epp proudly displays her Star.

The Art Stars were painted by RJC students and auctioned off as part of a fundraiser for the ministry at the school.

A frosty Sunday morning (-31C at depature time) saw the Women's Choir and Chorale joining forces again for the morning worship service at Tiefengrund Rosenort Mennonite Church (just north of Laird, SK). The church graciously fed the choir after the service.

Busy Sunday for Chorale - Superb and Rosthern

The Chorale had to be out of bed bright and early on Sunday for the long trek to Superb, SK where they presented the Sunday morning service.

This map shows the distance and route to Superb, more than 3 hours in the school bus each direction.

The choir sang well (presenting 11 songs, a children's story, and a meditation by Dave Feick), was provided a splendid (might we say "superb"?) potluck meal and was back in Rosthern by 4:30 in the afternoon.

Two hours later, the choir was at Rosthern Mennonite Church for the local community carol festival, featuring music groups from many of the churches in town. The Chorale sang two numbers there: "My Dancing Day" and "River Carol".

"River Carol" by Kirby Shaw
performance at the Rosthern Community Carol Festival
Rosthern Mennonite Church, Sunday, December 7, 2008

Chorale 2008-2009 Picture

Chorale is preparing for the Christmas Concert season. This Sunday they are in Superb for the morning service, and then sing at the local Rosthern Carol Festival in the evening.

RJC Christmas Concert - December 19

Here is a short video commercial for our upcoming Christmas Concert on December 19.

The video was produced by RJC student Jordan Wiens in the Communications and Production Technologies class.

The Show Must Go On! - Scrooge

A large area of Saskatchewan went black without electrical power an hour before the Saturday night performance began. Thanks to some quick thinking and adapting, the performance went off without a hitch. Running three utility lights off a 3000 Watt generator (which also powered lights for the piano and keyboard), the cast adapted to the conditions and presented a charmingly "old school" play. The sound effects were ad lib'd as the show demanded.

As you can see from the following video, the lighting was sufficient, and the audience came away satisfied with the end result.

Thank you to the many people who jumped in to help: Jim Epp, Gail Schellenberg, Carmen Pauls, Graeme Rinholm, Kathy Powell, Louis Perron (who opened the Home Hardware for us after hours to get the generator), Trevor Wilson (an electrician and uncle to one of the actors who came to see the show. He had a spare generator in his truck and helped us rig it up.) I am sure there are more. THANK YOU!

The power came back on in the early morning Sunday...

SCROOGE: The Musical (Production Pics)

Scrooge: The Musical opens on Friday night to a sold out audience.

The Cast for SCROOGE: The Musical
by Leslie Bricusse

The cast put on a show for the rest of the student body on Thursday evening.

Scrooge displays no sympathy for a beggar woman.

Scrooge's nephew Harry hosts a Christmas party that Scrooge observes.

Matthew Wiens as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Bob Cratchit visits Tiny Tim's grave while Scrooge looks on.

Scrooge is shown his room prepared for him in Hell.

Tiny Tim (played by Lexi Chalus) sings "The Beautiful Day"

The toys in the toy shop come to life in a ballet.

Scrooge Enters Production Week

After a weekend of intense rehearsals, the Musical Theatre Class is putting the finishing touches on the up-c0ming Christmas show "SCROOGE".

Pat Cooley gives some choreo instruction during a rehearsal.

A short video showing the opening chorus in rehearsal earlier last week:

The show goes Friday and Saturday, November 28-29, 2008. Both nights are currently sold out. There is a waiting list for possible cancellations.

RJC Choirs sing at RMC

Concert Choir and Chorale brought the morning service to Rosthern Mennonite Church on Sunday, November 2.

Concert Choir performs "Unity" with Allison Goerzen at the guitar.

Allison Goerzen, Callahan Collier, and Jennifer Regier play a guitar trio during the offertory.

Danika Epp tells a children's story.

Concert Choir sang six songs, and Chorale sang 5 songs. Gail Schellenberg brought a short meditation. After the service, the entire RJC community was treated to a large potluck meal. Thank you Rosthern Mennonite Church!

Scrooge: The Musical

Come and see the Christmas Dessert Theatre on November 28-29, 2008.
Tickets go on sale October 27.

Scrooge: The Musical is a faithful retelling of the classic Dickens story "A Christmas Carol". Prepare to have your lifestyle choices challenged!

