Pirates Rehearsal Update

Rehearsals are well underway for the June 20-21 performances of "Pirates of Penzance."

Here you can see the pirates trying out their new "swords."

Pat Cooley works with the policemen choreographing "When a felon."

The general's daughters rehearse the beginning of act 2, where they discover their father weeping in the ruins of his chapel.

Tickets are now on sale! Call soon! 306.232.4222

Elise Epp Quartet performs in Rosthern

A graduate of RJC in 2005, Elise Epp has been studying voice at the University of Saskatchewan and performing with her own jazz quartet - the Elise Epp Quartet. On May 24, Elise and her quartet (Soren Nissen on bass, Brett Balon on piano, and '04 RJC alumnus David Swab on drums) performed at the Station Arts Centre in Rosthern. The quartet performed a set of jazz standards and originals composed by Elise. A nice moment occurred when Elise gave a shout out to RJC and her Chorale experience when she performed "Deep River" - a piece she sang while in Chorale, though tonight's version was much updated and adapted.

Opening the concert was vocalist Leah Klaassen (RJC Grad '04) accompanied by David Swab on guitar and Philip Klaassen ('07) on bass. Leah joined Elise for one song during the main set.

Steinbach Christian High School Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir from Steinbach Christian High School, a sister Mennonite School in Manitoba, sang in our chapel this morning. They are under the direction of James Fast. They arrived yesterday evening and spent the night in our dorms. They continued their tour further west today. It was great to connect with another school in our Mennonite Schools family!

Tickets on Sale!

Tickets are now on sale for "Pirates of Penzance". $12 all seats reserved. VISA and MasterCard accepted. Call 306.232.4222.

Phantom of the Opera

On Thursday, May 15, two vans full of RJC students went to Saskatoon for a matinee performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera." It was a highlight for many of the students to see a fully professional performance of this popular Broadway theatre play. While the singing and musical production was excellent, the real star of the show is the machinery and the set. From the first pyrotechnic explosion to the amazing use of fabric and tapestry, the smoothly efficient changes from scene to scene was truly impressive. The chandelier itself was something to behold, traveling from the stage floor to the heights of the concert hall, only to come crashing down again at the climatic moment. General sentiment among the students was that the two most impressive special effects were the magical mirror (reflecting an image AND becoming translucent at the same time) and the descent into the dungeons of the opera house with candles rising out of the floor.

Many of the students came out of the performance very excited to have seen the play, and inspired to begin work on our own Spring Musical production of "Pirates of Penzance" currently in rehearsal.

Pembina Trails Voices visits RJC

On Tuesday, May 6, a 90 voice children's choir from Manitoba arrived in two large busses to sing for our students. They are the "Pembina Trails Voices" - an auditioned school division choir of students from grades 4-8. They are divided into two groups - a boys choir and a girls choir.

Both groups sang for us during chapel time. They blew us away with their well prepared songs, fine production, and enthusiastic presentation. Especially appreciated was the girl's choir rendition of Mozart's "Lacrimosa", since the Concert Choir had also performed that piece just two weeks earlier at or spring concert.

At the end of chapel time, the Concert Choir sang "Hold Me, Rock Me" for the PTV. We also hosted them for lunch before they left for another event in Saskatoon.

Rehearsals for "Pirates of Penzance" have begun.

Construction on the stage and rehearsals for the June 20-21 performances of Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" have begun.
Tickets go on sale on May 20, 2008. Call 306.232.4222 for ticket information.

Day 6 May 5 part two

Please note that the first half of today's post is below this one.

The beginning (first song) of the end (last performance) for this year’s Chorale.

Our performance this evening was the last official concert as a choir, so after dinner and warm up we gathered in the basement and shared memories from throughout the year. After a time of prayer we headed upstairs for our final program. This was arguably the best performance of the year and emotions were running high as we drew nearer and closer to the end. The tears started flowing during Matthew Schmidt’s opening solo in “Loch Lomond”, and didn’t stop throughout the rest of the concert. The choir sang their hearts out and many members stated after how tired their voices were from leaving everything they had out on the stage.

