A Day At York: Thurs. April 29

After breakfast we boarded the Coach(not to be called a bus) for our trip to York. We learned a lot about British roads and history along the way. Once in York we went to York Minster Anglican Cathedral. From our arrival until 1 we were taken on a walking tour of the city and saw places like the Shambles, and medieval and roman walls, gates, and ruins dating back before Henry VIII. We got a lot of info on the history of toilets throughout British history. York is rich in history. At one we entered the Minster which is huge. It is an awesome place, filled with history and now the Concordia Concert Choir. The choir had a chance to sing several selections in the cathedral. After singing in the wonderful acoustics of the ancient space we moved to St. Mary’s chapel in the cathedral and sang again. WOW!!!!! The sound was overwhelming for the choir members. The remainder of the afternoon choir members went about York: eating, cornish pasties, yorkshire pudding, visiting Roman Baths and ruins, and the many shops in very old buildings. Even though it was raining we had a great day before returning to Manchester for our last night there. Anna walked the whole outer wall (3.5Miles). Some are still having issues with flushing British toilets. To sing in such spaces is overwhelming. Too bad all back home could not see our faces when we sang Hodie in the Minster. More fun days yet to come. Tomorrow - On to Cambridge. We also found out that it was at York that Emperor Constantine actually became emperor.

Wednesday, April 28 - Manchester

We got up and had a late breakfast in the hostel. With maps in hand we spread out to see the downtown of Manchester which is just a bit smaller but much older than Edmonton. There is a lot to see and it was a good day to move beyond our jet lag. Tonight is our first concert in downtown Manchester. While walking today some of us saw signs about a special concert for Haiti featuring the CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF EDMONTON CHOIR. After a mid afternoon nap we are off for rehearsal with the choir we are sharing the concert with tonight.
Our concert at St. Annes church was a great success. St.Annes (1721) dates back to the early day Manchster and it’s bell tower marks the geographical center of the city. We shared the evening with a high school choir from Bolton School, a very accomplished chamber choir. The final piece was Handel’s Messiah where both choirs were combined. It was the ending to a wonderful day and the hospitality of the local people was overwhelming. After the concert many went for food and we tried to visit a former city public toilet converted to a pub called the Temple of Convenience. It was really too small, but we took a look and a picture just to know we were there.

We are Off(Sorry for the wait)

We Are Off....

Everyone got to the airport on time and our flight to London was quiet and uneventful. We got to Heathrow Airport and thanks to one of our colleagues from Concordia also on the flight we made a swift transfer to our connecting terminal for our flight to Manchester. After a few hours wait we were ready to leave—except–we lost two. When all of us were in the departure lounge we realized two were missing. We got on the plane wondering what had happened to them and we couldn’t go back through security to look for them. Just as the door was to close they came onto the plane. They had fallen asleep in the terminal and woke up just....in time to make it. Not to mention any names but we are glad that Megan and Kristin managed to get a bit more sleep than the rest of us. We got to Manchester(5 p.m.) okay, met our guide and boarded our bus. All our luggage arrived with us so we all got to the youth hostel and after settling in went out for a very nice supper at 7:30 p.m.. It goes without saying that most of us were more than ready to get back and settle in for the night. The Youth Hostel is new and we are in a very historic part of the city with Roman Ruins, canals, old rail bridges, and the oldest passenger train station(now a Museum) built in 1831. We are two blocks from Granada TV studios and the set of “Coronation Street”. A lot of the area looks like Coronation Street.

