*Includes new Items from November 4 email
1) Help to record concert video
We are looking into gaining a good video recording of the upcoming concert. (This could be a paid role, depending on price.) If any of you have someone who would be interested in helping out with camera and audio recording, let Len know. We are in the early stages of figuring out what we can do and use at Portage Avenue Church.
2) Session Nov. 15th Plan
a) Music for Sunday:
i) Bridge Over Troubled Water
ii) I am a Voice that Sings
iii) Lean on Me
iv) Love is Love
v) This is Me
vi) Invitation
b) Sopranos will lead us back from the break, singing OB-LA-DI, OB-LA-D in their usual upbeat melodic way.
3) Katy’s Message:
a) I hope you're all having a great week so far! It's hard to believe it's the middle of November already! Now's the time to start looking at your music through the week, even just spending 5 or 10 minutes looking at the words, reminding yourself where your line goes, listening to the tracks or YouTube videos to help them stick in your head. The more you immerse yourself in the music now, the more fun we'll have when it comes time for the concert!
b) Here's a little more information about This is Me! It comes from the movie "The Greatest Showman" -- the song A Million Dreams from our spring 2025 season is from the same movie. It's the (quite fictionalized) story of P.T. Barnum starting up his circus and recruiting his performers, staring Hugh Jackman. This is Me won the Golden Globe for Best Song in 2018.
This is Me is sung by the circus performers who are being harassed for their looks and lives, as they band together for strength and power against their harassers. I (still!) haven't watched the whole movie, but I did watch the clip of this song, and it is definitely a powerful moment of self-worth and self-affirmation. I recommend searching "This is Me movie scene" on YouTube to see/hear the song in its cinematic place. )
4) Expect Concert Promotion Email
Expect a second mail-out this week from Len. He will be sending a promotional message to both current and past members regarding attending our upcoming concert. Hope you find that it reads well.
5) Dream Team Changes
a) The Annual Assembly recognized the contributions of two DT members retiring from the board, Louise Pujo and Sheila Norrie.
b) The DT membership saw three members again stand for another term; Robert Campbell, Fran Booth, and Gene Degen. As well two new members were nominated to the board; Paddy Griffin and Phyllis Kohanchak. It is so great to have renewal to the team.
6) Order of performance of repertoire. Please organize your binder accordingly.
1,2,3,4
This is Me (from "The Greatest Showman")
I Am a Voice That Sings
Bridge Over Troubled Water
We Rise Again
Midwintersong
Love is Love is Love
Lean on Me (with We Shall Overcome)
(Encore) Invitation
7) From Executive Director of Healthy Start (our concert beneficiary) Davorka Monti
We are truly grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of this year's December concert proceeds. I am looking forward to working with your "Dream Team", they sound fantastic and clearly have so much passion for the choir!
Please find our program description below:
Healthy Start is a community-based program dedicated to ensuring every baby in Winnipeg gets the healthiest possible start. For over 29 years, we have provided strength-based pregnancy and early parenting support across eight Winnipeg neighborhoods. Each year, our collaborative team of Outreach Workers, Dietitians, and Public Health Nurses welcomes approximately 1,200 participants across nearly 5,000 group visits. Our drop-in model is free and open to all.
A unique feature of Healthy Start is our Newcomer Program, where parents learn about prenatal and infant care in their own language through simultaneous interpretation in up to 15 languages. For many interpreters, this provides a vital first job in Canada. Proceeds from December’s Margaret’s Choir performance will directly support this interpretation program. Thank you for helping us give Winnipeg babies and families a healthy start!
