For the Mennonite Community Orchestra, Giving Voice is more than the just the title they gave to their upcoming concert.
It’s also more than just the unifying theme of the works being presented, which run the gamut from the rhythmic “Danzon no. 2” by the Mexican composer Arturo Marquez, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ inventive “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis”, the fiery overture to Georges Bizet’s “Carmen”, and the dazzling “Introduction and Rondo Capriccio” by Camille Saint-Saens.
The real meaning of Giving Voice, according to incoming orchestra president Sam Perrott, is their Goodwill partnership with the Clan Mothers Healing Village and Knowledge Centre.
The centre serves as a land-based healing environment for Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and transgender persons, incorporating traditional healing and spiritual mentorship while also providing training and social enterprise opportunities. Perrott, who also serves as the orchestra’s percussionist, told Morning Light host Nolan Kehler about how he and a number of other instrumentalists visited the Healing Village and Knowledge Centre outside of Winnipeg on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation back in September.
“Collaborations like this help us to broaden the circle and involve more people in our community,” Perrott said.
It was a place that Perrott found similarities between the healing powers of nature and of music. “To sit on a beach on a windy day and listen to the trees rustle and have someone tell you how important the land has been in helping them heal and helping them calm and center themselves – it was really beautiful and touching.”
This context helps throw the program of Giving Voice into a new perspective for soloist Will Harder, who will be performing the challenging Saint-Saens work. “There’s lots of musical storytelling that can be shared as a gift,” he explains. “Just as we receive many gifts from others in our community.”
Harder was selected for this concert after winning the Verna Mae Janzen Music Competition at Canadian Mennonite University earlier this year. He’s been a member of the orchestra now for four years, and he’s excited to share the “Introduction and Rondo Capriccio” work alongside members of his musical community.
“Saint-Saens puts lots of different characters within this piece,” Harder elaborates. “There's a lot of quick switching of characters, which can be really fun but a little bit challenging as well."
Giving Voice will be presented at the Lutheran Church of the Cross (560 Arlington Street) in Winnipeg’s West End on November 3 at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit the Mennonite Community Orchestra’s website.