Westman Youth Choir is a wonderful musical opportunity for young people in Grades 10 – 12. Choir directors and accompanists as well as WMYC board members, continue to pour into the choir, bringing forth excellence in the youth involved. Their wonderful performances are heard every fall in Westman venues.
In October 2023 the WMYC board honoured one of the founding board members, Bill Lawson of Souris.
From the choir’s Facebook we read, “Although Bill was unable to be in attendance, Jackie Sallows presented a beautiful quilt made out of numerous past hoodies that Bill collected over the years. The success of Westman Youth Choir would not have been possible without Bill’s 42 years of service to the WMYC organization.”
Recently longtime WMYC board members from the Virden area, Julie Gibson and Jennifer Cochrane have stepped down from the board.
Marlin Peters, a Virden board member said, “We are so appreciative of all the time and energy poured into the board by Julie and Jennifer over their years of service.”
Peters became actively involved, filling a key role as treasurer. “I joined the board in 2020, since all of my daughters were a part of the choir during their high school years.”
He says, “Ideally, we like to have representation geographically from across our region. Many board members are either parents of current or former singers, or alumni of the choir themselves.”
Currently the WMYC board includes 11 people representing various communities throughout Western Manitoba. The choir typically involves 53 singers in Grs. 10-12.
Auditions are held annually in May and then rehearsals and performances take place over three extended weekends in September and October.
In 2023, the choir represented 14 different communities, covering the Westman region from the U.S. border, north to Russell and Riding Mountain; and from the Saskatchewan border, east to Neepawa and Killarney, and all points in between.
Rehearsal weekends are always held in the fall at Camp Wannakumbac and the four-day tour covers various communities and wraps up with a finale in Brandon.
Peters says that the 2023 choir included the following local students: Cody Thiessen (Oak Lake), Josie Waldner (Cromer), Charley Dunning (Virden), Tristan Plaisier (Virden), Elise Armitage (Miniota), and Piper Sisson (Elkhorn).
Directors and accompanists are invited each year, allowing for choristers to have a diverse experience with potentially different leaders each of their three years in the choir. In 2023, our directors were Roberta Velarde of Winnipeg and Blair Chapman of Neepawa, with accompanist Danielle Guina of Brandon.
“One unique opportunity for this coming year may involve a gathering of all the regional choirs,” says Peters. “The Manitoba Choral Association is making plans for an event which would bring together all of Manitoba's regional choirs (potentially five choirs) for a day of workshops and a joint concert in October during our scheduled tour.”
Sponsorship supports the efforts of the youth. Check out their Facebook for details:
https://www.facebook.com/WestmanYouthChoir/ On that sight, you can be inspired by this talented and well-trained group of young singers. There’s a link on their FB to hear all 19 of their 2023 selections.
