They've been with the Community Youth Choir since it was a small enterprise among students of vocal coach Lisa Hornung. Now, they are moving on from a choir that's grown to a capacity 65 members, taking with them skills learned, friends made and confidence acquired.
Jocelyn Paulhus, 17, David Patterson, 18, and Josh Abrahamson, 17, who are graduating from high school this year, along with Mayce Achtemichuk, 18, who is already in her first year of university, sang their last concert with the choir Sunday. Michelle Hanna, 18, is also moving on, however she was unable to attend the concert due to illness.
"We are really one big family," said Patterson at one of their last rehearsals. He pointed out how more experienced members help newer members and look out for one another.
Like many of the members, singing in the choir is just one of the many musical paths the grads have been following. All play at least one instrument in addition to singing, and have applied years of work to the music festival experience. In June, Patterson will be competing at the provincial level in vocal, spoken and piano categories, and Hanna will compete in solo voice and, along with Larissa Chipak, in the duet category.
While the new alumni are serious about their music, they enjoy the singing-because-it-feels-good atmosphere of the non-audition Community Youth Choir program.
Says Patterson, "Solo work is just that - work. Choir is fun!"
"It's a positive environment all the time," says Hanna, and it's so much fun to be around other people who enjoy the same thing you do."
They agree that the leadership of director Lisa Hornung, vocal coach, clinician, performer and adjudicator who conducts an international career from her home in the Battlefords, has always been an excellent role model for them.
At Sunday's concert, Hornung congratulated all members on their dedication to the choir and to each other. There is never division within the group, she said, and they all look out for one another.
While this year's grads are not all pursuing careers in music, they will all carry their music with them into their futures.
Patterson will be entering the University of Saskatchewan this fall, with a view toward a dentistry career, and having stepped into a conductor's role at rehearsal, may continue to help the choir in that capacity.
Paulhus will be attending the University of Regina, planning to become a history and English teacher.
Abrahamson, and will be working for a year here in the Battlefords before pursuing plans to become an actor, and his music training will be an asset in his endeavours.
Hanna will be attending University of Manitoba as a voice major in performance. She will probably focus on classical music, and, as she already has experience teaching, may include that in her musical future as well.
Achtemich will also be pursuing a career in music, and is already in her first year at the University of Western Ontario, studying pop music. She was able to be home for the final Community Youth Choir concert of the season.
