Choir History
From the beginning, the Inter Mennonite Children's Choir has been rooted in the Mennonite faith tradition. Under the leadership of Dr. Helen Martens, of Conrad Grebel College, children from various Mennonite churches and other churches were drawn together to learn to sing the best sacred music with precision, skill and understanding. In 1974, the choir won the top prize in the CBC National Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. Other former conductors include: Jane Schultz-Janzen, Lisa Shuh, Deb Jones and Karen Bileski. In 1987, Lisa Shuh introduced the Harriet Ziegenhals song “You Shall Have a Song” to the Choir and since that time, it has become a tradition to invite alumni in the audience to join the Choir and close the Spring concert with that song.
Over the last 40 years, the choir released several recordings, sharing their music with the community. Be Ye Joyful was the choir’s first recording and was recorded at Conrad Grebel College with the help of a grant from the “International Year of the Child” in 1979. Other recordings include Sing to the Lord a Song (1992), Sing for Joy (1994), You Shall Have A Song (1997) and We Are The Children (2002). The choir recently released its newest CD: Joyful Celebration (2007).
Choir trips have included destinations in Canada, including Ottawa in 1972, where the choir met then Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. In 1975, the choir made the first of several tours to the Pennsylvania area and were billeted at the homes of local Mennonite church families. Other trips include: Europe (1980), Winnipeg (1994), Vancouver (1997), Ottawa (1997) and Lancaster County PA (2001). In 2002, the Lancaster Mennonite Children’s Choir visited Waterloo Region and both choirs presented a concert titled “You Shall Have A Song.”
The choir has also participated in various choral festivals and competitions: The Ontario Vocal Festival (1997-2001), National MusicFest (1997-Gold Standing) Kitchener-Waterloo Kiwanis Music Festival (2002 and 2007). In 1995, the choir participated in the competition finals for the production of Joseph's Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Inevitably , over the past 40 years the Inter-Mennonite Children's
Choir has influenced the musical development of many singers in Waterloo
Region. Some have gone on to other communities, continuing the spirit
of community singing they experienced in their early years in the
Choir. Others have become professional musicians. Sustaining the
musical and spiritual vision with which it started, the choir hopes to
continue sharing the love of singing and music with our community for
many more years to come."
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