Saskatoon High School Choir Festival

You know, schools need to do this more often. We always hear how athletics build character and camaraderie, but that would be mostly true within the context of your own team. But put some choirs together and you get a real sense of group building. Sure, each choir steps up to do their best in the presence of their peers. But they also listen intently to the other choirs and truly wish each choir to sing well. And then you put them together to actually work together in harmony and voila - you have built a group dynamic that transcends the individual. The singers give up a bit of the "me" to become the "we." This is a POWERFUL statement that can change the way to view the world in all its diversity.

Sunday's Saskatoon High School Choir Festival at Grace-Westminster Church was exactly that! What a privilege to be invited to participate! The mass choir was directed by Dr. Scott Finch from Briercrest College. Each choir also performed on their own.

The Mass Choir under the direction of Dr. Scott Finch. The schools represented are Bedford Road Collegiate, Centennial Collegiate, Mount Royal Collegiate, Tommy Douglas Collegiate and Rosthern Junior College.

Centennial Collegiate Choir directed by Stacey Mortenson.

Mount Royal Collegiate Choir directed by Allison Lacelle.

Centennial Collegiate Vocal Jazz Ensemble directed by Cameron Milner.

RJC Chorale directed by Richard Janzen

Chorale performed "Motion" by Ragnar Rasmussen.

We tried a new formation for this concert.

Paradise sang "City Called Heaven" with Brandon at the piano.

A close-up of Chorale.

The Mass Choir closed the concert - "This is my song!"

We Day Rehearsal with Cirque Du Soleil

NOTE: watch the LIVE webcast of the entire We Day rally from CUC in Saskatoon on Wednesday morning February 27 at www.weday.com. RJC's part will be between 11am and 12 noon.

This video is from Tuesday's rehearsal for RJC's part in "We Day" at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon. The first part is a Cirque Du Soleil solo followed by the RJC students singing "One Drop - Hymn To The World."

It was cool to work with Cirque Du Soleil artistic director Catherine Ledoux (awesome French accent!)

Festival of Choirs!

What an awe-inspiring concert at Third Ave Centre yesterday in Saskatoon. Sonrisa, A Buncha Guys and CMU Men's Chorus joined Chorale and ManChoir for an afternoon of amazing singing.  Third Avenue United Church was full to its beautiful rafters.

Chorale opened the concert with "A City Called Heaven" with Paradise singing solo. Richard Janzen (Alumnus of CMU) is directing.

Ragnar Rasmussen's "Motion" was a hit. Thanks RJC Alumnus Jordan Wiens for joining us on this one.

Third Avenue United Church is a stunning building with beautiful architecture and acoustics. Some call in "Saskatoon's Carnegie Hall." Audrey Falk Janzen is on the piano.

RJC ManChoir belted out "Hallelujah to the King of Kings!" by Ron Kenoly.

ManChoir's close up.

Sonrisa is directed by RJC & CMU Alumnus Lynne Driedger-Enns with Brenda Epp on the piano.

A Buncha Guys are led by RJC Alumni Russ & Val Regier.

CMU Men's Chorus "O Sifuni Mungu." CMU is directed by Dr. Rudy Schellenberg.

The pipe organ makes a beautiful backdrop to the choirs.

Lynne Driedge-Enns directed the combined women of RJC and Sonrisa in Hal Hopsons' arrangment of "The Gift of Love."

The Mass Choir filled the stage. Here Richard Janzen directs Franz Biebl's "Ave Maria."

A close-up of RJC Music Director Richard Janzen directing the Mass Choir.

Russ Regier rocked the house directing the combined Men's Choirs in "He Never Failed Me Yet!"

A special moment for RJC Principal Jim Epp (an alumnus of RJC and CMU) who could sing in the mass choir with his three sons.

Dr. Rudy Schellenberg finished the concert with Hal Hopson's "Prayer of Thankful Praise," a beautiful and fitting prayer to end the afternoon.

RJC and CMU enjoy a special relationship which we hope to continue to foster. Thank you to our wonderful audience and dedicated supporters who filled Third Ave yesterday!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE! What a great evening!

The RJC students put on a great show for over 150 guests who came to check out the school! The entertainment was top-notch, hosted by the always amusing dynamic duo of Travis and Eric.  Well done!

Friday Night Live had a beach party theme - which was good because it was -30C outside!

Current RJC students demonstrate the proper use of the photo-booth, a popular item during the evening.

"The Delicate Timmies" opened the show with a cover of "Get Over It!" Brandon (drums) Travis (guitar) & Nick (bass) take it to the crowd.

Generation Next students (future RJC'ers) take their turn in the photo-booth.

Nick is part of "The Delicate Timmies"

Kenna performed "Hey Yeah"

Lyndsey wowed the audience with a very entertaining cup song from the movie "Perfect Pitch"

Eric & Travis were the MCs. You know you will be immensely amused.

Kathleen (guitar) and Crystal (piano) gave us a beautiful performance of "Taking Chances"

Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" on ukelele - presented by Sarah and Gabby.

Kathleen paired up with Alyssa to perform "Titanium"

Benjamin (vocals), Brandon (drums), Landon (bass), and Cody (guitar-not pictured) are "The Town Boyz." They performed an original tune "Life and Death"

Ryan played an original composition "The Letter" on the piano, and also did a solo rendition of "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from Les Misérables.

Cody is a guitar monster!

Paradise, Jaye, and Meghan sang "Blood Brothers" with great harmonies.

It was all Cody to close the show with "Bring It On Home!" (with Brandon backing him up on drums)

Christmas Concert Dec 21

Here are some pictures from the beautiful Christmas Concert at RJC last night. The atmosphere was wonderfully enhanced with lights and candles. Thank you to the audience - a packed gymnasium with supportive and responsive people! We wish you all a holy, blessed and safe Christmas. Emmanuel! God is with us!

Women's Choir opened the concert with three songs.

Women's Choir

Chorale was next with four pieces of their own.

Chorale under the lights.

Concert Choir began their set with "Ding-a Ding-a Ding" by Greg Gilpin.

Kathleen and Sarah duet "Angels We Have Heard On High."

Sandy's opening solo in "Christmas Gloria" by Michael W. Smith.

Shenyce on the keyboard. Mikayla, Brett and Ryan also took turns on the keys.

Concert Choir

Hayley (violin) and Cody (guitar) played in the "orchestra" for the  Christmas Gloria.

Lyndsey rocked the song "Gloria!" at the end of the work.

Gabby was on bass and Brandon on drums.

Concert Choir showing some intensity.

The concert ended with a quiet and reflective "Silent Night" with candles.