Two local musicians, Danielle Schmidt and Tricia Florence, are returning to the Battlefords as members of the award winning Greystone Singers for a concert at Battleford United Church on Sunday, Feb. 20, at 2:30 pm.
Danielle and Tricia are pursuing their musical studies at the University of Saskatchewan. Both studied with Dianne Gryba and were long time members of Kamala Youth Choir.
Danielle and Tricia now perform with other University Saskatchewan students in the Greystone Singers, a mixed-voice choir open by audition to all University of Saskatchewan students. The concert's program consists of a wide variety of choral repertoire from traditional and classical to sacred and secular, including folk songs and spirituals in a variety of languages and styles.
This year's choir consists of 44 students representing a variety of colleges at the university. Besides performing at many local events, festivals, and with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Greystone Singers annually tour throughout Saskatchewan. They make frequent appearances elsewhere in Canada, and occasionally visit the United States, Europe, and other countries, including Cuba.
The choir toured China in May 2010 with concerts in Shanghai, Xi'an and Beijing, followed by a performance in Saskatoon at Podium-the national biennial convention of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities.
The conductor, Gerald Langner, is associate professor of Choral Music and Music Education and head of the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. A native of Jansen, he has earned Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (where he sang with the Greystone Singers), and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from West Texas A & M and Michigan State Universities.
A recipient of the Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award in 2004 and Saskatchewan Choral Federation Pro Musica Award in 2010, Dr. Langner also teaches classes in music and music education. He remains active as a clinician and adjudicator for workshops and festivals throughout Canada.
Other Events
Battlefords Children's Choirs holds an annual Broadway Revue. It is a concert made up of songs from various musicals performed by soloists, small groups, and three choirs - Battlefords Children's Junior and Preparatory Choirs and Kamala Youth Choir.
The performances are Saturday evening, March 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Everything is at Ecole Monseigneur Blais Morand.
The choirs have been invited to represent Saskatchewan at Unisong in Ottawa on the July 1 weekend. This is a national festival that brings together one choir from every province to sing under a master conductor and perform with the national Arts Orchestra on Canada Day.
