April 2002 - Nr. 4
Traditions
25 Years Hansa Chor Brampton
"People
that sing together have no time to think about war" the organizer of some
children’s choirs told me recently. "That might very well be true, they
certainly have their attention on something creative instead of something
destructive" was my answer.
The
time-honoured tradition of choir singing has also strong roots in our
community. Nearly every German Club has a choir and then there are other
independent ones, some of which have acquired near professional qualities.
At
the 25th Anniversary of the Hansa Chor Brampton, on March 2,
2002, seven guest choirs turned up to help celebrate this important
occasion.
The
evening started with cocktails and the appropriate "Saengergruss", without
which no event of this kind can begin. After saying Grace a full course
dinner was enjoyed by all, before president Elvira Kordan welcomed together
with the Hansa Club’s President Reiner Walter everyone attending.
Then
they honoured with the help of the choir’s conductor several members who had
been there for 25 years, Hilde Andrzejewski, Inge Breier, Herbert Gross,
Erika Liedtke and Erhard Liedtke, one of the founders of the Hansa Chor. At
that time in 1977 there were only 7 members, which were soon to grow to the
fluctuating number of 35-40.
Mr.
Liedtke conducted the choir until 1992 and handed the baton over to Dieter
Wueterich until 1998. Since then Wolf Schepp is at the helm. His wife Inge
accompanies the choir on the piano.
After
the opening ceremonial section the choir sang the first part of a fine
program, a mixture of beloved folksongs, including one by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
The
Heidelberg Rheingold Singers, from Niagara, conductor Lucille Vogel, Gaye
Impey piano, followed with 4 selections, including the much applauded "Let
there be peace on earth", something that is on everyone’s mind these days.
George
Zaduban conducted his first choir, the Edelweiss Choir Toronto, that night.
The 3-piece program ended with a fine jodler to much applause.
Teutonia
Choir Stratford, under the baton of Marianne Kelly, Shirley Whittaker piano,
sang some very demanding selections, including die Nachtigal with words by
Goethe and "They call it Canada", which stirred some patriotic feelings for
our new homeland.
The
Loreley Saenger from Oshawa, again under George Zaduban, finished the first
half of the evening with more folksongs and Jean Sibelius’ "A song of
Peace".
Alwin
H. Reimer conducted the large Lyra Chor from London, Ontario, with Frances
Reimer on the piano. Here too a song about peace found its way into the
repertoire and also a spiritual, "My lord, what a morning".
George
Zaduban returned again, this time with the Harmonie Choir Toronto. Young
love and the nightingale found expression here.
Then
we had opportunity to listen to the Concordia Choirs of Kitchener. Dr.
Alfred Kunz led his singers through a substantial program, accompanied as
usual by Krystyna Higgins.
First
the Male Choir performed, then the Mixed Choir and then both of them
together. From Strauss to Arno Kempens Croatian folksongs, a cycle of 3
songs, and Dubinsky’s "We rise again" with the delightful presentation of
three young female soloists plucked from the ranks of the choir,
demonstrated what it takes to become a choir with professional standards.
Together
all choirs with all conductors jubilated the end of the rich program, which
served again to bind us together as a community, not just with the words,
but with their melodies and intentions to make people glad.
What
better way to celebrate and commemorate the 25th anniversary of
the Hansa Chor. We add our congratulations with a fervent wish for longevity
of this fine tradition.
Changing of the Guard
Every
year in March the Concordia Choir in Kitchener holds its Presidents Ball to
introduce the new Board of Directors and thank all those helping hands and
minds that make up a successful organisation such as the club. This year
there were a couple of pleasant surprises for those not in the know: The M.C.
was a very young Sarah Allmendinger, a member of the Concordia Narrenzunft,
where she dances in the guard. The other surprise was the introduction of a
new president.
But before all these things could be presented there first a reception hour with champagne cocktails and a great buffet with many delicacies, followed of course by a lovely dinner to take care of all the bodily needs. Only after the last bit of dessert had been polished off the plates and the coffee was served the official part of the program commenced with the introduction of the many dignitaries. There were 4 elected government officials, including Wayne Wettlaufer, the MPP who gave us German Pioneers Day; there were 3 regional and city officials, including Karl Zehr, Mayor of Kitchener; six presidents of German clubs/associations and six other German related heads of organisations, including Echo Germanica, and of course Miss Concordia Ulrike Schmidt and the very able manager of the club, Peter Pijet.
Furthermore
9 past presidents were introduced, including outgoing President Elisabeth
Rowsell, before we all were to meet the new President, Werner Schlueter, who
gave a warm welcome to all. And while the choir was assembling in the hall
the members of the board and the president lined up inside to be sworn in by
Elisabeth Rowsell.
Elisabeth
was thanked much by her past crew and they gave her a little performance
sketch to present her with certain mementos reminiscent of her reign.
Members
of the mixed Choir Concordia rallied together for some rousing songs under
the ever-wonderful direction of Dr. Alfred Kunz.
After
that gifts were presented together with heartfelt thank-yous to outgoing
members of the board.
The evening would not be complete without some serious donations made to worthy causes. This year the Heart and Stroke Foundation received a cheque, as did the German Canadian Congress Ontario.
Finally Werner and Angela Schlueter opened the ball officially with the first dance. From then on in it was all fun and dance. Even the mayor was seen on the dance floor.
The club has a new board and surely will do as well as the previous one. Most of the members have been around for quite some time and are accustomed to doing all those things that make the club the success it is.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
Comments to: sfr@echoworld.com
