MESSAGE FROM TERRY CLARK, DIRECTORY OF
THE CONSERVATORY
AT MOUNT ROYAL
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Bella Concert Hall for this year’s Winter Fantasia Concert! This is an exciting time of year at the Conservatory, with so many of our students and ensembles taking part in recitals and performances. These events are a chance for students to showcase their skills and for parents, family, and friends to come cheer on our young performers! We are continually amazed by our students’ curiosity, creativity, and passion, and these are never more evident than during performances!
This time of year is also a time for coming together; for community, connection, and fellowship. What better way to come together than through music and story-telling! Winter Fantasia is a particularly good example of coming together. Not only do we see so many of our young performers together within their choirs, orchestra, or speech ensemble, this event also sees these groups coming together and collaborating for the larger performance.
Thank you for coming together with us this afternoon! Now I invite you to sit back and enjoy the smiles and exuberant performances of our students. We wish you and yours a cheerful holiday season!
PROGRAMME
Conservatory Sinfonia
Brook Green Suite
“Prelude”
GUSTAV HOLST
STORY
Speech Arts and Drama Ensemble
The Christmas Wish
STORY BY LORI EVERT
Photographs by Per Breiehagen
Mount Royal Ariel Winter Wiggles
TERESA JENNINGS
Mount Royal Arioso
Gonna Catch that Santa ANDY BECK & BRIAN FISHER
STORY
Mount Royal Arietta Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
MARY DONNELLY/GEORGE L.O. STRID
STORY
Mount Royal Youth Choir
Where the Light Begins
SUSAN LABARR
STORY
Mount Royal Youth Choir
Blow Blow Thou Winter Wind
SARAH QUARTEL
STORY
Mount Royal Ariel
Sulla Rulla
NORWEGIAN LULLABY, UNKNOWN
STORY
Mount Royal Aria
Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening
VERA KISLER
STORY
Mount Royal Youth Choir
Noel
TODD SMITH, ARR. BRAD HOLMES
*Soloists, Nic Uy, Lorence Uy, & Arjun Mannan
STORY
Mount Royal Aria Solstice
RANDALL THOMPSON
STORY
Conservatory Sinfonia
Brook Green Suite “Air”
GUSTAV HOLST
STORY
Mount Royal Youth Choir
God Morgen! Ola Reppom from Norwegian Trilogy ARR. MARGARET KING
STORY
Mount Royal Aria/Arietta
Sweet Silent Night ANDY BECK
STORY
Conservatory Sinfonia
Brook Green Suite “Dance”
GUSTAV HOLST
STORY
Mount Royal Arioso
Sing With Joy, Sing Noel!
BRAD PRINTZ
STORY
Mount Royal Arioso
Sound the Trumpet!
HENRY PURCELL
ALL Choirs
Night Before Christmas
ADAPTED RUTH ARTMAN
STORY
ALL Choirs
A Star Dances, an Angel Sings
GREG GILPIN
ENSEMBLE AND DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES
CONSERVATORY SINFONIA
Conservatory Sinfonia is an award-winning ensemble for advanced string players ages 12 to 16. This orchestra performs music from professional repertoire and a high degree of commitment is expected. In addition to weekly rehearsals, players participate in an annual workshop with a guest conductor. Formerly known as Conservatory Strings, the ensemble has produced two CDs and have been recorded by the CBC. Conservatory Sinfonia prepares young musicians for future participation in the Calgary Youth Orchestra.
CHRIS SANDVOSS - DIRECTOR
Christopher Sandvoss has performed and taught at festivals in Europe, Africa, and North America, appearing as soloist, recitalist, chamber musician and conductor on stage, radio, TV and CD. He was the founding violist of the internationally renowned Land’s End Ensemble, the 13th St. Trio, and the UCalgary Quartet. Mr. Sandvoss teaches violin, viola, chamber music and conducts the Conservatory Sinfonia at the Mount Royal University Conservatory. As a music producer, Christopher Sandvoss has worked on all Land’s End Ensemble’s recordings, resulting in numerous national awards and nominations. Mr. Sandvoss is also an internationally recognized Luthier and the founder of the Canadian Violin Making Institute.
