Altona Collegiate - Green and Gold Yearbook (Altona, Manitoba Canada)

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7 ieqiate (tyoOt The Collegiate Choir is one of our school’s proud traditions. Students and parents alike have learned to look forwa J to the choir’s annual performances. This is proven year after year by the excellent attendance at the Carol Service a the festival competition. This year was no exception to the rule. Much hard work goes into the preparation for choir appearances. Mr. Braun, the director, would be the first underscore this statement. At the same time, however, it is felt the rewards are greater for the effort. Frequently hear complaints after choir rehearsals, but seldom do we hear these after a good performance. The choir, and Mr. Braun in particular, are to be commended for their fine work this year. The Candlelight Carol Service [lit; iiv The annual Candlelight Carol Service was held on December-14 in the Bergthaler Church. Once again it proved be a highlight in the year’s activities. The junior and senior choruses combined to render a warm and moving conc e@ of Christmas songs bearing out once again the universality of the Christmas celebration. The concert opened with the traditional lighting of the candles, followed by the processional to the strains of thirteenth century carol “O Come, 0 Come Emmanuel.” The universal aspect of Christmas emerged in the singing 11 four groups of carols which ranged from the well known German carol “O du frohliche” to lesser known but beautroj Christmas folk music of other cultures like “Mary Had A Baby” and “Pat-A-Pan.” The program also included select! © from J. M. Rasley’s “The Miracle of Bethlehem.” F] Rev. G. E. Denison of Altona gave the Christmas address. His message was entitled “Christmas Must Leave Cradle.” d 1 ha The service was brought to a suitable close with a beautiful rendition of the well-loved “Stille Nacht.” 22

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There are things children shed the

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The Festival Choir fcjEyery year the collegiate choirs in southern Manitoba ranete for the highly prized Dr. S. S. Toni Trophy. This Kjnfr is awarded annually to the winning choir in the “High r ' hinl Choir” competition of the Southern Manitoba Musical | stiyal. A great deal of school pride is involved in this npetition and it is not difficult to see why this competition as! popular as it is. Since the festival selections are often considerably more Alt than the usual choir music, the festival choir is if up of a group of sixty select singers. The long period giparation for thi s contest usually results in frayed nerves, p«t this is easily forgotten in actual competition. I We would like to congratulate the festival choir, which, p| Mr. Braun’s fine direction, won the Dr. S. S. Toni Sophy this year. The festival selections were “Westering and “Dear Land of Home.” Southern WunitoL Wuuc and Speech Slrfo Jestiuaf 1963 This year the Festival was once again held, in the vns of Morden, Winkler, and Altona, offering oppor- nities to hundreds of young people to further their iividual and collective talents by means of friendly mpetition with their peers. Some students entered only e class of the Festival competitions, in either the nc eech Arts, Instrumental, or Vocal sections, while others tered up to half a dozen or more. All, however, gained f )m the experience, learning from the adjudicators’ ne mnients and criticisms, from the achievements of fellow- utmpetitors, and from the basic business of public solo c ti group performance. From the early beginnings of the Festival, with names e ch as Dr. K. H. Neufeld, John R. Walkof, Isaac H. Voth, d Inspector G. G. Neufeld prominent among the founders, has grown and grown, with almost yearly increases in entries and sessions. In 1934 there were only 29 entries recorded; today there are over 1,700 entries and three full weeks of Festival sessions in three centres. At times there has been doubt as to the usefulness of Festival competitions, and there has been criticism of our activities. At other times there has been a severe lack of support of Festival activities by various persons in the towns concerned. There is a certain amount of confusion during the weeks preceding and during the competitions themselves; there is a certain amount of breaking-up of routine in the schools. However, the benefits accruing to the participants and the observers are immeasurable in the bettering of their lives and in the formation of good standards in the aspects of life that make existence pleasurable and meaningful—the Arts. 23 Albert G. Braun, Executive Member, S.M.M. S.A.F.