Winkler Collegiate Institute - Collegian Yearbook (Winkler, Manitoba Canada)

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WINKLER The Winkler School Orchestra provides a major extra curricular activity for a con¬ siderable number of students. Moreover, just as important, the orchestra also makes a major contribution to the cultural life of the community and school. The orchestra consists of two parts, the senior and the junior orchestras. Each or¬ chestra is made up of thirty to forty mem¬ bers. Weekly practices are held on Tuesday. The orchestra provides an ideal opportunity for an individual to develop his musical ta¬ lent. Mr. J. P. Redekopp has conducted both the senior and junior orchestra for the past eight years. The public performances are presented chiefly by the senior group. On February 28 the Senior orchestra brought a concert at Dominion City. The program provided ORCHESTRA for a variety of musical talent. The “Barber¬ shop Four” and the “String Quartet” receiv¬ ed a special applause from the audience. A similar concert was brought in Winkler on the following Sunday afternoon. “The Bugler” by Dennis Penner and “The Linden Tree” and “Come Holy Spirit” by Pat and Amy were enjoyed by all. “Prayer” from Mozart and “The Three Dots and a Dash (March)”, were performed at the Winnipeg Musical Festival. The experience was well worth the effort and the adjudicator’s constructive criticism helped, to spur the members on to more con¬ centrated practising. The activities of the orchestra culminated in the final concert in May. The delightful performance ended the orchestra season with everyone in the best of spirits. THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE One of the main events of this school year which will long be remembered by the high school students was the presentation of Gil¬ bert and Sullivan’s operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance”, on March 5 and 7. Due to popular demand a repeat performance was given on Saturday, March 14, thus making a total audience of about 2700. Proceeds went to piano fund and to help cover the cost of the school yearbook and other coun¬ cil sponsored projects. The colourful cos¬ tumes, the beautiful scenery and the singing and acting of the cast combined to make the three performances as well as the Mati¬ nee performance for school children on March 4 a real success. The operetta itself was a two-act perfor¬ mance with three choruses participating be¬ sides the main characters. The choruses in¬ cluded the Pirates, the policeman and the girl’s chorus. The heroine, Mabel, who came to the rescue of Frederick, the hero, was i ed by Pat Giesbrecht, and the hero and ex-pirate was Randy Peters. The role of General Stanley, the Major General was sung by John Friesen; the sisters of Mabel and wards of General Stanley, Kate, Edith, and Isabel, were sung by Katherine Dyck, Marie Penner, and Irene Fehr. The Pirate King was played by George Sawatzky; Sam¬ uel, a pirate, was played by Ted Redekopp; the Sergeant of Police was played by Walter Suderman, and tire part of Ruth, the ugly nurse, was played by Ann Zacharias. Practices for the operetta began after Christmas and took up very little class time since they took place mainly during noon hours from 12:50 to 1:30 p.m. The different choruses and principal characters practised Page 58 alternately during that period. There were a few evening practices and some class time was used during the last two weeks. Much time and effort was spent by the administration. The able director for the operetta was Mr. Carl Braun who was in charge of all singing, acting, and stage movements. Administratively in charge of organization and co-ordination of various committees was Mr. Dave Winter. Delores Nauer served as secretary to Mr. Braun, or¬ dering costumes and make-up, collecting dues, giving notices of practices, etc. The Student Council chairman Ronald Peters, who was in charge of ticket sales and ad¬ vertising. Posters were drawn and agencies contacted to sell tickets. John Janzen and Howard Dyck were in charge of student ticket sales, which included allotment of tickets and collecting of monies. Stage effects and scenery required a great deal of work. Miss Emma Klassen and Mr. John I. Erown directed this aspect of the work, with various students assisting in carpentering and painting. Prompters were Helen Plett and Nettie Banman, with Den¬ nis Neufeld pulling the curtains. Most of the girls had their costumes made at home while those of the boys and Ruth were rented. Five people were in charge of the make-up and they had two practices before hand to get the proper effects. Because the students were willing to de¬ vote time and effort to the operetta and considered it an enjoyable privilege to par¬ ticipate, we believe it was a success and a venture on which all of us will look back with keen delight and fond memories. Hazel Enns

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FESTIVAL CHOIR Collegiate Christmas Carol Program The program took the form of a Coral Service on Thursday, December 11. The entire student body of the collegiate per¬ formed under the direction of Mr. J. Letke- man. Following Mr. Bergen’s opening remarks the choir commenced the service with the English carol, Jingle Bells, and the two German songs, O Tannenbaum and O Heili- ges Kind. A poem, a violin solo, and a sermonette by Rev. J. Hildebrand compris¬ ed the first half of the program. A series of nine selections from Roy E. Nolte’s Cantata, “Glory in the Highest” completed the program proper. Fitting closing remarks, based partly on the theme of the music, were made by Mr. H. F. Wiebe. The selections from the Cantata were familiar to many of the parents in the audience, who had performed the work un¬ der the direction of the late Mr. K. H. Neu- feld some years ago. Despite the poor weather conditions and the busy season, the auditorium had a capa¬ city audience for the first Christmas Con¬ cert of the season. The service and the ap¬ propriate decorations put the students in the Christmas mood briefly but pleasantly. It served as an encouraging prelude to the first term examination which hovered in the back of many minds even while singing “The Prophetic Voice or “Songs of Glad¬ ness. J. L. Enns The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra The Winkler Student Council decided to sponsor a concert by the Winnipeg Sym¬ phony Orchestra. Due to the high musical interests in Winkler and surrounding area they thought it would be a successful pro¬ ject. The initial reaction to the proposition of this undertaking was mixed. A heated dis¬ cussion of the pros and cons evolved. Some members of the council thought that it would be a financial risk but after taking a vote on the issue it was decided to go ahead with the project. A severe blizzard during the week when the concert was to be held almost smother - Page 00 ed the enthusiasm. It had to be postponed or cancelled. The council decided it would be best to have the concert at a later date. The students showed keen interest in the afternoon performance rendered by the or¬ chestra. They went home expressing their enthusiasm and encouraged parents to at¬ te nd the evening performance. The evening concert was enjoyed by a near capacity audience. The project was a success financially and culturally. It marked our first project a successful endeavor and paved the way for future undertakings. Ted Redekop