Sunday, May 6, 2012 – 3:00 pm
Koerner Hall,
TELUS Centre for Performance & Learning
273 Bloor Street West, Toronto

Pax Christi Chorale and Youth Choir
Shannon Mercer,soprano
Krisztina Szabo, mezzo-soprano
Keith Klassen, tenor
Special guest, Roderick Williams, baritone
with orchestra

To crown Pax Christi Chorale’s 25^th anniversary we will present Elgar’s The Kingdom, acknowledged by the great English conductor, Sir Adrian Boult as Elgar’s choral masterpiece, in Toronto’s spectacular Koerner Hall. Rarely heard in North America and last performed in Canada over 25 years ago, The Kingdom is a monumental work of drama, power and beauty. We are delighted to feature British baritone sensation Roderick Williams in his Canadian debut. In 2009, Mr Williams was labeled “Britain’s best baritone” by Andrew Porter in Opera magazine. Listen to a sample of ‘The Kingdom’ here.

Tickets: Premier -$60 / Level 1 – $50 / Level 2 – $45 / Level 3 – $35

To order tickets, click here.

For directions to Koerner Hall, click here.

Masterpieces Old and New

Join us to celebrate our 25th anniversary with great food, exciting live auction items, a tour of fine Canadian art, and beautiful music.

The highpoint of our celebration will be the première of Artistic Director Stephanie Martin’s string quartet “From a distant island”.

Written during a year of musical inspiration, this lovely new work integrates the diverse sights and sounds of the remote Isle of Wight with the serenity of the convent where Stephanie stayed during her sabbatical.Inspired by scenes of daily life, views of the beautiful green countryside and local folksongs, the works speaks to the meeting between the old and modern worlds.

For more information about our 25th Anniversary Celebration, click here

Friday, January 27, 2012
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Bay Adelaide Centre
333 Bay Street, 24th Floor

6:30 pm – Gourmet Reception
7:30 pm – World Première of String Quartet No. 1 “From a distant island”

To order your tickets, click here.

$150 per person
Charitable income tax receipts issued for portion above costs.

Dear Pax Christi Supporters,

It is my delight to invite you to celebrate our 25th anniversary season!

We’ve been performing masterworks of the oratorio repertoire for a quarter century, and this season we explore rarely heard works of genius. We showcase Antonio Salieri, the gifted mentor of a generation of classical composers. Our Christmas concert highlights Benjamin Britten’s quirky cantata Saint Nicolas. I am also pleased to premiere a piece of my own.

To crown the season, we perform Elgar’s The Kingdom, acknowledged by the great English conductor Sir Adrian Boult as Elgar’s choral masterpiece. We are so proud to bring British baritone sensation Roderick Williams to sing his Canadian debut in the role of St. Peter.

With stellar soloists, engaging repertoire and a choir that sings from the heart, this season promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime journey. I invite you to join us as a fellow traveller and attend our concerts. Your support is greatly appreciated!

See you at the concerts!

Stephanie Martin
Artistic Director

Read Stephanie’s thoughts on the 25th Anniversary Season here.

By Marilyn Reesor – Special to The Examiner

“Rejoice, resound with joy!”

This bit of text, a portion of Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate, is exquisitely apt, for Hi-Way Pentecostal Church did indeed “resound with joy” in glorious fashion on Saturday evening when Pax Christi Chorale took to the stage at the invitation of Barrie Concerts.

The vastly experienced oratorio choir of 100 voices is celebrating its 25th exciting season after its inception within the Mennonite community in 1987.

A very popular and widely respected chorus, it has since blossomed to embrace singers of many faith traditions and performs under the expert direction of award-winning conductor and composer Stephanie Martin, accompanied by a full chamber orchestra.

Saturday evening’s sold-out concert featured works of Mozart, as well as Antonio Salieri’s rarely heard Mass in D Major, and highlighted four vocal soloists of exceptional calibre: soprano Melanie Conly; mezzo soprano Nina Scott-Stoddart ; tenor Graham Thomson; and baritone Benjamin Covey.

Pax Christi Chorale is described as a group which “shares a love of great choral singing” and does so with “passion, conviction and heart.”

From the deeply fervent Kyrie of the Salieri mass to Mozart’s dramatically intense Regina Coeli, the chorus proved itself to be worthy of such praise.