Off We Go to England Itinerary

CONCORDIA CONCERT CHOIR
CONCERT TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2010
Updated Itinerary
February 17, 2010
Mon Apr 26 3:45 pm Check in at Edmonton airport
IN FLIGHT 6:50 pm Depart on Air Canada flight AC 898 to London Heathrow
Tue Apr 27 10:30 am Arrive at London Heathrow airport
MANCHESTER Clear Immigration and Customs
YHA Manchester 4:00 pm Depart on British Midlands flight BD 598 to Manchester
5:10 pm Arrive at Manchester airport and meet your courier
Transfer by coach to the youth hostel and check in
evening Dinner in Ha Ha Bar and Grill restaurant
Wed Apr 28 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
MANCHESTER At leisure
Lunch independent
4:00 pm Rehearsal
7:30 pm Joint concert in St Ann’s Church (with Bolton Schools
Chamber Choir?)
Dinner independent
Thu Apr 29 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
MANCHESTER Day excursion to York, including guided walking tour,
during which you will see the 14th century Guildhall, the
Minster (entrance included), "The Shambles", a perfectly
preserved medieval street, and the castle walls
Lunch independent
afternoon Return by coach to Manchester
evening Dinner independent
Fri Apr 30 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
CAMBRIDGE Depart by coach for Cambridge (c. 4 hrs)
YHA Cambridge Lunch independent en route
afternoon Guided walking tour on arrival, including entrance to St
John’s College
Check in to the youth hostel
evening Dinner in Pizza Express restaurant
Sat May 1 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
CAMBRIDGE 9:00 am Transfer by coach to Ely
10:00 am Guided tour of the Cathedral
11:00 am Rehearsal
11:30 am Lunch independent
1:10 pm Lunchtime concert in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral
Return by coach to Cambridge
Punting tour of the college “backs”
evening Dinner independent
Sun May 2 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
CAMBRIDGE Rehearsal
9:30 am Sing Parish Communion in Great St Mary’s Church
11:15 am Sing Choral Mattins in Great St Mary’s Church
Lunch independent
1:15 pm Workshop session with Stephen Cleobury in the
Chetwynd Room of King’s College
3:30 pm Attend Choral Evensong in King’s College Chapel
evening Dinner independent
Mon May 3 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
CAMBRIDGE Rehearsal
Lunch independent
1:05 pm Lunchtime recital in Great St Mary’s Church
evening Dinner independent
Tue May 4 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
LONDON At leisure
YHA London Lunch independent
Holland Park afternoon Rehearsal
6:30 pm Joint evensong with Selwyn College Chapel Choir
Attend Selwyn College formal hall (dinner)
Depart by coach for London (c. 1.5 hrs)
Arrive in London and check in to the youth hostel
Wed May 5 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
LONDON 9:00 am Guided sightseeing tour on arrival, during which you will
see St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of
Parliament, Buckingham Palace and more
12:30 pm Lunch independent
2:30 pm Entrance to the Tower of London
evening Dinner independent
(Option to attend performance at the Globe Theatre?)
Thu May 6 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
LONDON Full day excursion to Canterbury
12:00 pm Informal recital in Canterbury Cathedral
Lunch independent
2:30 pm Guided walking tour
Return by coach to London
evening Dinner independent
Fri May 7 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
LONDON 11:00 am Rehearsal
1:10 pm Lunchtime concert at St Anne’s Church, Gresham St
Lunch independent
3:45 pm Guided tour of the Royal Albert Hall
7:00 pm Farewell dinner in Browns restaurant
Sat May 8 morning Breakfast in the youth hostel
HOME 11:30 am Transfer by coach to the airport
12:15 pm Check in
Lunch independent
3:15 pm Depart on Air Canada flight 899 to Edmonton
5:10 pm Arrive at Edmonton airport

Pictures From Vancouver

This is a bit of an assortment of pictures from our trip to the Olympics. Along the way one of our group shaved his head for cancer. Also we took our President along---Can you find President Krispin?

Mother Wendy

Every choir needs a choir mom to care for us, encourage us, feed us and make sure we all are tucked in warm and secure at night. Wendy has been a part of the concert choir for many years and she is loved a lot by all in the choir. She is a good sport, puts up with some stuff but reminds us to be on our best behaviour when possible. It will be great to have her along on the trip to England. PS: She is also a great cook, especially at the annual choir retreat.

Lorne Manweiller, Accompanist

Rev. Lorne Manweiler is instructor of organ at Concordia University College of Alberta, Edmonton, and pastor of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wetaskiwin, Alberta. A winner of organ performance and improvisation competitions, he has performed in concert with Canadian orchestras and choral ensembles and as a solo performer in major churches and concert halls in North American and Europe. Rev. Manweiler has served as resident organist and music director in large churches of Lutheran Church—Canada as well as director of music at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta. He has been a featured organist in the Royal Canadian College of Organists Sundays at Three recital series and was a featured artist at the 2007 RCCO National Organ Festival. As well, Rev. Manweiler is a sought-after clinician, lecturer, and church music workshop leader.
Though Lorne is a pastor and great musician he is also a fun part of the choir this year and will be coming on the tour with us. With two pastors along we should be well behaved.

