The Winkler Senior Choir is preparing for its upcoming spring concert, offering an evening of music that spans sacred Easter selections and classic musical theatre. The performance, presented through the Douglas Kuhl School of Music, takes place Tuesday, April 15 at 7:00 PM at Emmanuel Church in Winkler.
A musical journey through Easter and broadway
The concert begins with a set of Easter-themed music, including the title piece, All in the April Evening. “It’s an old standard which many of the choir members sang when they were youth and, you know, college choir or something like that,” says Hamm.
The choir will also perform God So Loved the World by Steiner, John Rutter’s The King of Love My Shepherd Is, and How Deep the Father’s Love. Hamm notes that The King of Love My Shepherd Is has personal significance this season: “It’s an arrangement of Psalm 23, which I think is the feeling that I get about Easter—that how much God cares for us and how deep that caring goes.”
Youth collaboration continues longstanding tradition
Joining the Winkler Senior Choir on stage will be the École Morden Middle School (EMMS) Junior High Choir, led by Heather Clyde. Hamm shared that the collaboration with youth choirs is part of a long-standing tradition. “Children’s choir has been a practice for the senior choir for many, many years, and we're delighted to have EMMS with us this year.”
The EMMS Jazz Choir will perform on their own and later join the senior choir for the closing number.
From Carousel to The Sound of Music
After intermission and a free-will offering to support the Douglas Kuhl School of Music, the Winkler Senior Choir will return with a lighter set—songs from classic musicals. “There's two musicals that we are taking repertoire from,” says Hamm. “The one is Carousel and the other one is The Sound of Music.”
The timing of the selections is particularly fitting, as one choir member pointed out. “Yesterday at rehearsal, one of my choir members asked if I knew that this was the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music. I did not, but it fit in well.”
Selections include If I Loved You and June is Bustin’ Out All Over from Carousel, which Hamm describes as “sort of got this cowboy feel to it.” He adds, “We get to sing our R’s actually, as opposed to most repertoire where we try not to do that.”
The concert concludes with a combined performance of My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music, featuring both the senior choir and the EMMS Jazz Choir. “We are [joining together], yes,” says Hamm. “So it'll be a combined choir and we're singing My Favorite Things.”
Why attend? For the music and the community
Hamm emphasizes that the event is not only about the music—it’s about building community across generations. “There's a strong tradition of choral music in this area,” he says. “I think that what these seniors have done over the past 25 years with this choir has really impacted some of the young singers as well.”
“The energy that they bring and the enthusiasm for this really is inspiring to the seniors,” he continues. “And I think it builds community, which is something that is badly needed.”
The concert is open to all, with no admission fee. “If you need an evening like this and you have no money, that's fine. Just come.”