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A century of music-making will be celebrated this coming weekend at the Crescent Arts Centre in Osborne Village.
The Winnipeg Boys Choir will be celebrating their 100th anniversary with a concert that honours their musical legacy. That concert, titled All the Way Home, will feature current singers and alumni of the choir as well as displays of memorabilia and old recordings so audiences can relive the songs and stories shared by the choir over the decades.
“As I’ve been reflecting this year... I’ve come to realize that being a part of this organization is probably one of the greatest honours of my career and of my life,” says current artistic director Carolyn Boyes. “Working with the boys over 25 years for me personally, it never fails to bring me joy and to motivate me in life.”
Over thirty alumni ranging in age from their early 20’s to their late 80’s will contribute to the joy and honour of the weekend, as will the repertoire that will be performed, which Boyes says reflects the music that the choir has shared throughout its history.
While the pedigree of the choir is a big part of the weekend’s celebrations, Boyes also highlights the community around the choir as one of its most enduring legacies. “It’s always important to have strong peer groups and peer groups from different areas of what interests a boy or young man,” she explains. “I think many, many alumni would say that singing at a young age in the Winnipeg Boys Choir led to major life decisions for them to keep music as a part of their lives.”
The celebration of legacy also comes with nods to the innovations that have occurred over the years in the Winnipeg Boys Choir community. The choral family has grown to include a group for changed voices and has also expanded its repertoire to reflect a wider range of faiths and backgrounds.
“There is so much more repertoire available now that we can respond to what’s happening in the world,” says Boyes, “and sharing other cultures and points of view has been something that has evolved.”
All the Way Home takes the stage at the Crescent Arts Centre at 3 p.m. on May 4. Tickets and more information can be found at the Winnipeg Boys Choir’s website.