One only needs travel to a Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir concert to gain a “worldly” experience.  And that’s exactly what was delivered during the “Sing the World” concert with guest clinician Elise Bradley.  Bradley is an internationally renowned conductor and clinician who is currently the Artistic Director of the Toronto Children’s Chorus.  Her exuberance and positive attitude were both contagious and pivotal in ensuring that the boys enjoyed and flourished during this intense yet rewarding weekend where there was “no slop” allowed!

The concert began with the Master of Ceremonies covering some security issues.  Not  expected protocol items such as emergency exits or smoking by-laws but those of international security levels.  It seems international security “language” seems to be following the lead of texting acronyms.  “Baaa”, “right mad” and “Crikey!” are now some internationally accepted expressions approved for the comprehension of the common people.

Throughout the evening pieces were introduced in their native languages by boys who had cultural background from that country.  Under the direction of the GP Boys’ Choir founder, Jeannie Pernal, the Prepatory boys began with Russian and Irish fare while the Junior boys performed the traditional “Sarasponda”: a challenging piece well done considering the key changes and augmented intervals.  As the Men of Note and guest singers from Valleyview took to the stage to sing a Scottish folksong, whistling could be heard from the audience as a young man appeared in a kilt and interpreted his name as meaning “cooked cabbage, crooked nose, brave warrior”!  Where was security now?  The Men finished their set with a strong, toe tapping rendition of Candian Pacific.  Senior boys and their guests brought us Gaelic Blessing, Un Canadian Errant and then Bradley stepped up  as conductor  and they continued with Sonntag by Brahms.   From this point on, Bradley moulded color, beat and language to result in so me strikingly unique pieces to wrap up the concert.  First the Pan-African National Anthem and then French Canadian folksong “O-Yo-Yo”.  Their final piece, which earned and delivered an encore of the same, was “Tihore Mai” which is the music of the New Zealand First Nations people  and was gifted to Bradley by the First Nations to perform outside of the tribe!  Definately and exclusive learning and performing opportunity for the Boys’ choir.

Also in the program was Katherine Pernal on cello performing the vivid and light “Gavotte in D Major”.  Katherine showcased her talent in this instrumental piece through key changes, mood changes and some plucking techniques.  Elisa Milner on violin and Carmen Bartel on piano performed Romanian Folk Dances which was definate “ear candy” for the audience and once again proved the adept mastery of skill they posses of their instruments.  Accolaydes also go to the accompanists of the evening: Marie Moreau, Elaine Leer, Chris Wiebe and Steven Chateaneu.

Concert review by Mary-Ann Lynch, Prep Choir parent

The Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir offered a respite from the hectic pace of the holiday season with their concert titled “Peace” and despite the weekend deep freeze of -40 C weather, all three shows were met with great attendance and a warm audience.  The program showcased all of the boys from the choir and presented a few aspects and interpretations of “peace” including a monologue on the peace brought by sumptuous chocolate, wishes of peace in “The Gaelic Blessing” and the desire to be an instrument of peace in “The Prayer of St. Francis”.

The Prepatory boys debuted impressively with two carols in which they sung and provided their own supplemental instrumentation with hand bells and percussion.

Junior Boys performed a piece in Latin and Senior Boys got the audience’s toes tapping with an African rendition of The Lord’s Prayer entitled “Baba Yetu” and included some soulful solos!  The Men of Note presented “Jing-ga-lye-ya” with the impressive agility they have developed over the years in the choir.  The concert also included a string quartet prior to the show and was accompanied throughout the evening by three pianists, guitar, percussion and violin.

The show spun a 360 with its skit set hundreds of years into the future.  The main characters’ assignment to discover the true meaning of peace brought some very memorable elements to the evening.  It began with an outrageous flashback to the era of peace in the 60’s which saw bellbottoms, afro hair and Travolta moves accompanying “Jingle Bell Hustle”.   Next was a pinnacle moment in the show when the Men of Note sang “Christmas in the Trenches”, a memoire of the true story of the truce between British and German soldiers on a Christmas Eve during WWI.  Ironically, and to the benefit of the Men’s connection with the song, the daughter of a soldier who was involved in this truce was in attendance at the concert and met with the Men.

The concert wrapped up in grandiose style with over 150 performers and accompanists on stage that included choir members, dads, accompanists, brass and timpani ringing out “Joy to the World”.

