In July 2017, the SCC embarked on its two-week long international performance tour to Italy. The tour included a concert in Naples, an impromptu performance in a Pompeii amphitheatre, recorded by Italian national TV, participation in the Musica Eterna Festival in Roma, where they earned Second Place in the Children’s Choir category, and Fourth Place in the Gospel category. The highlight of the tour, however, was performing at the Ravenna Festival, an invitational summer festival of opera and classical music. The two concerts, performed at the Basilica di San Vitale and the Alighieri Theatre, will always be remembered by us and the Italian audiences.
Cologne, Hannover, Magdeburg and Leipzig
“Singing together brings nations together.”
In July 2015, the SCC embarked on its two-week long international performance tour to Germany. The choir performed in the Cologne Cathedral, in Hannover and in Leipzig. We also participated in the European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations in Magdeburg, where we shared the stage with dozens of choirs from around the world. The SCC successfully participated in two competitions, earning a Gold Medal in Children’s Choirs category and a Gold Medal in the Folklore category.
The choir also visited the Bergen Bergen Concentration Camp, together with Dr. Dagmar Lieblová, a Holocaust survivor and a dear friend of the choir.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
The Magic Flute is like a mirror: anyone who looks into it, sees himself; and he will find in it whatever he is looking for. It is a complete picture of life, a mirror of the universe; “Mozart’s spiritual testament.”
~Janos Liebner, Artistic Director of the Berlin Opera, 1972.
In June 2014, a group of Concert Choir choristers was invited to perform as spirits in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera Magic Flute, presented by the Saskatoon Opera. Working with professional artists, in a professional theatre milieu, it proved to be a significant artistic experience for our choristers, and one they will always remember. The Saskatoon Opera production of Magic Flute played to enthusiastic and sold-out audiences, and received rave reviews in the local press.
Regina, Saskatchewan
On February 7-9, 2014, our Concert choir attended Chorfest Saskatchewan 2014 in Regina. On Saturday, February 8, we participated in Treble Youth Project with Cantate Senior Choir and Conservatory Juventus Chamber Choir, both from Regina. Under the direction of the acclaimed guest clinician and conductor, Dr. Mark Sirett of Kingston, Ontario, the three choirs worked together on a selection of mass choir pieces which included Amani (A Song of Peace) by Jim Papoulis, Rothsay-O! arranged by Ken Berg, Watane by Mark Sirett and Water of Tyne arranged by Michael Neaum. In the evening, family, friends, funders and music lovers joined the choirs for the Sounds of Celebration concert that concluded the day’s workshop.
On Sunday morning, our choir participated in Prince of Peace Lutheran Church service, and then in the afternoon worked with three adjudicators, Dr. Sirret, Dr. Elroy Friesen of Winnipeg and Jordan Travis of Burlington, Ontario on Yo le Canto and Lux Aeterna by Z. Randall Stroope. We learned so much and enjoyed working with these choral professionals.
“Llangollen is a powerful example of how ordinary men and women can make a positive difference in this war-torn world… It is a mistake to think that it is only people in high political office who can bring peace. Peace begins in the hearts of ordinary people who learn to share and trust. And music is one powerful means to this end.” Terry Waite, Human Rights Campaigner and the Eisteddfod President
In July 2013, the SCC embarked on its two-week long international performance tour to Ireland, Wales and England. In Ireland, they presented concerts in St Michael’s Church in Greystones, and in Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin, and participated in two professional Irish music workshops.
In Wales, the choir took part in the 67th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. This is a well known music festival which takes place every year in Llangollen, North Wales. Singers and dancers from around the world are invited to take part in over 20 high quality competitions followed each evening by concerts where the best and most colourful competitors share the stage with professional artists. Over five thousand singers, dancers and instrumentalists from around 50 countries perform to audiences of more than 50,000 over the six days of the event. The SCC successfully participated in three competitions. You can watch our performances at the Eisteddfod through these links:
Cultural Showcase
Children’s Folk Choirs
Senior Children’s Choirs
After the festival, the choir continued to London, through Stratford-upon-Avon, Kenilworth, Warwick and Oxford. They performed a fundraising concert in Kenilworth, participated in a joint church service in Leamington Spa All Saints Cathedral and in London performed in St. James, Piccadilly.
