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.
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!
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.
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.