Concert review by Mary-Ann Lynch, Prep Choir parent

A concert’s success can be measured by the number of standing ovations the performers receive. The Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir, ProCoro and Epsilon had received not one, not two, but three such applauds by the end of the night. Nothing short of first class, the evening held a full spectrum of musical genres for the audience: from Irish ballads, to Eric Clapton to Coldplay. The creative interpretation of the Director and music arranger was evident in the delivery of a refreshingly custom made program.

How ‘bout that chowder, Sponge Bob?

Concert review by Mary-Ann Lynch, Prep Choir parent

“Are We There Yet?” performed by Sam McCoshen, Mitchell Gorman, Jake Wilsey, Carter Johnson and Alec Girouard.

Mark Sears in “How To Torture Your Sister.”

“Be Kind to Your Parents” as performed by the Junior Boys.Our final concert was light hearted, funny, and a real audience pleaser.

The GP Boys Choir did very well at the music festival.  Prep, Senior, and Men of Note recieved Gold Superior and the Junior Choir recieved Gold standing.  The Prep, Senior and MON were recommended to go to Provincials.  Since the Provincial music festival was on the same weekend as our final concert, we could not attend.

As part of our Songs and Sweets Festival, the GP Boys’ Choir offered up an afternoon of free music.  It was held in the lovely Centre 2000.  We had guests, Roland Majeau perform a variety of original folk music.  We received $5600.00 from the Arts and Heritage Foundation Grant.  Our member of parliament, Chris Warkentin is seen here presenting us with a cheque.

Drawing from life’s experiences, Roland is able to convey and deliver deep emotions and convictions about situations in life common to us all. With word and note his music presents a message that encourages either laughter or tears.  In his long and varied career, Roland Majeau has developed his writing skills which focus on real life issues. Often likened to James Taylor, Roland’s unique blend of country / folk / pop is a combination that’s pleasing to the ear. However categorized, this is music that tells a story.

Back in June when everyone’s thoughts are turning to summer vacation, I am trolling through music files and surfing the internet for inspiration for our next Christmas show.  My criterion is simple.  It has to move me.  When I stumbled across Stan Roger’s, First Christmas,  I knew I had found the inspiration for the show.  Stan Rogers is the ultimate Canadian story teller and our Pro Coro friend Trent Worthington wrote a beautiful arrangement for our Men of Note.  From this inspiration grew other stories about Christmas away.  Our journey took us from Mary’s first Christmas to modern day travel.  In addition, the boys sang with their fathers.  This has become an annual tradition, and their presence, standing with their sons, speaks volumes about who they are as fathers and members of the community.  They gave their time and voices, to make the evening special.  It is my hope that the members of the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir will sing when they are grown up in their churches, in their community and to their children.  Singing is such a universal language and a special gift.

The Senior Choir and Men of Note were invited to sing at the Alberta School Board Trustee Conference held in Edmonton on November 16.  In addition, the boys were invited to sing at an Edmonton Metropolitan Choir concert, conducted by our good friend and colleague, David Garber.  It was such a treat for the boys to sing at McDougal United Church, with the fantastic acoustics.  The audience was extremely receptive to the boys and gave them a standing ovation!

The day turned out to be pretty special in one other way also.  Cornelius Martin, a student of Mrs. Pernal’s from many, many years ago, happened to be in the audience, and recognized her from his time at St. John’s Ravenscourt School. If there are any choral conductors out there who ever wonder if they make a difference on a young persons life, you just need to have an enthusiastic student from your past talk to you.  Cornelius had Mrs. Pernal in tears as he recalled numerous songs from his time in choir at the school.  And, he was only 11 at the time!  It was a tense moment as one of the boys from the GP Boys’ Choir quickly asked him if he was still singing as a grown up!  To Jeannie’s delight, he replied that he sang in a band with his church on a regular basis.

After a wonderful concert at McDougall United Church, the boys walked over to the Westin Hotel where they rested and prepared for their performance for the Alberta School Board Trustees.  Over 400 school board trustees were in attendance from around the province.  Trent Worthington came out and helped us out with the sound system and now we are determined to train one of our guys to learn all about sound systems.  Thanks to Trent for helping us out once again.

Of course, no trip would be complete without the bus trip, hockey game, sleeping in a hotel, and eating plenty of pizza!  Here are a few of the ‘extra’ pictures!

The Senior Choir and the Men of Note participated at the Remembrance Day Ceremony held at the Canada Games Arena on November 11, 2008.  It was a solemn ceremony, attended by many.  The choirs led those in attendance in the singing of O Canada, God Save the Queen and sand three of their own selections.  Sylvia Chabot and Tom Gorman put together a power point presentation which was shown while the choir performed Soldier Song.  This very moving tribute brought many people to tears.

‘We Shall Remember Them’