SVMF Awards

The Sask Valley Music Festival handed out their awards to the top performers at their Awards Concert on Sunday night in Waldheim. Several students were invited to perform again, including Chorale who performed "Deep River."

RJC students were recognized for outstanding performances throughout the festival. The top three awards were presented to Nicole Brockman, piano (top instrumental performer), Ryan Epp (top vocal performer) and Concert Choir (top choir.)  As well, Chorale was nominated to compete in the National Festival, and will send a recording on to the next level of competition. Congratulations all!

Jamieson Fitzgerald captivates the audience with his rendition of "The Lion King"

Clay Buhler and Luke Driedger Enns entertained the audience with their musical theatre piece "Agony" from Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS

Sara Bartel sings "When Sweet Ann Sings"

Chorale sang the beautiful and moving "Deep River" at the awards concert.

FINAL CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

All the award winners at the SVMF Awards Concert.

FULL PERFORMANCE OF "DEEP RIVER" by CHORALE

FULL PERFORMANCE OF "AGONY" by LUKE & CLAY

Sask Valley Music Festival

A lot of students have been performing at the SaskValley Music Festival this past week. The awards concert is Sunday night at 7 pm in the Waldheim Mennonite Brethren Church in Waldheim. Chorale will also be singing there.

Richard prepares Concert Choir for performing at the Festival this past Wednesday. Here Judith is at the piano for "Battle of Jericho"

The choirs (Concert  Choir and Chorale) each performed 4 pieces - all by memory!

Richard gives some animated encouragement and instructions to the singers.

Guys and Pies

Another successful and exciting Guys and Pies fundraiser in the Rehearsal Hall on Sunday evening raised money for the program at Rosthern Junior College. A Bunch of Guys (directed by Russ Regier) and the RJC ManChoir (directed by Richard Janzen) performed while a large group of around 250 people enjoyed coffee and pies. The cake auction brought in thousands of dollars. Thank you to all volunteers and generous supporters!

2011 Spring Musical Announcement

The musical of choice for 2011 will be:

HONK! is a musical comedy based on "The Ugly Duckling"

Based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling", “Honk!” tells the story of an odd looking baby duck, Ugly, and his quest to find his mother. Soon after Ugly is born, he is enticed away by a wily Cat who wants to eat Ugly for dinner. Eventually, Ugly manages to escape but has no idea how to return home. Along his way, he encounters a beautiful swan, Penny, tangled in a fishing line. After saving her, the two birds fall in love. However, she must return to her flock and fly south for the winter. Eventually, Ugly’s mother finds him frozen in snow. Luckily, her warm tears manage to thaw him out and he comes back to life – as a handsome swan! Soon, Ugly is reunited with Penny and two swans decide to live the rest of their days in the same pond as Ugly’s loyal mother.

Winner of the 2000 Olivier Award for Best New Musical in London, England, HONK! beat out all other new musicals that year, including the newly produced LION KING (the Disney stage production.)  Charming to a fault, the story is full of British humour, catchy tunes, and an ending to warm the most stoic of hearts.

Produced under arrangement with Music Theatre International, New York NY.

Christmas performances

The Choirs at RJC were very busy leading up to the Christmas Break. Here are a few pictures from their performances.

Chorale, under the direction of Richard Janzen, performed at the Station Arts Centre as part of the SAC Christmas Noon Hour Concert Series on December 17, 2010

Concert Choir at the opening of the Christmas Concert, December 17, 2010 in the evening.

SRC Co-Presidents Hannah and Clay were the MCs for the Christmas Concert.

Emily Hooge, Kerstin Balzer Peters and Luke Driedger Enns complimented the Concert Choir with their string trio, with Judith Schulz at the piano.

"We Three Kings" - Ryan, Jamieson and John.

"God of Surprises" - Macaila

The Chorale and Women's Choir also performed at the Christmas Concert.

RJC Christmas at Knox (pictures and video)

It was a cold Sunday Dec 12 in Saskatoon. But inside Knox United Church, an appreciative audience warmed up to Chorale and Women's Choir at their annual Christmas Concert inside the beautiful and historic downtown Saskatoon church.  The concert rounded out with some student soloists and small groups.

The combined choirs of Chorale and Women's Choir in Knox United Church, Saskatoon.

The concert began with the opening chorale from J.S. Bach's Cantate #142 "Alleluia, gelobet sei Gott"

"Padre Nuestro" (The Lord's Prayer) by Paraguayan composer
Roberto Casino

The Women's Choir sang a few numbers as well.

Small groups and soloists had also prepared a few pieces.  Here a boy's quintet sing "O Holy, Silent Night."

A great crowd braved to cold to hear the choirs perform in the beautiful downtown Saskatoon church.

It was a beautiful end to a busy day which began with  both choirs singing at the morning worship service in Waldheim. An afternoon rehearsal in Knox was followed by supper out (for the whole group of singers, 45 of them!) Thanks to the Noodle King and Ice Cream Queen for accomodating such a large group.

More videos at youtube.ca/rosthernjrcollege

Christmas Theatre Cast Picture & videos

Here is a picture of the entire cast from the recent Evening Of Theatre.

The show was put on by the Theatre Arts Class and Musical Theatre Class.