After the program had wrapped up we took time to say goodbye to those that we will likely never sing with again, and then headed out to the bus for our third two hour trip in the day, this time back to RJC. This tour has definitely been a highlight of my year at RJC. Throughout the tour we had an amazing time singing our songs, hanging out with friends, getting to know each other better, and of course sitting on a bus for hours on end (special thanks to Ben Bueckert our awesome bus driver!) Thanks for following the blog throughout the tour and thank you also for supporting us all year long.

Written by:
Jeremy Enns with help from Curtis Wiens

Thanks to Thomas D. Enns for letting us use his laptop computer while on the tour.

"KWAHERI" by Brian Tate

Day 6 May 5 - Yorkton/Drake

Before we begin today’s blog Krista Dueck would like me to say that she is awesome. Now let us move on with this blog after that seemingly useless and incredibly vain piece of information. Ed. Note: ALL these singers are awesome! What a priviledge to work with them all year!

This morning we were once again up at the crack o’ dawn to start the final day of our 2008 RJC Chorale tour. When we all arrived at the church it became apparent that many of us had had the luxury of staying in mansions of sorts. The people of Richmond Park church sure knew not only how to billet, but also how to buy houses! Our first stop of the day was two hours away in Yorkton at the Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS). There we put on a fairly short show during their schools choir class. The students of said class were very glad to have us, possibly because of our sheer, jaw dropping, awe inspiring, heart melting talent; or possibly because they got to miss their choir rehearsal to listen to us. This was also a treat for them as their choir only has three guys in it. Our basses (and I suppose the tenors too) put on a great show as always. (If I do say so myself, talent wise, the bass section is the strongest section in the choir, led of course by Jeremy Enns, Curtis Wiens, and Erik “Beans” Epp, a tri force known far and wide as the “Three Musketeers”) Ed. Note: Please note that Jeremy and Curtis are the authors of this blog. Thanks guys!

ALLELUIA by John Zaumeyer

After the short program we departed on another two hour drive to Drake, home town of our Cara Warkentin. Cara’s family, among others, put on a great meal of farmer sausage, ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, and the ever vital baked buns. Coincidentally it was Erik Epp’s 16th birthday today, and Mrs. Warkentin had baked him a cake!

Our final (and only for that matter) performance at a public high school (YRHS).

Our last (and first) stop for slurpees bought by Gail. Thanks Gail!
Also one of many hacky sack circles throughout the trip.

The last (but not the first) time we stopped beside a Jansen sign on the side of the highway for a photo op.

Putting the finishing touches on the Womens Choir piece “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”

Day 5 May 4 - Winnipeg/Brandon

Day 5
On our final day in Winnipeg we started off the day by leading the Sunday service at Home Street Mennonite Church. For many of us, this was the nicest Mennonite church we had ever been in by virtue of it being an old United church. The acoustics were great and so was the food at the potluck afterwards. There was everything from various chillies, salads, lasagna, and meat pie to a stellar dessert table with numerous cakes, cookies, and squares. After lunch we loaded up the bus and were off to Brandon. It had been snowing all morning in Winnipeg but when we got to Brandon the sun was shining and it was another beautiful evening. After a supper of taco salad and delectable ice cream sundaes at Richmond Park Mennonite, we put on our evening concert. Richmond Park is the home church of Angie Nickel, who while not in Chorale, accompanied us to Regina and then met up with us here in Brandon. It became apparent after our program that she and her mom had put a lot of thought into the billeting process and it’s safe to say we were all pleased with both our billets, and our billets homes…

The Chorale singing at Home Street Mennonite in the traditional gowns in front of the traditional Mennonite pipe organ…

Our bus driver Ben Bueckert wearing traditional bus driver uniform, complete with the smile we’ve come to know and love.

Richmond Park’s own Angie Nickel, sharing about the music program that has become an RJC tradition.

Chorale singing the traditional Tanzanian song, “Kwaheri”.