Chorale 2008-2009

CHORALE 2008-2009


Chalus, Lexi
Epp, Julia
Pauls, Lori
Derksen, Luke
Falconer, Torrey
Regier, Jennifer
Dick, Heidi
Fast, Jacoba
Schmidt, Allison
Driediger, Dan
Friesen, Coby
Schmidt, Laura
Dueck, Krista
Goerzen, Allison
Stock, Rachel
Dueck, Tim
Hunt, Danielle
Tetreault, Steven
Epp, Danika
Klaassen, Rachel
Warkentin, Cara
Epp, Erik
Martens, Aleta
Wiens, Curtis
Epp, Heather
Martens, Sarah
Wiens, Jordan
Epp, Heidi
Neufeld, Baily
Wiens, Matthew
Epp, Ian
Olfert, Jillian
Young, Miranda

Musical Theatre Class

The Musical Theatre Class has been re-constructing the Pit Theatre stage, which had water damage over the summer.

Carissa Brockman, Aleta Martens, Brayden Holman, and Angie Neufeld put screws into the floor decking.

Miranda Young "feels the power" of the drill.

Heidi Dick and Laura Schmidt enjoy the class.

The floor deck is almost complete.

The class is beginning preparations for the Christmas Theatre to be presented at the end of November.

Saskatoon Youth Orchestra and RJC Choir Fall Workshop

The RJC Choir rehearsed this past weekend in preparation for a concert with the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra.

The choir in rehearsal with Audrey Falk Janzen at the piano.

The basses in action.

The choir prepares for a combined rehearsal with the orchestra.

The choir was directed by Richard Janzen, the orchestra was under the direction of Wayne Toews and George Charpentier.

Thanks to accompanists Nancy Epp and Audrey Falk Janzen for their help this weekend, and to Louella Friesen for her help with vocal training and sectional rehearsals.

Concert Choir at the Opening Program

Richard Janzen leads the choir in "Ipharadisi", an African freedom song.


Concert Choir made their debut appearance at the Opening Program on September 14. They sang 4 numbers after a short week and a half of rehearsals.



Aleta Martens (12) shares her thoughts on attending RJC for the first time.


Co-Presidents Cecil Peters (12) and Krista Dueck (12) welcome the audience to the Opening Program.


Kate McArthur (10), Lexi Chalus (11), and Lyle Graham (11) light candles during the ceremony.


Concert Choir sings "You know I am always with you". Sarah Martens (12) is the soloist and Krista Dueck (12) is at the piano.

RJC has a YouTube Channel

See it HERE.

From "Pirates of Penzance" Spring 2008

Pour O Pour The Pirate Sherry


I Am A Pirate King

Concert Choir Prepares for Opening Program

Choral director Richard Janzen rehearsing with the all-school Concert Choir for the September 14th RJC Opening Program. Instrumentalists shown are Jill Olfert and Allison Goerzen.

2008 Choir CD "Tranquility"

A CD of songs performed by Concert Choir and Chorale has been released and can be purchased by contacting the main office at RJC.

Cost is $20 per cd. Supplies are limited. They make a great gift!

VISA and Mastercard are accepted.

Pirates of Penzance Cast Picture

Here is a full resolution picture of the cast of Pirates of Penzance. You are welcome to download it if you wish to print one for yourself (approx 2.3 MB)Click on the picture to see the full size.
More pictures on the RJC website.

The RJC Spring Musical Pirates of Penzance opened this evening to an enthusiastic crowd of around 250 youth and youth groups. It was a private viewing by invitation only. The public performances begin tomorrow, Friday June 20.

Pirates Dress Rehearsals

We have entered production week of our spring musical, Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance". The cast and crew spent the weekend rehearsing the play, and will put the finishing touches before their first audience on Thursday night to an invitation-only presentation for youth groups.

Tickets are still available for the Friday and Saturday performances (even if we sell all the tickets, we will make room for more!) Call 306.232.4222 to reserve your seats. $12 each, reserved. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

The pirates are determined to marry the Major-General's daughters.

The Penzance Constabulary are called in to capture the pirates.

The pirate maid Ruth declares her love for Frederic, much to his chagrine.

Pirates Rehearsal Update

June 8, 2008

The Major General and the Pirate King settle an argument.

The rest of the band joined us tonight.

"Often, often, orphan"

Rehearsals for the June 19-21 performances of "Pirates of Penzance" continue. The set is nearly finished, and the cast is putting the finishing touches on the choreography.