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.