‘Being part of a large ensemble is such an exciting experience:’ A Q & A with students taking part in this year’s winter concerts
As the winter concerts Tabula Rasa (McMaster Choirs) and One Life Beautiful (McMaster Concert Band and McMaster Percussion Ensemble) approach, we asked some of the performers to share their thoughts and experiences on the repertoire they’ll be performing, what excites them about the upcoming performance, and why you should attend.
Interested in attending? Go to the Showpass website for tickets to Tabula Rasa (L.R. Wilson Concert Hall, November 30, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.) and One Life Beautiful (L.R. Wilson Concert Hall, December 1, 2 p.m.).
Can you describe the repertoire you’re performing this year? What excites you about the pieces?
This year’s repertoire is a really interesting mix of more traditional choral pieces and some cool arrangements of songs from a variety of different cultures. There is a lot of contrast in our program, not only in the languages being sung but also in the styles of music. I’m personally most excited about the pieces with polyphonic sections, where different voices have different overlapping rhythms and melodies. These pieces really showcase the complexity and musicianship that the choirs are capable of since we have to be very attuned to one another to pull them off. They also allow for each voice part to have a moment in the spotlight and take ownership for their contribution to the overall texture.
Jacqueline Huo, fourth year, English and cultural studies/Engineering physics and biomedical engineering, member of the McMaster Choirs
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This semester we are performing mostly contemporary choral pieces in a variety of different languages including Spanish, Latvian, and Estonian just to name a few. I am really excited about these pieces because they are all so different and beautiful for many reasons. Some are a little bit of a faster tempo which makes for a very exciting and high-energy piece, and some are slower but have absolutely stunning musicality that creates some really breath-taking moments. My personal favourite piece this semester is called Tabula Rasa. The piece is slower and begins more gently but grows throughout and has so many beautiful moments that I am really excited for the audience to hear.
Laura White, third year, honours chemistry, member of the McMaster Choirs
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The repertoire for this concert has a large variety of pieces. They range in complexity, genre and mood. Something that I particularly am excited for are the beautiful French horn solos in the lyrical pieces. Another stand out point is the unique melodies in the piece “Hispania” that bring out a lot of texture and power while also showing a delicate and serene side.
Mackenzie Lam, first year, nursing, member of the McMaster Concert Band
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The repertoire for this concert is includes uplifting and powerful music that feels very full of life and energy, as well as pieces that are much more emotional, moving, and reflective. The concert is called “One Life Beautiful” and the goal is for the viewer to consider all aspects of that: a combination of different experiences that come together to tell one life’s story.
I would say that the most exciting thing about concert day is just the ability to see weeks’ worth of work come together. There’s an energy about concert day that brings everything together. It’s like all the musicians just click and everything comes together beautifully. It’s amazing to see and even better to be a part of!
We also have a student conductor performing one of our pieces this year! Laila is incredibly talented and has been learning to conduct under Joe Resendes, the conductor of the Concert Band. I am very excited for her piece specifically.
Kiley Fabian, fourth year, music, member of the McMaster Concert Band
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What can audiences expect from the concert, and why should they attend?
The unique thing about a McMaster Choirs performance is that it is truly an immersive experience. We often perform in various formations on stage, as well as surrounding the audience in the space that we are in, which really changes the sound of the pieces and allows the audience to hear all of our wonderful members. Audiences can also expect lots of movement throughout the performance in the form of choreography and other visuals. I think people should attend our concert because it is so different than any other choir performances you have probably seen before. Our performances are put together to form a story, and we tell that story through the songs and movements which I think makes for a very entertaining show.
Laura White
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The audience can expect an exciting journey filled with brassy fanfares, gorgeous lyrical pieces, and an epic ending with a Spanish flare! The McMaster Concert Band has spent the past few months working hard to prepare for this concert and it would be amazing if anyone came to finish off this epic journey with us!
Mackenzie Lam
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Audiences can expect a variety of styles, energetic performances, lots of emotional depth, and a sense of unity among the musicians.
Kiley Fabian
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I think audiences can expect an engaging show full of beautiful moments. Something we emphasize is the importance of performing the music, not just singing it. Yes, the music will be good, but our goal is for all aspects of the concert to be so captivating that your mind can’t stray from the music. Every last detail, from the order of the program, to staging formations, to lighting has been designed to elevate the music and create an emotional experience. The theme for this year’s concert is Tabula Rasa, blank slate, so the message we hope to convey is one of renewal, possibilities, and hope.
Jacqueline Huo
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How has being part of the choir ensemble shaped your musical skills or approach to music?
Being part of a large ensemble is such an exciting experience. It’s not just about playing my part—it’s about really listening to everyone around me and connecting with all the musicians on stage. With over 50 of us, there’s so much communication and energy happening on stage that the audience doesn’t even realize! Constantly counting beats while all blending together and evoking the correct emotions isn’t always easy but incredibly rewarding when it all comes together.
Kiley Fabian
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I have been involved with music for a lot of my life, but I can definitely say that a lot of the songs we have performed in this ensemble have been some of the most challenging choral pieces I’ve ever done. Because of this, my musical skills have been able to improve so much over the past few years and I have become so much more confident in my abilities as a singer. I am so happy to be able to participate in this incredible ensemble and it is such a rewarding experience to be able to put together such beautiful pieces. I am so grateful to have a few more years of choir ahead of me and I can’t wait to continue to learn and improve more.
Laura White
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Choral singing is innately a collaborative process, one that requires us to listen to and trust one another. Being a member of the McMaster University Choirs has taught me to value the contributions of everyone in the room, no matter their experience. What I love about singing in the choir is that every accomplishment is collective and every experience is shared. That being said, I do think I have grown immensely in my vocal abilities, in more ways than I can describe. I have also learned to appreciate the beauty in the simple. A piece doesn’t have to be technically challenging or incredibly complex to be good. In fact, we are often challenged to take a seemingly easy song and create musicality.
Additional: The McMaster University Choirs provide a supportive environment that fosters continued growth. There are opportunities for leadership and community building that I think help with this goal. We are pushed to recognize our potential and inspired to live up to it. I love witnessing the improvement the ensembles make over the course of the year.
Jacqueline Huo
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McMaster’s ensembles are open to students in all faculties and programs, by audition. Want to learn more? Go to the School of the Arts website.