What a weekend! Truly a mountain top experience for the singers from all the schools. The final concert on Sunday afternoon featured two mass choirs (Middle School and High School) and mass band (High School.) The concert was held in North Kildonan Mennontie Brethren Church in Winnipeg - a large church that seats 800 people. The audience though, was well over 1000 people and the choirs and bands added another 450 students. It made for tight quarters, but the energy was high and well appreciated. Thanks to Dr. Elroy Friesen who directed the High School Mass Choir and brought them to amazing heights of musicianship. Special recognition needs to be given to the Winnipeg organizers of this massive event, especially Mr. Tim Taves of MBCI who did the lion's share of the work. WELL DONE WINNIPEG!
On the way home, Chorale stopped at North Star Mennonite Church in Drake, SK to be watered and fed and present a full program of amazing music! Thank you for hosting us, Drake.
YouTube videos at the bottom. More videos can be seen at the RJC YouTube Channel.
RJC students mix it up with singers from the other Mennonite schools during the dress rehearsal.
Hailey, Sara, Jamieson, and Macaila show their happy faces, a sure sign of level of enjoyment the singers had.
All CAMS participants attended a Manitoba Moose AHL game (the final game of the season, perhaps the final game of AHL in Winnipeg?? hmmmmm.) Here Clay Sara and Paul watch from the upper deck.
Sunday morning featured a worship service with all the particpants in Jubliee Place at MBCI. Music was led by John Buhler and a series of inspiring stories were presented by Nathan Koslowsky.
The North Kildonan MB Church was PACKED for the final concert. Here the choir sits in the gymnasium overflow. There were more audience members behind them!
Four of the CAMS directors after the concert. Dr. Elroy Friesen directed the Mass High School Choir. He teaches choral studies at the University of Manitoba, and formerly taught music at Steinbach Christian High School, a CAMS member. Elroy is dressed casually as immediately after the concert, he was taking his university choir on tour to northern Manitoba, and was about to board a bus. The other directors pictured are Richard Janzen (RJC, Rosthern), Rick Heppner-Mueller (MCI, Gretna) and Dean Wedel (MEI, Abbotsford.)
