October 9^th 2007

Over a century and a half ago, a great many German immigrants found the rolling hills, lush forests and peaceful rivers of Waterloo Region to be an irresistible place to settle down in their new country. In 1873, the Concordia Club was founded, and in the years that followed, Kitchener, then known as Berlin, was to become the centre of German culture and activity in Ontario. Concordia’s one hundred and thirty-four years of development are a reflection of the strong German heritage in this region.

In the true German spirit, the settlers formed athletic clubs which were used not only for physical recreation, but also as centres for social gatherings and the furtherance of the arts. Annual athletic competitions rapidly expanded to include theatrical productions, choir competitions, and dancing. However, enthusiasm for musical competition soon overshadowed other activities, resulting in a great number of choirs being formed in the area, including the Concordia Male Choir. Through hard work, diligent practice, and the pursuit of perfection, soon the Concordia Choir was famous throughout the area for its excellent choral renditions. By the year 1873, the community of Berlin had grown to 3,000 inhabitants, more than half of whom attended a picnic held in the park in July of 1874, featuring songfests and athletic competitions.

The Concordia Choir competed in the very first Sängerfest, held in Waterloo in 1874, which attracted more than 350 vocalists, and was attended by over 10,000 spectators. In 1875, Concordia hosted the first International Choir Festival right here in Kitchener. Choirs from as far away as Rochester, Chicago, Montreal, Buffalo, Toronto and Hamilton, eagerly accepted invitations to attend. In the decades that followed, the Concordia Choirs have participated and competed in Sängerfests all over the world, including the German cities of Essen, Stuttgart, Berlin, and Hamburg, as well as Austria, Hungary, Southern Tyrol, and Lichtenstein. The choir sang at Expo ‘67 in Montreal, Expo ‘86 in Vancouver, and also in Quebec, Rochester and Toledo. The Concordia Choir has toured the East and West Coasts of Canada, as well as Ontario, to great acclaim. There appears to be no end to the popularity of our world-class Concordia Choirs, as this year alone, they have delighted audiences with performances in Prague, Austria and Germany. We can consider ourselves quite privileged to have such talented performers right here in the Concordia Club!

For the past 134 years, the Concordia Choirs have brought the joy of song not only to Kitchener-Waterloo, but to people all over the continent, and indeed all over the globe!

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to present the Concordia Choirs under the direction of Dr. Alfred Kunz!