Launching a New Choir Director

It’s not unusual for me to be asked to record a choral or orchestral recital. But it is a rare treat to be asked to record a conductor’s recital. In this case, Scott Reimer, a master’s candidate a the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music was presenting his master’s recital at Young United Church in Winnipeg on Sunday Feb. 16 and he requested a recording for his portfolio. Scott and I are well acquainted as I sing in Canticum, a choir that he now conducts. So it was a pleasure to be asked to record this concert for him at the beginning of what will be an illustrious conducting career.

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Scott’s program, which was entitled “Beyond the Stars”, took full advantage of the choir and orchestra that he put together for this concert. A 20 piece orchestra and a 20 voice choir were put through their paces. The varied program ran the gamut from Josquin des Prez’s Pour souhaitter, to the drama of Jake Runestad’s A Silence Haunts Me. The concert finished with the 4th movement of Beethoven’s 9th symphony which added 30 more voices to the chorus. A full house seemed to enjoy every minute.

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Here’s an excerpt from the concert. It’s a piece that Scott composed called Barter.