Joy Berg, Conductor

Dr. Joy Berg, associate professor at Concordia University College of Alberta, is choral conductor for the three Concordia choirs (Concert Choir, Community Chorus and Bella Voce Concordia), chapel Cantor for the daily chapel services, and teaches church music classes. As a professional chorister, Dr. Berg sings in the alto section of Pro Coro Canada; she has also been given the 2008 Con Spirito award from the Alberta Choral Federation. She has much practical experience in church music and degrees in piano performance and elementary education as well as choral conducting, and has a fascination with the sound of and the education towards the singing voice. She is often involved in adjudicating and providing workshops in the areas of the vocal and choral technique, conducting and church music! As a church musician, she has been an auditioned participant in Calvin College's Hymnody course and her passion towards enabling the congregation in its song has lately found a focus in research towards hymnody, liturgy, and Canadian hymnwriters.

If you want to follow the recent Community Chorus tour to the Haydn Festival in Vienna check out the blog: concordiagoesvienna.blogspot.com

The choir knows Joy as conductor, friend and colleague. Here are a few other sides of Joy.

Joy at the Olympics with a 300K Fazioli Piano. Joy, with Gospel Star Sandi Patty after conducting the Community Chorus as backup to her recent concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Holy Harmony - Last Concert before England

Concert Choir’s Pre-England Event
Thanks are due to all of you who have supported the many fundraising events sponsored by the Concert Choir this year. The group has worked hard, and with your help, we are on our way to Manchester, Cambridge, Canterbury and London on April 26.

On Saturday, April 24th at 7:30 pm, Dr. Joy Berg and the Concert Choir invite you to join them in their concert “Holy Harmony,” beginnning with music for Evensong (with composers Stanford and Ayleward), and continuing with works by Sirett, Willan, Casals, Hovland, Mendoza (to name a few!). The concert will take place at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 – 84th Avenue, Edmonton. We’d love to have a full house!

