Strathmore choristers selected

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Six years after Allie Davidson was part of the prestigious Alberta Children’s Choir (ACC) under the direction of guest conductor Kellie Walsh, her younger sister Madysen has been selected to participate in the honour choir this year with the same conductor.
The Alberta Children’s Choir offers children between the ages of 11 and 15 from across the province an opportunity to challenge themselves in choral music under the direction of an internationally recognized choral conductor.
In the past, École Brentwood Elementary School was successful in sending numerous students to take part in the ACC, having sent five students last year and as many as eight previously.
This year, three students – 11-year-olds Madysen Davidson and Chelsea Thiessen, and 10-year-old Meghan Flaws – are already hard at work rehearsing the eight songs provided by ACC. The group will train under Newfoundland native Kellie Walsh, who is the founder and artistic director of Lady Cove Women’s Choir, artistic director of Shallaway Youth Choir, and former artistic director and co-founder of Newman Sound Men’s Choir.
“I’m very proud of them; and from a teacher’s point of view, it’s something for the kids to look forward to and a way to take their singing beyond the school,” said Carolyn Steeves, music specialist at École Brentwood Elementary School, who has been coaching the girls since Grade 1.
“Our school belongs to Choir Alberta and we take advantage of their programs, so we’ve been going to Choralfest. Last year our school choir was one of the guest choirs and that was really amazing. All three were there that night. They saw the Alberta Children’s Choir and it became real to them.”
Davidson has two older sisters who were involved with the ACC over the years, yet she isn’t the only participant with a family connection. Classmate Chelsea Thiessen’s older sister also sang with the choir four years ago and is helping her younger sister prepare by accompanying her on piano and providing advice for the fellow alto. While Meghan Flaws has no older sibling to fall back on for advice, her mother sang with the choir at Augustana College in Camrose, Alta. Despite her young age, Flaws will be joining roughly 80 choristers from across southern Alberta for the annual performance.
“I tried out last year, but I was too young and then this year I’m still a little too young, so I was wondering are they going to accept me?” said Flaws, who is looking forward to improving her singing skills. “My mom was saying to me last night, she heard me singing, and she said ‘you need to try to get on top of the note instead of trying to go up under the note.’ She helps me because she sang in a choir.”
Eight pieces will be performed this year, some in languages unknown to the students, such as Latin and Malay – the official language of Malaysia.
The choir has already met for one regional rehearsal and will meet again Feb. 1, when choristers will undergo an intensive weekend and a concert on Feb. 4.
This is the smallest group of students from the local elementary school participating in recent years. According to Steeves, she encourages her students to toss their hat in the ring. While more students wanted to participate, the time and financial commitment weighed heavy on some families.
“There were other kids who wanted to go but then they looked at the logistics and the financial thing, and giving up four days, it’s a lot for parents to drive them in and out for four days,” Steeves said.
“It’s a big commitment from the family and for the kids to miss school, but I was thrilled that these three wanted to go. When I evaluated them they deserved everything I said about them. It was easy. Kids are busy, especially nowadays, and these guys have done everything, that’s why they’re such good people for going this year. They’re great examples.”
It costs nearly $200 in fees to participate, and École Brentwood Elementary provides a $50 scholarship to those choristers chosen to participate. The Strathmore Children’s Choir will also be sending three choristers to ACC this year: Grade 6 Sacred Heart Academy student Emersyn Bell, Westmount Elementary School’s Grade 6 student Kiana Coone and Grade 5 student Dan Erik Lehmann.
The Alberta Children’s Choir gala concert takes place on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. at Knox United Church in Calgary. The concert features École Okotoks Junior High School Choir, Mount Royal Arioso, and Webber Academy Division II Choir alongside the 2018 Southern Alberta Children’s Choir.