Vox Musica ready for a choral celebration ‘Between Friends’

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on October 18, 2024.

Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman Guest conductor Marc Hafso rehearses with Chinook High School Concert Choir in preparation to the "Between Friends: A Choral Celebration" Thursday afternoon in the school's music room.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

Vox Musica Choral Society is bringing a variety of Lethbridge choirs together for their second bi-annual “Between Friends: A Choral Celebration” at South Minster United Church Saturday night.

The concert will showcase five Lethbridge choirs spanning a wide range of ages, which include Ventus Women’s Choir, led by Regan Brooks; the Incanto Singers, led by Kathy Matkin-Clapton; Chinook High School Concert Choir, led by Stephanie McFarlane; the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Choir, led by Greg Sheen; and host choir Vox Musica, led by Joanne Collier.

Joanne Collier, conductor of Vox Musica, explained that the concert will be the culmination of a week of workshops led by the concert’s guest conductor Marc Hafso, who has come to Lethbridge from Spokane, Washington to work with all five choirs and hold one on one sessions with their conductors.

“I’m really enjoying this week immensely, this week affords me the opportunity to spend time with the five individual choirs that are participating in the concert as well as their directors to meet two hours with each choir,” said Hafso.

He added that the opportunity to have one-on-one time with the conductors has allowed him to assist them with conducting or directing issues, as they may not have the tools to deal with particular challenges that are presented in the music or particular challenges that are presented in the singers relative to their singing.

“So I’m doing a little bit of work with voices and the choral sound the choirs make and also with technical aspects of conducting with the conductors themselves,” said Hafso.

 He added that he is also helping the choirs follow the conductor’s instructions to make sure they are able to read their conductor’s gestures and translate that into what that mean as it applies to the music.

Hafso explained that some of those gestures may be used to signal a need for volume adjustment from either a collaborative instrument being played, or even within different sides of the choir.

“Sometimes conductors play the role of sound mixers or a sound board, but without the equipment,” said Hafso.

He said that in some cases depending on the level of experience, he may have to work with choirs to make sure they understand what their conductor is trying to convey without using words.

 “The opportunity to spend time with the choirs and their conductors before the Saturday big rehearsal and concert affords me the chance to build relationships with them,” said Hafso.

When explaining how the event will unfold, Collier said it will begin with a mass choir piece with over 200 singers on the stage, then each individual choir will sing two pieces and the concert will end with another mass choir piece.

“It’s really important that all of the choirs hear each other, so they will just go off to assigned places in the church and each choir will come up at their time and share their pieces,” said Collier.

With a variety of ages and experience levels Hafso said the approach is based on where the singers are at.

“Because at different age levels there are different levels of experience, it’s our job as conductors to try to meet them where they’re at and then to move them from that place forward in their musical journey,” said Hafso.

He said this sometimes creates challenges when bringing multiple choirs together, and even more if they are from different cities or towns, but because he is working with five choirs that are all from within Lethbridge, it is a bit easier.

“For instance, Vox Musica singers are very well experienced singers, they understand that there are going to be a lot of younger singers, so they’re very forgiving if you will, or very accepting of their inexperience, their lack of understanding or things like that. So, in this particular setting it works pretty well,” said Hafso.

The Between Friends: A Choral Celebration will take place Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at South Minster United Church. Tickets are available in advance at Casa or at the door (cash only).