HOLD ME ROCK ME by Brian Tate

Day 4 May 3 - Winnipeg

Today we finally got to have a decent sleep in as we had nothing planned until later on in the morning. At around 11 o’clock we arrived at CMU where we spent a few hours touring the campus and partaking in some activities such as a scavenger hunt, and the always popular… lunch. At around 2 pm we left CMU and headed off to The Forks, a popular tourist spot along the river with a market, skate park, and lots of space to relax. The clouds and wind of the morning had left and we were left with a beautiful afternoon for shopping and relaxing by the river. After supper at the Spaghetti Factory we headed to the Willowlake Baptist Church. We battled through challenging acoustics in the church and still managed to put on a good performance before retiring to our billets places for the night.

Cody, Erik, Jordon, and Jeremy flying high at The Forks!

Chorale soaring at Willowlake.

Mannerchör unfurled its large, manly wings for “Road to Zion”.

Women’s Choir gliding through the stratosphere for “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need”.

More Pictures from Friday, May 3

The percussion ensemble played for Kwaheri. And It Was Good.

Jordon and Cody at the MTC for “Dreamgirls”. Needless to say, it was awesome!

Our choir sang for the other choirs in Jubliee Place, MCBI. And It Was Good

May 2 - Day 3 Gretna/Winnipeg

On day 3, we got to sleep in a little bit later than on previous days and had some free time before we sang for the entire school for their chapel. Immediately after we finished, we loaded the bus and headed for Winnipeg. Our first stop was at MBCI (Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute) where we put on a joint concert with their band and choir, and the Westgate Mennonite Collegiate band and choir. We really appreciated this opportunity as we don’t get to listen to other choirs very often. MBCI actually performed the same arrangement of Loch Lomond that we did later in the performance, and in Richard’s words, “I like our version better.” Ed. Note: Of course I like it better! Because it's the interpretation I taught you!

Following the concert we headed to Polo Park mall for supper and shopping. Nick was somewhat disappointed with his dinner at Moxie’s, when he ordered the $25 halibut, and got about a pound of salad, with a small amount of fish in the middle. Probably the highlight of the day was when we headed to the Manitoba Theatre Center and watched a stellar performance of “Dreamgirls”. We almost didn’t make it in, as they had no record of our order of tickets, but we bought out the last of the tickets just in time and they even set up a couple chairs for us! After the show we joined our billets and were off to bed.

Westgate’s band performed for us… it was good …

One of MBCI’s choirs…they were pretty good…

One of Westgate’s songs included a beat boxer, and you can bet that was good!

Day 2 May 1 - Gretna, MB

On Thursday, day two of our tour, we woke up bright and early, met at Grace Mennonite and began the eight hour drive to Gretna, Manitoba. The highlight of the bus ride for everyone was most certainly the twenty minute stop at Dairy Queen in some town in Saskatchewan. Ed. Note: It was Moosomin.

Upon arriving at MCI and being shown to our rooms, we joined the MCI student body for a supper of roast beef, potatoes, corn, and angel food cake. After supper we were shown to Buhler Hall, a multi-million dollar concert hall which was definitely a joy to sing in. The concert consisted of our group, a short set by MCI’s Chamber Choir, and a combined rendition of “Kwaheri”. After the concert some of us found our way to the gymnasium where games of badminton and volleyball, and later on floor hockey took place with the MCI students. We got to know some of the students better when we joined them for night lunch, and then it was off to bed.

Ye olde banquet of pupils hailing from MCI and RJC.

Ye olde concerte hall.

Ye olde choir director rehearsing with the wee young basses.

Ye olde RJC choristers.

Day One April 30 - Regina

Today, day one of chorale tour 2008 we departed Rosthern after period six and headed South to Regina. Upon arriving at Grace Mennonite Church, we enjoyed a meal of Soup (cream of ham and potato, chicken noodle, country sausage, and carrot rice), sandwiches, humus, and a plethora of tasty desserts. Before we began our evening program we sang “Let All Ye Sons and Daughters Sing” over the phone for Krista’s grandpa, who is in the hospital here in Regina, and couldn’t make it out to the concert. Following that we began the program. Singing ensued. After the program came the part that everyone looks forward to, refreshments and billets… mainly billets, but the refreshments were good too.

Excited and ready to depart, The group just after loading the bus.

Excited and ready to sing, at Grace Mennonite.

Excited and ready to speak. Alex Green offering some profound words of wisdom.

Excited and ready to depart… again