CONSERVATORY SINFONIA - LIST OF MEMBERS
VIOLIN 1
Sadie Broadhead**
Hannah Audette
Franita Badenhorst
Estelle Broadhead
Nick Gu
Austin Ho
Chee Hu
Eugene Leung
Maria Olson
Anne Shi
Nolan Shi
Emily Zhang
VIOLIN 2
Traian Teslaru*
Tom Carley
Aries Carter
Zhou Fang
Austin Gao
Elsa Huang
Eric Wang
Jimmy Xu
Danni Zhang
Yiting Zhang
VIOLAS
Sophie Ryskine*
Anaya Ody
CELLOS
Avril Ge*
Oliver Cheng
Benjamin Swalm
Chantel Xu
**= concertmaster
*= section principal
SPEECH ARTS AND DRAMA
The Conservatory’s Speech Arts and Drama program is known across Canada for its leadership in curriculum and faculty. Children and teens develop the flexibility and power of the speaking voice in dynamic learning environments including short and long term group classes, private lessons, and an annual non-competitive speech and drama festival.
Speech and drama training is a boost for shy children, a haven for children that love literature, and a magical outlet for children that are driven to perform. It gives students the confidence to speak, be heard, and engage listeners in everyday communication, whether at school, or on the stage. Students share their own ideas in speeches and stories, and give voice to the printed page, elevating works of poetry, prose and drama in spoken word performance. A broad, developmental curriculum and a supportive environment allows each student to achieve the unique potential of their voice and hone their individual speaking style, and take ownership of skills that will serve them for a lifetime.
JENNIFER ORR - DIRECTOR (SPEECH AND DRAMA ARTS)
Jennifer has worked at Calgary’s Mount Royal University Conservatory for more than three decades, serving as both an instructor and program facilitator. She teaches private and group lessons in creative drama, speech arts, public speaking, storytelling, and speech arts theory, working with students of all ages. Jennifer plays an active leadership role in the discipline of speech and drama, contributing across Canada as a teacher, administrator, adjudicator, examiner, workshop clinician, and curriculum developer. Jennifer has a long-standing affiliation with the Royal Conservatory of Music, serving as Speech and Drama specialist and member of the College of Examiners, examining both practical and theoretical subjects. She was a member of the team that produced both the 2000 and the 2011 editions of the RCM Examinations Speech Arts and Drama syllabus. Jennifer’s former students consistently credit their speech training as “the thing that made the biggest difference” in their road to success, and Jennifer is proud that many of her students are now speech teachers. She is passionate about the art of communication and delights in sharing poetry and stories with students, empowering them to explore their creativity and speak with confidence.
SPEECH ARTS AND DRAMA - LIST OF PERFORMERS (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE)
Janel Wang
Joan Lam
Miesha Javier
Alexander Phone
Amie Yao
MOUNT ROYAL ARIEL CHOIR
Mount Royal Conservatory’s youngest choral group, Ariel provides an introductory experience in choral music. Singers begin a life-long journey in music in a fun and creative environment. Kindergarten students will begin to learn vocal and musical literacy while fostering the enjoyment of music. Children in Kindergarten will build social and emotional connections as they pursue musical excellence with new friends. Ariel will conclude their year of learning with the Mount Royal Conservatory’s family of choirs on Calgary’s finest stages.
JOCELYN PAYNTER - DIRECTOR (ARIEL)
Jocelyn Paynter is a music specialist with the Calgary Board of Education and has been teaching music in school and community ensembles for 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a Bachelor of Education, and is trained in Kodály and Orff pedagogies. She sings regularly with her family as part of the Enchor Chamber Choir and loves to garden and explore nature. Jocelyn is passionate about encouraging young musicians to find their voice and follow their joy.
ARIEL - LIST OF MEMBERS
Addis Bao
James Bruni
Chase Button
Katelyn Deng
Ethan Guan
Kalyna Hinds
Arabella Lindal
Rachel-Marie Lindal
Elsie Liu
Eden Lu
Patrick Luo
Hannah McClelland
Oliver Morgan
Clara Pellew
Nicolae Suman
Harper Todd
Nicole Warner
Sophia Xu
Elliana Zhang
MOUNT ROYAL ARIETTA CHOIR
Arietta provides an opportunity for young singers to begin a life-long journey in music by instilling a love of singing on which to build a foundation for their musical development. Using choral repertoire, vocal and musical literacy is carefully developed, while allowing our singers to build social and emotional connections as they pursue musical excellence with new friends. Arietta regularly shares their gift of music with the Calgary community, and performs with the Mount Royal Conservatory’s family of choirs on Calgary’s finest stages.