Our Olympic Journey

Mini-tour 2010 – Vancouver
Thursday, Feb 11
The morning was cold, dark, and it was way too early to be at school. 7:30 AM, that’s suicide for a college student. If it wasn’t for the arctic temperature that chilled me to the bone I would have passed out right beside the Concordia doors. Suddenly, I saw Josh, wearing the ugliest sweater known to man. Seeing him cheerfully show off his choir enthusiasm I felt invigorated and full anticipation of what we were going to do – we were on our way to the beautiful British Columbia to spread the God’s love and Holy Harmony to the world.
On the bus, we sing Rebecca a joyous Happy Birthday. Everyone is nestled in their seats ready for an adventure. Megan takes charge with a head count and makes sure no one is left behind. She begins to sound off our names but becomes stumbled on a certain name. HuGh she calls out. Hugh eloquently corrects her in French; I couldn’t understand what was said but it was magnifique nonetheless. Everyone has a good laugh. Its warm and inviting, comparable to a large family sharing a single moment of happiness together. Then Ryan came on the scene. It was time to get serious. With his deep and powerful voice he delivered a gracious devotion which inspired our hearts and prepared us for our journey. 8:00 AM. I look around me and the mood on the bus is calm. Our senses are dulled by the ambiance of the moving bus. It is so peaceful and safe. I can’t help but feel that this is where God wants me to be.
Continuing our voyage we pass the time by watching some movies. Up is my favorite. Squirrel! The queens of fun Lyndsey and Simon make us hum to our hearts content. Humdingers are fun. Wes shocks us all with his knowledge music, especially Lady Gaga, but that’s okay. We know Lydnsey’s dirty little secret too – Jonas Brothers on her iPod.
In Kamloops we get settled in. Pinky decides to take one for the team. He gets his head shaven for cancer. I’ll admit, the whole ordeal looked pretty painful but he stuck it out. You’re a good man Aaron. Afterward we put on a performance for the church. Gavin and Justin rocked the guitars, Matt and Ryan busted out the wooden spoons, and Anna brilliantly played her violin. When we sung our last note there was a tender smile on Joy’s face, indicating we did okay, and that’s always a good sign. With our “A’Rovin” done for the day, we met up with our billets and got ready for Richmond.
Friday
We’re finally here. Its amazing. I love this place. There’s warm weather, a gentle rainfall, and people everywhere, as far as the eye can see. We get off the bus and get ready for Fusion. After a quick debriefing I get lured outside by the smell of free hot dogs. Children are laughing, volunteers are smiling, and the choir is having a blast. 90 seconds and four hot dogs later I’m right in the middle of all the action. Running under a rainbow colored parachute, then trying to balance on stilts, and finally attempting to juggle I am completely in the moment. I look around and I see Shabana is happily talking to a Fushion volunteer, Gavin is making Karlee laugh so hard I think she might pass out, and I see Josh rush to get his free hot dog, then run off somewhere. Savanah signals me and its time to check out Ozone. There the atmosphere of the Olympics is intoxicating. Everyone is wearing something that has Canada on it. The National pride is inspiring. I am so moved that I decide to show Richmond some Edmonton pride. I compete with a bunch of little kids at a button pushing game, they don’t stand a chance, I show them whose boss. After I get tired of hearing them cry I leave. Just kidding. Back at the church we watch the opening Olympic ceremony, shared our adventures with each other then headed off to bed.
Saturday
Other than almost freezing to death in my sleep I really have nothing to say because the choir basically split up for the rest of the day. I will, however, let you know that I baked for the first time in my life, and I got to make some fantastic new friendships and strengthen old ones. As I sit here in the airport writing down my whole experience it becomes clear to me how important relationships are. Once in a while I need to tell the world to Hush because life is calling my name. If I get too caught up in trying to attain my career then I will miss out on those moments and relationships that define who I am. I want to give Glory to the Father and thank Him for showing me what life is truly about. This trip helped me see how to enjoy life on a whole new level and appreciate the things I take for granted. I believe God has many more things He wants to reveal and it is by Faith that Thou Shalt Know Him.
Friday
We’re finally here. Its amazing. I love this place. There’s warm weather, a gentle rainfall, and people everywhere, as far as the eye can see. We get off the bus and get ready for Fusion. After a quick debriefing I get lured outside by the smell of free hot dogs. Children are laughing, volunteers are smiling, and the choir is having a blast. 90 seconds and four hot dogs later I’m right in the middle of all the action. Running under a rainbow colored parachute, then trying to balance on stilts, and finally attempting to juggle I am completely in the moment. I look around and I see Shabana is happily talking to a Fushion volunteer, Gavin is making Karlee laugh so hard I think she might pass out, and I see Josh rush to get his free hot dog, then run off somewhere. Savanah signals me and its time to check out Ozone. There the atmosphere of the Olympics is intoxicating. Everyone is wearing something that has Canada on it. The National pride is inspiring. I am so moved that I decide to show Richmond some Edmonton pride. I compete with a bunch of little kids at a button pushing game, they don’t stand a chance, I show them whose boss. After I get tired of hearing them cry I leave. Just kidding. Back at the church we watch the opening Olympic ceremony, shared our adventures with each other then headed off to bed.
Saturday
Other than almost freezing to death in my sleep I really have nothing to say because the choir basically split up for the rest of the day. I will, however, let you know that I baked for the first time in my life, and I got to make some fantastic new friendships and strengthen old ones. As I sit here in the airport writing down my whole experience it becomes clear to me how important relationships are. Once in a while I need to tell the world to Hush because life is calling my name. If I get too caught up in trying to attain my career then I will miss out on those moments and relationships that define who I am. I want to give Glory to the Father and thank Him for showing me what life is truly about. This trip helped me see how to enjoy life on a whole new level and appreciate the things I take for granted. I believe God has many more things He wants to reveal and it is by Faith that Thou Shalt Know Him. ---By John Phoa who had to leave early and missed a lot more of the fun.

Vancouver Olympics 2010

After a long bus ride we made it to Vancouver and the Olympics in February. The trip wasn't just about singing but serving as part of an outreach project of Trinity Lutheran Church in Richmond. One of our students will share his experience in the next blog but here are some pictures.

Looking Back

Since this blog did not start last fall we have some catching up to do and not all of it in chronological order. This year has included the usual concerts as well as some special fund raising events and two big trips: The Olympics in February and hopefully, if the volcano in Iceland quiets down, England in just a few days. Fund raising has been an important part of the year which meant lots of hamburger sales, silent auctions, The special Julia Child Song/cooking show event, working for hire and selling vouchers for Save On and Safeway. Stay Tuned. "Singing in Kamloops in February"

Concordia Concert Choir 2009 - 2010

This blog is all about the Concordia Concert Choirs 2009-2010 year of song. It started with the annual retreat at Camp Kuriakos and will culminate in concerts in England. We invite you to follow this blog as it catches up to the present and continues as we journey through historic sites where we will sing and learn more about music. Thanks to all our supporters who have made so much of this journey possible.

Garry Dombrosky, Campus Chaplain