SJASD Children's Concert Choir
The St. James-Assiniboia Children's Choir is a choral group comprised of approximately 60 Grade 4 and 5 students representing many elementary schools in the division. The choir, which has been in existence since the late 1980's, was formed to give young students an opportunity to further develop their choral skills and provide enriched performance opportunities.
The year begins with an intense one-day rehearsal camp at Camp Assiniboia, where the group focuses on repertoire and team building. Weekly practices take place from September to May in preparation for various performances throughout the school year. These performances include ChoralFest, the Divisional Candlelight service, and various celebration events throughout the school division. Another popular highlight is the annual School Tour Day in April, where choristers promote the choir by performing for their peers at various schools. The choir has also performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and by invitation at the Winnipeg Music Festival Choral Excellence and at ChoralFest Gala concerts.
Awards and Honours. The choir has been a consistent gold winner through their participation in the annual Winnipeg Music Festival. In 2019, the choir was awarded the Lord Tweedsmuir Memorial Trophy. At the Provincial Arts & Music Festival, they were selected as an alternate to represent Manitoba at the Nationals in Class 107-Margaret Wharton, Community Choir, 12 years and under.
SJASD Junior Concert Choir
The St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir is comprised of 60 singers in Grades 6, 7 and 8. The choral season begins in September with a two-day intensive choir camp. Choristers attend weekly rehearsals, perform at various events and festivals throughout the school year, and end the season with a final concert in May. Singers in this group have enjoyed rehearsing and performing a wide variety of music. In addition to their passion for choral singing, this group of highly motivated and self-disciplined singers also have fun together. Membership in this choir gives singers the opportunity to develop their potential for musical excellence, and meet and work with other talented musicians in the school division.
The SJASD Junior Concert Choir has developed a reputation of being one of Manitoba's premier youth choirs. They have performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, CBC Radio, the Government of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Singers and with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir.
Awards and Honours. After their performance at the SJASD Spring Concert of 2023, Joanne Mercier, the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Music Festival, presented this choir with the John B. Somerset Shield for most outstanding performance by a Youth Community Choir, 16 years and under. At the Winnipeg Music Festival in 2019, the SJASD Junior Concert Choir achieved Gold Standings, an invitation to perform at the festival's Gala Concert and a recommendation to proceed to the Provincial Music & Arts Festival. The festival's adjudicator, Elroy Friesen, recommended the choir to represent Manitoba in National Choral Class 105. The SJASD Junior Concert Choir was one of the youngest choirs to perform at MusicFest Canada in Ottawa in May of 2019 and the choir received Gold Standings from adjudicators for all three of their choral performances.
SJASD Senior Concert Choir
The SJASD Senior Concert Choir consists of singers from Grade 9 to 12. This choir has developed a reputation of being one of Manitoba's premier youth choirs. Membership in this choir gives singers the opportunity to develop their potential for musical excellence and to meet and work with other talented musicians in the school division. Singers in this group have enjoyed rehearsing and performing a wide variety of music. In addition to having fun, they also work very hard on challenging repertoire that represents a variety of genres. The program also consists of a two-day camp experience where choristers practice new material for the school year. The choir maintains approximately 60 members and the choral season runs from September to May. This choir traditionally travels to perform in new and exciting places, as well as learn from a variety of choral experts.
The SJASD Senior Concert Choir is recognized across the country and has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, CBC Radio, the Government of Manitoba, Winnipeg Singers, Prairie Voices and at many other national and international festival and events.
Awards and Honours. After their performance at the SJASD Spring Concert of 2023, Joanne Mercier, the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Music Festival, presented this choir with the Saults and Pollard Limited Shield for most outstanding performance by a Youth Community Choir, 19 years and under; the Walter Klymkiw Trophy for the most outstanding performance of a Folk or Multilingual Song by a Community Choir; the Caledonian Singers Peter Buchan Memorial Bursary; and the Winnipeg Mennonite Children's Alumni Golden Era Bursary. Choral Directors Heather Neufeld and Avonlea Armstrong-Green were also presented with the Michael Proudfoot Award for Excellence in Choral Conducting and the Walter & Helen Bohonos Memorial Bursary.
At the Winnipeg Music Festival 2019, the choir was presented the following honours: Walter Klymkiw Trophy and Walter Klymkiw Memorial Bursary for the most outstanding performance of a Folk or Multilingual Song by a Community Choir; and the Saults and Pollard Limited Shield for the most outstanding performance by a youth Community Choir. The Senior Concert Choir was also recommended to proceed to the Provincial and National Music Festivals to compete in Class 0102-George S. Mathieson. At ChoralFest 2017, the choir was recommended to MusicFest Canada.
Related Choral By-Laws
To download the outline of our By-Laws for all SJASD choirs, please click here.
