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This is the final newsletter for this school year - and so this is an opportunity for me to express my heartfelt thanks to the Senior Choir students for an incredible year. Not only did we sing at eleven Masses -along with numerous Outreach Concerts - but our members took major parts in 'The Music Man' production.
Topping all of these events, however, was the joint concert with the St. Michael's Choir School from Toronto. On the morning of the concert, I mentioned to the choir that this was the most important concert of their lives at SJCS. Unfortunately, the rehearsal on that morning did not go well - and, I freely admit, that some of that was my fault. But what a contrast on that evening! Our students were fired up -and they gave everything that they had with unity, passion, and a visceral connection to the music. For me, this was the highlight of the whole year. As happens every year, we are losing our Grade Twelves as they depart for 'fresh fields and pastures new'. Every year, I wonder and worry needlessly how we are going to replace those skilled singers. But every Fall, renewal occurs, and other students take their place. The overall musical culture in the choir brings this about - as students over the time that they are in the choir improve their musical skills - and as a result start to show real musical leadership. As an addendum to this thought, I know of several SJCS grads who are now employed in the service of the church -either as a singer, conductor or as an organist. It's good to see that our influence is spreading. Malcolm V. Edwards
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Malcolm EdwardsMalcolm Edwards was born in Halifax, England and emigrated to Canada in 1967. He is a graduate of Sheffield College of Education (UK), Trinity College of Music, London, the University of Lethbridge, the University of Montana and has done further graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado. He taught music in junior and senior high school for twelve years in southern Alberta before joining the University of Calgary as a Professor of Music Education in 1980. He retired from the university after thirty-one years of service in 2011. In the community he was affiliated with the Youth Singers of Calgary for 21 years directing the Act Three and Senior divisions. In his retirement, he is now employed as an Adjunct Professor of Music at St Mary’s University, as the Artistic Director of the Calgary Men’s Chorus and as the Senior Choir Director at St John’s Choir Schola. He has held leadership positions within the Alberta Choral Federation, the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, served on the Board of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and is active as a choral adjudicator and workshop leader in schools and churches. He is the recipient of two awards from the Provincial Federation – one in recognition of advocacy in arts education and the second in recognition of exemplary service to choral music within the Province of Alberta. In 2004 he received recognition from the national body (ACCC) for twenty-five years of service to the Canadian choral community. Archives
May 2025
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