As voices soared and diminished, seamlessly weaving through intricate contrapuntal passages then rising together in magnificent harmonies, this shared, great love of choral singing encompassed all who were privileged to be present.

Melanie Conly, an established and renowned soprano, delivered a superbly expressive performance of Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate.

Sweet and articulate, her cheerful demeanour belied the fact she was displaying an incredible range of technical vocal skills, particularly during the Alleluia, which moved the audience to a burst of enthusiastic and prolonged applause.

The evening was rounded off by a rousing and confident rendition of the aforementioned Regina Coeli by Mozart, led by assistant conductor Daniel Norman. Also worthy of note is the brilliant and dynamic support of the instrumentalists throughout the program.

Fans of Pax Christi Chorale, both new and old, can find this excellent musical group on the weekend of Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 at Grace Church-on-the-Hill in Toronto.

They will be performing their Christmas concert, which features carols and motets, and will also present a world premiere of a new composition by Stephanie Martin.

Read it online here:

Pax Christi Chorale in Peak Form

news@thebarrieexaminer.com

Benjamin Britten Saint Nicolas

Stephanie Martin Winter Nights  world première

The Pax Christi Chorale and Youth Choir, with guests: James McLean, Bruce Ubukata and Stephen Ralls, Havergal College Chamber Choir and 
Boy Soloists from Canadian Children’s Opera Company.

At Grace Church on-the-Hill

Pax Christi Chorale and Youth Choir were joined by the Havergal College Chamber Choir and boy soloists from the Canadian Children’s Opera Company in a performance of Benjamin Britten’s vividly crafted Saint Nicolas cantata.  This highly evocative work depicts episodes in the life of the real Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children, scholars, and seamen. It is musical storytelling at its best, at once playful and serious, and even includes several audience carols.

A highlight of the programme was the world première of Artistic Director Stephanie Martin’s Winter Nights, commissioned especially for this concert. The work is a lovely setting of four winter-themed poems for choir, string orchestra, percussion and tenor soloist, dedicated to Founder and President Emily Burgetz and husband Bruce, the foremost sponsors of Pax Christi Chorale in its first 25 years.

“I follow Britten’s vision of the “holy triangle” between composer, performer and audience. A new piece can satisfy the intellectual needs of the composer, respect the performing forces and move the audience”.

Stephanie Martin – on Winter Nights

Click here to read the complete interview with Stephanie Martin, Artistic Director and composer of Winter Nights

Saturday, December 10, 2011 – 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Church of Saint Mary Magdalene
477 Manning Ave., Toronto

Click here for directions

Pax Christi Chorale and the Gallery Choir of the Church of Saint Mary Magdelene
Stephanie Martin, Artistic Director
Allison Cecelia Arends, soprano
Richard Whittall, counter-tenor
Graham Thomson, tenor
Michael York, baritone
with orchestra

Designed especially for the younger crowd, we encourage you to bring your children to introduce them to some of the highlights from Handel’s glorious Messiah.

Children admitted free. Adults pay what you can at the door.

This concert is not part of our annual subscription.

October 22, 2011: Hi-Way Church, Barrie ON
October 23, 2011: Grace Church-on-the-Hill, Toronto ON

The Pax Christi Chorale and Youth Choir, with guests Melanie Conly, Nina Scott-Stoddart, Graham Thomson, and Benjamin Covey performed the rarely-heard Salieri Mass in D-Major, paired with Mozart’s Regina Coeli, Ave verum corpus, and soprano Melanie Conly’s fresh interpretation of Exultate Jubilate.

Listen to an excerpt from the ‘Agnus Dei’ recorded on October 23, 2011 Concert

“As voices soared and diminished, seamlessly weaving through intricate contrapuntal passages then rising together in magnificent harmonies, this shared, great love of choral singing encompassed all who were privileged to be present.”
Marilyn Reesor, The Barrie Examiner

Click here to read the full review

Pax Christi Chorale launched its new “Great Canadian Hymns” CD at our concert on April 17, 2011. This new CD is a selection of all-Canadian world premiere recordings of some of the winners and finalists of our inaugural Great Canadian Hymns Competition of 2009. The CD is accompanied by a book of scores, so it is an excellent collection for churches, choirs, and choral music enthusiasts everywhere. The CD will be available for sale at our concerts for $15 and may also be purchased through our website and through selected music stores. Contact us for more information!

