Musaic Vocal Ensemble: The musical gift that keeps on giving

Thirty years is a long time. In a culture that values immediacy over and above consistency and longevity, the long-haul commitment to art and to community seems increasingly rare. Until you discover Musaic Vocal Ensemble.

Thirty years ago as an Anglican priest, I was the Rector of St. Stephen Anglican Church in Summerland. Early in my tenure I discovered significant interest in choral singing. Having had a good experience in my former parish with a small chamber choir, I wondered if something similar could be established here in Summerland. Working with Chris Barron and the late Betty Rose we called together thirteen singers for thirteen rehearsals and produced a concert including Faure’s Requiem immediately before Easter in 1995. Following that concert we decided to continue as Musaic Vocal Ensemble. If you don’t know Musaic visit their website and read their history:

Musaic Vocal Ensemble is an adult mixed choir that has been based in Summerland, BC, Canada, since 1995. They delight in singing a wide variety of sacred and secular repertoire in performances throughout the Okanagan Valley and beyond, including competing in the prestigious International Choral Kathaumixw festival in 2014. Musaic’s vision is to inspire and unite its members through choral music, achieve high artistic standards, explore diverse programming, and reach audiences within the Okanagan and beyond.

I was privileged to conduct most concerts during the next nine years. Here is the order from our first concert as Musaic Vocal Ensemble in December 1995:

---

Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Fauré

Regina Coeli, K 276 for Chorus, by W.A. Mozart. 
Soloists: Imelda Kedge, Chris Barron, Paul Wiersma, Walter Goerzen. Organist: Arnold Draper

Aria for Organ by Flor Peeters, and
Wir glauben all an einen Gott, by J. S. Bach.
Organist: Ken Gray

Now Sleeps the Crimson Petal, by Eric Thiman

Away from the Roll of the Sea, by Alister MacGillvray

Pendant que, by Gilles Vigneault

Soloists: Lynda Lipsett and Chris Barron

Rattle on the Stovepipe, arr. Donald Coakley

A choral selection from West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein

Love is Here to Stay, by George Gershwin

Am I Blue? by Gene Puerling
Soloists: Lynda Lipsett and Arnie Lambert

Quem vidistis pastores dicite, by Francis Poulenc

Mary’s Lullaby, by John Rutter.
Organist: Arnold Draper

The Gift Carol, by Lloyd and Debby Pfautsch

Deck the Hall, arr. David Willcocks

---

I was the first of many conductors over thirty years who brought varied repertoire and a unique presentation style to performances. Choral singing is such a rewarding practice. To learn new music together, to overcome technical difficulties, to savour the sound of blended voices, to create something special in the room, all being well, these combine to produce something beautiful, something only possible when sung in chorus, with others. Drawing from sacred and secular sources, choral music can take performers and listeners alike to spaces divine, to remote places, to times both glad or sad, to moments both intimate or very public.  

I am so pleased to congratulate the choir on its thirtieth anniversary. I am so glad that the music continues. Thank you Zach and the board for inviting me to share in this anniversary concert. With Abba I and so many others can now sing:

Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing
Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing
Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without a song or a dance what are we?
So I say thank you for the music
For giving it to me

Musaic regularly welcomes new singers to audition for membership, especially those with a strong music-reading background. Interested individuals, please visit the webpage for contact information.

Visit the takenote.ca HOME page for a colourful display of hundreds of other blogs which may interest or inspire you