CMYC 2022 RECAP

"I would very much like to thank Kendra Obach for expressing different cultures and giving me the opportunity to play djembe... I've made new friendships that will last forever. To all the people that made this happen, thank you once again. This has been one of the most fun experiences of my life." - David Singi Singi (Winkler) 

Writeup by CMCA Committee member/CMYC 2022 Tour Manager Kimberly Harms

CMYC 2022 was an incredible season of remembering why we love choral singing, and to begin a healing of all the music that we have missed so much these past couple of years. With each singer arriving at our rehearsal camp, we could feel a restarting of all the wonderful moments to come. 

 We met for two rehearsal weekends at Circle Square Ranch just south of Austin, MB in September. The first rehearsal camp started with our traditional circle introduction game, and while some CMYC traditions managed to find their way back, some were left behind and other new ones began, such as line-dancing at the end of SNL which happens on Saturday evenings after rehearsals.

Our tour, which was October 13-17, held 3 or 4 concerts each day, and we were able to sing in both middle years and high schools, senior centres, and various churches. Kendra Obach (of Selkirk, teacher in Stonewall), our conductor, put together a fabulous repertoire that brought us on a journey of Darkness to Light. It was wonderful to see the choristers begin to dig into more than just the songs, but what it means to bond as a choir. They discovered the joys of being singers from across southern Manitoba who come from all walks of life and how to become one moving part that finds unity in song. 

 Kendra brought such a gentle, emotional approach to the music, and drew each one of the singers into finding their own heart in each piece. With Loren Hiebert (Altona) as our accompanist, each note seemed to melt like snow and seep into our dry and thirsty souls. We were reminded that music truly does make us feel. 

 Tour ended with many hugs and tears, but so many of these relationships will continue as friendships were born and became tightly bonded in a just a few weeks time, and many of them talking about reuniting in February at Manitoba Sings. We were thrilled to have two very deserving singers receive scholarships to Manitoba Sings, and look forward to seeing many of them singing together again.

Registrations for auditions for CMYC 2023 will come out mid-February, with auditions most likely occurring later in May. Rehearsal camps occur the second and fourth weekend of September, and the tour the weekend after Thanksgiving. The CMYC tour is often book-ended with Junior and Senior Choral Workshop. This year's workshop was attended by 188 students, Grades 7-12, and we were thrilled to welcome Jenny Steinke-Magnus as she brought wonderful greetings at the workshop concert from MCA to kick off CMYC tour! We look forward to bringing choral music to singers across our region again next year!

“Taking part in CMYC has pushed me to try things I never thought I would be ready for. It really has opened so many doors for me in my future as a choral singer in Manitoba.”
- Sarah Stephens (Pilot Mound)