Information about our next competition will be available in the spring of 2013.

Click here for more information on the Pax Christi Youth Choir.

Toronto – October 18, 2009 – The winners of Pax Christi Chorale’s inaugural Great Canadian Hymn Competition will be performed on Sunday, October 25, at the first concert of the Pax Christi season, Fanfare of Canadian Hymns II.

First prize is awarded to Henry Boon of Windsor for his composition “I Heard that God Was Power”, the text for which was written by his wife Susan Boon. Second prize is awarded to Judith Snowdon of Saint Joseph de Kent, NB, for her composition “Do You Not Know, Have You Not Heard?”. Third prize is awarded to Scott Bastien, also of Windsor, for his composition “God of All Nations”. Biographical information about each of these composers follows on page 2.

Under the artistic direction of Stephanie Martin, the concert will highlight the best 18 hymns submitted from all corners of Canada. In fact, all provinces across the country were represented in the 68 total submissions except Saskatchewan! Most of the composers whose works will be performed at this concert also plan to attend, including the three winners.

The new Pax Christi Youth Choir, under the direction of renowned music educator Lynn Janes will join Pax Christi Chorale and our guest host, well‐loved CBC Studio Sparks’ Eric Friesen, who will provide narrative about our winning composers throughout the concert.

The choir will be accompanied by organist Bruce Kirkpatrick Hill.

Specifics:
Sunday October 25, 2009 3pm
Grace Church on the Hill
300 Lonsdale Road (Spadina/St. Clair area)

Pax Christi Chorale’s 2009‐2010 season also includes the Bach Christmas Oratorio, parts IV and IV, with carols and motets on December 5 ‐ 6, 2009, and the Mozart Requiem with motets by Bach and Rheinberger on April 24 ‐ 25, 2010.

Season subscriptions may be purchased up until the first concert on October 25. Three‐concert subscription package: Adult $70, Senior $60, Student $50.

Single tickets – reserved seating: Regular $20; Senior $18; Student $15; Children (under 12) $5. A 10 per cent discount is available for groups of 10 or more. For tickets and more information, call 416‐491‐8542.

Henry Boon, Windsor, ON – First Prize Winner
Henry Boon was born in the Netherlands and came to Canada in 1952. He studied organ with David Ouchterlony in Toronto and, after moving to Windsor, with Gordon Young in Detroit. Henry received a Bachelor of Music and Education from the University of Windsor, and taught instrumental and vocal music at Assumption College School for 25 years. Henry has a considerable portfolio of compositions, both sacred and secular, including a number of Masses, and the Lord’s Prayer. He has put to music several German texts for use by choirs in the German‐Canadian Choir Association. He is currently music director at Tecumseh United church, in Tecumseh, Ontario.

Judith Snowdon, Saint Joseph de Kent, NB – Second Prize Winner
Judith Snowdon divides her time by working both as a piano teacher at the Canadian Conservatory in Moncton, NB and as a Regional Representative for Mennonite Central Committee in The Maritimes, a job she shares with her husband, Tom. Judith has ARCT diplomas in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy from RCM, a BA in Music from University of Winnipeg (gold medal winner) and a Bachelor of Church Music in Composition from Canadian Mennonite University. Judith writes both piano and choral music, but her first love is church music. She lives with her husband near the ocean in Saint Joseph de Kent, New Brunswick.

Scott Bastien, Windsor, ON – Third Prize Winner
Scott Bastien is the proud father of four lovely young ladies and the devoted husband of Patricia. He is currently serving as a music teacher at École Bellewood with the Greater Essex County District School Board. It is also his delight, honour, and privilege to serve as organist of the Windsor Seventh‐day Adventist Church and the Riverside Presbyterian Congregation, as well as choir director and organist of St. Paul’s United Church, all in Windsor, Ontario. He is a member of the Windsor chapter of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and is a graduate of the University of Windsor, School of Music. As an interesting aside, First Prize winner Henry Boon was Scott’s first piano teacher!

Contact: Jennifer Collins, General Manager
Pax Christi Chorale
Phone: (416) 467‐0634
Email: Jennifer.Collins@paxchristichorale.org
Website: www.paxchristichorale.org