Strengthening their singing voices

Shannon LeClair

Times Reporter

 

Each year students from Brentwood Elementary School’s choir participate in the Alberta Children’s Choir (ACC). Last year, due to the volume of participants, the ACC was split into North and South. The six students from Brentwood will get to make music with 80 other choristers from central and southern Alberta, working with Christy Elsner, founder and director of Allegro Choirs of Kansas City, who will be accompanied by Faye Klassen. Brentwood School first sent students to the ACC approximately 20 years ago and has participated most years since that initial trip. “I just think it’s a fabulous opportunity for the kids to sing with kids from around the province, southern Alberta now. They get to meet other children, they get to work with other conductors, they get to work with kids who sing at private choirs,” said Carolyn Steeves, Brentwood’s music teacher. “I think it’s just eye-opening. I know for my own children when they were younger they went to music camps and it was pivotal, it was life-changing experiences. I think it’s testament that five of the six of these kids did it last year.” Each of the five returning students had such a great time last year there was no doubt they wanted to return again this year. “It was a lot of fun. I loved it because I met a lot of new friends and I sang a lot,” said Megan Mertz. “Because we got to perform at the concert last year and we will this year too. It’s a blast to see your hard work pay off,” said Tristan Payne. “I wanted to soar with my music and ACC helped me do that. I plan to do as much as I can to fly to new heights,” said Kayty Thompson. This is the first year with ACC for Olivia Wilson, who signed up because she loved the Brentwood choir and knew she would love this too. The students will each be singing a few different songs. “My favourite song is ‘Jambo’ because it isn’t precise, it is fun, jumpy and you get to scoop with your voice,” said Payne. Laura Sader also picked ‘Jambo’ as her favourite because her mom heard it on Mt. Kilimanjaro, and because she enjoys the feel of it. “’Isabel and the Bear’ because it is a very fun song,” said Zhara Harney. Thompson also agreed it is her favourite due to the playfulness of it. For Mertz, ‘Deaf Old Woman’ won out because of the alto and soprano alternate parts, and also because it is fun. “’I’m going up Yonder’ because it is a beautiful song, slow but amazing. Also ‘Sally Gardens’ because of the story and ‘I had a paint box’ just the story behind it,” said Wilson. The Gala Concert is being held in Calgary at the Knox United Church on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. and is open for everyone to attend.