Choirs prepare for a new choral concert season

Rehearsals are underway as many choirs prepare for another season of performances. 

For Steinbach’s Accent Choir, their regular season performances usually only begin in January, but they were ready to hit the stage a bit early. 

Conductor Meredith Hutchinson says it was an honour to be invited by the Winnipeg Singers to be a guest choir at a concert this past week in Steinbach. 

“It’s extra special because I used to sing with the Winnipeg Singers,” she says. “So, this was very cool to bring them back to my hometown and reconnect with Yuri Klaz, the conductor, and all these wonderful people that I used to make music with.” 

Hutchinson notes Accent is now a much bigger choir than it was last season. 

“Accent just moved into a new era, we are now a full SATB choir, that is all voices,” she says. “And so, we were formerly a women's ensemble, and we had such a fabulous time, but we're just trying something new and now we have the full voice choir, which means that opens up a whole new set of repertoires that we can access and enjoy. 

“Over the summer, we had such huge growth in numbers. People were just reaching out from all over. We ended the year last season with around 30 women, and now we have 70 men and women squeezed into the Arts Center every Monday (for rehearsals), and it is a great problem to have, to have all these people that are looking for a place to sing. And a lot of them didn't even know there was a choir to sing in until they caught wind of us or came to our spring concert. So, we're very excited.” 

Another choral concert is coming up in Steinbach on Sunday, November 12th. 

Sing for Peace will feature the Eastman Community Choir, Steinbach Christian School Chamber Choir, and the Steinbach Mennonite Handbelles. 

It will take place at 2pm at the Grace Mennonite Church at 430 Third Street. 

EMCA puts on this Peace Concert each year around Remembrance Day, bringing voices together to celebrate and promote peace. 

An offering will be taken during the service with all proceeds (after concert expenses) going to support Steinbach Community Outreach. 

-With files from Michelle Sawatzky 

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