Message Spring 2026 Post-concert
New Info:
1. Katy’s Message
2. Len’s Message
3. Katy’s Announcement
4. Reception Thank You
5. Ticket and Attendance
6. Special Thanks
7. Start of next Season
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1) Katy’s Message
a) WOW! What a concert! Thank you for singing with your full hearts on Sunday. It was such a joy to make music with you all, and to celebrate everything that Margaret's Choir is and has been. So many people told me how much they enjoyed your performance, and especially how much they enjoyed "Invitation." Thank you, thank you, thank you!
b) I hope you all have a great summer (think of me in the cucumber field), and we'll start up again in September with a new batch of music!
c) p.s. Please come join me at St. Andrew's on Saturday for our Great Canadian Songbook concert, 1:30 or 7:30! Tickets through the church office (204-488-1130) or at the door.
2) Len’s Message
a) The video of the concert is still being assembled and I will let you know when it becomes available.
b) I hope you are all pleased with the concert. We all have a tendency to recall the errors or uncertain moments; it’s just human nature. So saying, I am pretty sure you don’t know how wonderful you were. For example, we sang Bohemian Rhapsody. I am only now learning how complicated the original recording of that song was, with the Queen vocalists overdubbing themselves several times to cover the full SATB vocals, working on one part of the song for more than a day, and using 24 recording tracks to manipulate and build the final version. If you go to “The impossible song we'll remember in 500 years” on YouTube you will get a description of how complicated it was. We did it in one take. Wow.
c) I talked with Chris Byman about Invitation after the concert. I told him of my impression, that the song built from quiet and simple, to complex, with significant moments of choral chaos which when we pushed through, became the celebratory harmony at the end. He seemed very pleased, and with significant gestures told me I understood one aspect of the song's construction. Well, we lived through that, accepted the invitation, and the challenge, and proved that the words have both truth and merit. What more is there?
3) Katy’s Announcement
a) I invite you to my next concert: The Great Canadian Songbook! Saturday, May 9, 1:30 or 7:30 at St. Andrew's River Heights United Church. The choir, soloists, and handbell choir are performing Canadian folksongs old and new! All the way from Voyageur songs up through Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, and the Barenaked Ladies...there should be at least a few that you recognize (and can sing along to!). Tickets are $25/$15 (kids 12&under), including snacks, with a cash bar available. Call the church office to get yours: 204-488-1130.
4) Reception Thank You
a) Carol-anne & Andrea and a few others are organed the post-concert reception. It could not have gone better.
b) I am sending out thanks to some of those who played a significant role in making the reception as success, knowing that I am missing naming some who were very involved. Thank You to Louise Pujo, Nancy Clyde, Doreen Phimister, Arlene Hintsa, Sheila Norrie, Carol Ann Leschasin, Andrea O’Connor, and Kerry Strom. Everything was so tightly organized, just like at the pot-lucks. If they were feeling anything like I was at the end of the concert, elated but mentally exhausted, then I am amazed at what they were able to do after nearly three hours of standing and performing. I know that I missed some of the folks on the list that helped.
c) I also appreciate the volunteers from Bethel Mennonite, led by Lois Bergen, who played a key role in preparing and serving all the beverages, organizing the set-up and clean-up.
5) Tickets, Attendance and Thank You
a) Mary Akins-Peters, Joanne Fulford, Kerry Strom and Patrick Stewart made quite a team as they managed the ticket sales. I hope they know how essential they were to this venture coming off in the outwardly seamless way that it did.
b) A full financial accounting will be reported in the next message. However, we know that 478 people (excluding performers) attended the concert.
6) Special Thanks
a) There were many people who helped publicize the concert. There were a few people who were very involved in publicizing, and I wish to thank Jennifer Glen, Kirsten Kruse, and Patrick Stewart for their graphic and strategic contributions to the publicity material and leads. CKNU broadcast our PSA (thanks Janet Brady). Kirsten and Jennifer created much of the material that was posted on-line and in the program. This is the first time in a long time that we made the newspaper, and credit goes to Patrick on that one.
b) Robert Campbell has been extremely diligent and busy; ensuring that all the financial commitments are paid, on time or early. Thanks so much. It is a vital role requiring vigilant attention to detail and I (we) are grateful.
c) Sheila Norrie put together a wonderful plan, and with her team of Louise, Patrick and Charmaine, carried the ball over an 18-month period until the concert. Your achievements include gaining a sponsor (special credit to Louise and thanks to Johnston Group), organizing the guest conductors, and recruiting a composer for Invitation. Well done and thank you very much.
d) Katy. Thank you for your encouragement, your vision, your willingness to share the baton with our guest conductors, and for your choral leadership.
7) Margaret’s Choir resumes at UUC on Sunday Sept 13th. Look for details on our website in August.
