There were a lot of traditional classics sung Tuesday at Zion United Church.
There was a traditional Cape Breton song (“Away From The Roll of the Sea”), a traditional Indigenous song from Australia (“Sesere eeye”) and a traditional car sing-a-long (“Bohemian Rhapsody”).
There were a lot of smiles and a lot of great music at Zion as the choral portion of the Moose Jaw Music Festival concluded with a concert.
“They were awesome. I’m from Medicine Hat and there’s a great high school music culture here I think compared to where I come from. We don’t have the same choral support,” said choral adjudicator Bradley van Middelkoop. “I was super thrilled to see all of the representation from the high schools. They all came in willing to work and willing to try really hard and put their best foot forward.”
van Middelkoop worked with the 11 local choirs over two days and then they took his advice and guidance and applied it to their performances before Tuesday night’s final concert.
“They were absolutely receptive to feedback - every single group,” van Middelkoop said. “Every group was made up of kids who were attentive and wanted to listen and they wanted to hear the feedback.”
He added that he liked the supportive atmosphere of the festival. When some better-known songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen or “Fireflies” by Owl City were sung, the rest of the choirs were upstairs moving along with the music.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to have a concert like this, where they can see one another and they can sing for each other,” van Middelkoop said. “I also like the model of the festival where it’s non-competitive. I didn’t have to choose a choir that is better than another. They’re all here singing for each other and it ends with this.”
Now that the choral portion of the festival has concluded the rest of the festival will continue from April 6-14.
