News from the Guelph Chamber Choir this weekend

It's been awhile since I've written in this space, and even longer since I wrote about my almost adopted city of Guelph, so let's remedy both this weekend with some news out of the Royal City regarding the ever-talented Guelph Chamber Choir.

The Choir and I go back a fairly long way, truth be told.  I remember driving to Guelph many a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon for one of their regular concerts at one of the area churches before the River Run Centre opened its doors in the fall of 1997.  Most often it would be at the nearby St. George's Church which featured a wonderful atmosphere and acoustic.  On a couple of occasions I recall attending a concert at the large Church of Our Lady on the hill as you enter the downtown core on Gordon Street.

On one of those occasions, I attended a spectacular performance of the Bach B-Minor Mass, which was especially moving for me as it came shortly after the untimely passing of my mother in February of 2000, and this was the first major outing I had undertaken following a difficult mourning period.  The concert, timed to coincide with the coming Easter season, was held on a rather cold Sunday afternoon at the Church of Our Lady; if I am not mistaken it was March 31st or thereabouts.

It was about a year or so prior to that I attended the second of two performances of Handel's oratorio Messiah in a single Sunday one Christmas season.  I still can't believe I actually did this:  I attended the Chorus Niagara matinee performance here in St. Catharines, and then hopped in the car and after stopping for a quick dinner enroute, I attended the Guelph Chamber Choir performance that evening at the River Run Centre.  It might have been their first Messiah at the River Run, but it was a memorable evening following an equally memorable afternoon.  Those were the days I would do such things...ah, the spirit of the youth!

About 15 years ago when I spent many a Saturday helping out my good friend Paul at his music shop Twelfth Night Music on Carden Street, in walked the choir's founding conductor Dr. Gerald Neufeld and his wife, Patricia Eton-Neufeld.  Gerry had no idea who I was at that moment, but Patricia did.  She had often reached out to me to invite me to the next performance of the Guelph Chamber Choir, which in those days I gratefully accepted.  I drove a lot more and further distances in those days, so it was nothing for me to drive up to Guelph to catch a performance and then return home that same night.

Anyway, Gerry and his wife were doing what many other enlightened Guelph residents did on a sunny Saturday afternoon:  browse the latest releases in classical recordings at the shop.  It was a slice of musical heaven in downtown Guelph in those days.

So yes, there is a history between the choir and your humble scribe and I hope it continues for many years to come.  Mind you, Dr. Neufeld has moved on to other challenges and it was announced just today the new Artistic Director and conductor of the Guelph Chamber Choir will be Dr. Charlene Pauls.

The search was an extensive one, but Dr. Pauls brings impressive credentials to her new post.  Her extensive background in choral conducting is paired with her experience as a recognized international soprano soloist.  She also holds degrees in Early Music and Vocal Performance, and just last fall Dr. Pauls was awarded the 2018 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting by the Ontario Arts Council.

Dr. Pauls will take the podium of the Guelph Chamber Choir for the 2019-2020 season.

In the meantime, the annual spring concert will feature not one but two choirs, the Guelph Chamber Choir and the Elora Singers.  Christopher Dawes will be the organist and founding Artistic Director Gerald Neufeld will return to conducted a programme of choral masterpieces for two choirs and organ at St. George's Anglican Church.

On the programme April 6th will be Parry's I was Glad and Durufle's Requiem along with Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir and selections from Rachmaninoff's divine choral work, Vespers.  The concert begins at 7:30 pm April 6th and tickets should be available in advance at the River Run box office or at the door the evening of the performance.

There was also some sad news this month, as it was announced Dr. Dominic Gregorio passed away on March 3rd in Regina, Saskatchewan.  Dr. Dominic was born and raised in Guelph, completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at the University of Guelph, before moving on to Temple University in Philadelphia where he completed a triple major Master of Music degree (voice, choral conducting and music history).  As if that's not enough, he also completed a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, earning as well the prestigious The Order of Arete medal in 2012 for his brilliant work as a doctoral student.

A proud Filipino-Canadian, Dr. Gregorio made his mark not only in his hometown of Guelph but also his adopted city of Regina, where he was both Director of Choral Activities and an Associate Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Regina.

The memorial service in Guelph for Dr. Gregorio was held earlier today at Dublin Street United Church.

I would not be surprised if mention of his untimely passing will be made at the Guelph Chamber Choir's upcoming spring concert, a concert I imagine he would have loved to attend if he were back home in Guelph.  It would be a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to the world of choral music, both in his home city and beyond.

I really have to get to Guelph again soon and rediscover a city with such a vibrant arts community.  On April 6th, it would be even nicer to rekindle those great memories of concerts past conducted by Dr. Gerald Neufeld too.

Hmmm....

Have a great weekend!

March 16th, 2019.