Choralists represent Strathmore with Choir Alberta
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
Photo Courtesy of
Loralee Laycock
Susanne Sevcik and Rayanne Laycock, both 16, were chosen out of more than 150 Alberta youths to participate in the Alberta Youth Choir (AYC) this year.
The experience provided the Strathmore Children’s Choir members with an opportunity to work with renowned guest adjudicator Christian Grases, a professor of choral music and conductor of the USC Thornton Concert Choir. The two had ample opportunity to hone their skills and brave challenges by practicing and performing nine pieces – the majority of which were in other languages.
For Sevcik, who joined the Strathmore Children’s Choir three years ago and has only had vocal lessons for the past year, the experience proved thrilling.
“From not having much vocal background at all to going and singing with more experienced people, some who are studying voice in university, was very exciting,” Sevcik said. “It was some of the hardest music I had ever sang before. Some of the music, when we first listened to it, we thought wow, we’ve never sang anything like this before. It was definitely a challenge, but it was so worth it.
“It just really inspired me and got me excited about singing that I had never been exposed to before and especially in a choir where there were so many voices … I think that excitement and exposure to what a choir can sound like makes you come back to Strathmore and think what can we do with our small choir that you’re limited by because of numbers, but it’s about how you bring that same energy and that same way to tell a story with fewer people.”
The Alberta Youth Choir is the province’s honour choir for those aged between 16 and 22. Roughly 80 participants took part in a rehearsal weekend in Red Deer in September and again in October before touring some of Alberta, such as Grande Prairie, for their performances.
Rayanne Laycock took part in the choir last year, and said she was able to use her previous experience to her advantage this year.
“Last year I didn’t know what to expect, so I didn’t feel like I was as prepared as I could’ve been. However, this year I was so excited to work, improve and, in turn, learn valuable vocal techniques that I now have the chance to utilize in the music-based activities I participate in in Strathmore,” Laycock said.
“This year I was much more confident during performances and rehearsals. Being from Strathmore, and I think it goes for all small communities as well, it’s important to experience big events like AYC and get exposure to diverse music, communities, and people.”
The Strathmore Children’s Choir has sent its members to the Alberta Children’s Choir in the past. The choir, which is geared towards a younger age, is sponsored by Choir Alberta. Strathmore Children’s Choir Director Loralee Laycock said not enough interest existed from those old enough to audition for the Alberta Youth Choir years ago, but interest has increased over the last couple years.
“They are both very strong singers already, but having had those opportunities I feel they’re connecting to the music that they’re learning in our choir in a different way as well,” said Laycock.
The Strathmore Children’s Choir is made up of female choralists only, and Laycock said the experience to work with a choir with both male and female singers was beneficial for her students.
“To have both of them from our choir be chosen was a really positive thing for our girls, to have someone they know going. It was also positive for me to feel like the things they are learning in choir are translating to a bigger stage.”
The Strathmore Children’s Choir is hosting their Christmas concert at the Strathmore Alliance Church on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.