SARAH MCCUNE - DIRECTOR (ARIETTA)
Sarah McCune has been a music specialist for 15 years, working with the Calgary Board of Education for the majority of her career. She has a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge, and holds Orff-Schulwerk Level 3 Certification. Sarah is passionate about the value of high- quality music education and is actively involved in facilitating and presenting professional development for teachers. Having been a choir kid herself, Sarah is excited to share her love of music and help young musicians discover the joy of singing together.
KAREN NEUFELD - ACCOMPANIST (ARIETTA)
Karen has been an elementary music specialist with the Calgary Board of Education for the past 21 years. She has conducted children’s choirs, and participated in community and church choirs as a singer and piano accompanist. Karen has a passion for making music accessible and enjoyable for all, whether it is for children in the classroom or in choir, for adults in the community or for seniors living with challenges such as dementia. Karen holds Bachelor of Music and Education degrees from the University of Calgary, as well as a Diploma in Music Therapy from Capilano College.
ARIETTA - LIST OF MEMBERS
Henry Auld
Edric Bai
Audrey Barber
Steven Barns
Khushi Bhalla
Charlie Bottoms
Willa Bottoms
Sam Campbell
Kayla Chen
Clementine De Los Reyes
Amelia Farrell
Eirini Fotopoulos
Natasha Garza
Marjorie Haynes
Phoebe Jia
Zoey Joseph
Dylan Kelleher
Maisie Luo
Owen Lines
Charles Lu
Emily Lu
Wyatt MacKinnon
Vera Mitrovic
Ruby Payment
Charlotte Perron
Julia Poplawski
Arianna Ronga
Mila Sales
Yuna Shen
Luke Shen
Ryder Shen
Chloe Sun
Angela Tshambani
Ainsley Ward
Poyi Wu
MOUNT ROYAL ARIA CHOIR
Aria singers continue their musical development by exploring more advanced repertoire and expanding their performance opportunities. These experiences allow the singers to build social and emotional connections as they pursue musical excellence with each other in a fun and creative environment. Aria regularly shares their gift of music with the Calgary community, and performs with the Mount Royal Conservatory’s family of choirs on Calgary’s finest stages.
LÉANE MERCIER-TARDIF - DIRECTOR (ARIA)
Léane Mercier-Tardif studied at the Faculté St.Jean of the University of Alberta where she obtained her Bachelor of Education with a major in French and minor in Music. Following University, Léane obtained a scholarship to study music pedagogy for 1 year at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. Following this she obtained a Diploma of Fine Arts (Kodály Focus) from the U of C. Léane taught for 6 years as a music specialist in Edmonton and Calgary before moving to the UK for 3 years. While in the UK she attended the Dalcroze International Summer School in Canterbury. Léane’s choral experience ranges from teaching on and off with the Calgary Boys Choir since 2004 to leading children’s choirs at her schools to singing with several choirs in every city that she has called home. She is currently a member of the EnChor Chamber Ensemble led by Mount Royal Children’s Choir artistic director Liz Paynter. What Léane loves doing most is sharing her love of music with children and her family.
EILEEN KOSASIH - ACCOMPANIST (ARIA)
Eileen Kosasih is a multifaceted visual artist, musician, and presenter, based in Calgary. Eileen’s arts education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Music in Violin Performance from Ambrose University, pre- collegiate piano diploma from the American College of Musicians, Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Azusa Pacific University, and Master of Art in Fine and Decorative Art and Design from Sotheby’s Institute of Art New York. In addition to founding and conducting Calgary Arts Orchestra (20142015) and being assistant conductor to the Beverly Hills Synagogue Orchestra, Eileen has programmed concert series at the Cranbrook History Centre, the King Eddy at the National Music Centre, and for Classical Revolution Calgary. Her practical work spans Principal Pianist for the Calgary Boys’ Choir, Resident Accompanist for Out of the Blue Choir, and Accompanist for Mount Royal Conservatory studios. Eileen’s string positions extend to Principal Second Violin for the Symphony of the Kootenays, Concertmaster for the St. David’s United Orchestra, and Principal Viola for Uptown Strings. As an active freelance performer, she has contributed to the local music scene via many organizations.
ARIA - LIST OF MEMBERS
Audrey Audet
David Auld
Millie Belding
Lucy Berry
Bryanna Bing
Aiden Bissainthe
Parker Curley
Ziggy Giebelhaus
Georgia Kelleher
Amelia Lapienis
Avery Lee
Ruha Lee
Jason Li
Ayla McKenzie
Brooklyn Obrycki
Natalie Quon
Isabella Ronga
Matthias Sadraei
Nolan Schultz
Oliver Shen
Fiona Swanson
Amélie Tardif
Charlie Taylor
Shatho Tshambani
Katherine Warner
Lillian West
Olivia Xu
Iris Yang
Wenjing Zhang
MOUNT ROYAL ARIOSO CHOIR
Arioso singers pursue the challenge and reward of singing the highest calibre of choral music, including three and four-part scores, multiple languages, and varied genres. Through exceptional musicianship instruction, varied performance opportunities, local and international touring, and collaboration with other performing arts groups, Arioso singers build community, experience social growth, and a passion for musical excellence. Touring further enriches the singers’ education and provides an opportunity for the choir to be showcased to a worldwide audience.
MOUNT ROYAL YOUTH CHOIR
As part of the MRU family of choirs, the Mount Royal Youth Choir will provide singers, in grade 9 and older, performance opportunities grounded in community and artistic excellence. A wide range of the finest choral repertoire, and unique and collaborative performances, are planned to inspire and challenge all Mount Royal Youth Choir singers to their finest levels of musicianship.
ELIZABETH PAYNTER - DIRECTOR (ARIOSO & MOUNT ROYAL YOUTH CHOIR)
Choir director Elizabeth Paynter has been a music specialist with the Calgary Board of Education for over 30 years, and from early in her teaching career began directing choirs in the Calgary choral community. Elizabeth is the Artistic Director of the Children and Youth Choral Program at Mount Royal University, the founder and director of EnChor Chamber Choir, an auditioned vocal ensemble, and she is the Director of Music at Scarboro United Church. Elizabeth is passionate about making music accessible to all, and her extensive teaching experience allows her to guide and motivate musicians of all ages to the highest level of achievement, with much joy and laughter along the way.
MELISSA KO - ACCOMPANIST (ARIOSO & MOUNT ROYAL YOUTH CHOIR)
Playing piano has been a part of Melissa’s life for nearly 30 years. She has accompanied various musical theatre groups over the years including Storybook Theatre, Front Row Centre Players, Morpheus Theatre, and the Painted Fish Performing Arts Society. Melissa currently plays for Mount Royal University’s Arioso and Aria children’s choirs. She is also the accompanist with the Cum Vino Cantus choir, under the direction of Jean-Louis Bleau and Michael Coburn, and the Calgary Multicultural choir under the direction of Nancy Thomson. Melissa recently accepted an arts position at Scarboro United Church working alongside music director, Liz Paynter. In her spare time when not playing piano or at her 9-5 job at a busy Toyota dealership, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and her Great Dane, Steve.
ARIOSO - LIST OF MEMBERS
Arianna Angelini
Ajunei Brar
Emme Comeau
Robyn Curley
Nuala Engelhardt
Ryan Feng
Xiomi Fisher
Estelle Ghazar
Marina Gil
Demitra Glynn
Matilda Jones
Logan Joseph
Selina Kam
Jooha Lee
Evelyn Lemee
Juliet Leslie
Beth Lines
Olivia Ma
Charlotte Mercer
Billie Oh
Audrey Poshtchaman
Sophie Robinson
Rebecca Shen
Elaine Sun
Évangeline Tardif
Zachary Thomas
Theia Wong
Anny Xu
Madeleine Young
Angelila Zhang
MOUNT ROYAL YOUTH CHOIR - LIST OF MEMBERS
Zen Dabash
Emma Gaudette
Allie Groeneveld
Iain Heffel
Caylin Kwan
Aubrey Li
Olivia Ma
Arjun Mannan
Stella Meldrum
Ruby Planidin
Sophie Robinson
Alyssa Ruppel
Mulan Song
Lorence Uy
Nic Uy
Olivia Wang
Kateri Wasch
Charlotte Wonnick
Michelle Yin
Adyson Yon
THE MOUNT ROYAL CHORAL ASSOCIATION OF CALGARY IS GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT FROM:
