"We are honoured to continue the TWU Christmas concert tradition of connecting the community, professional musicians, and our students....(TWU) singers have grown so much in terms of vocal technique and musicality. I am proud to be a part of this journey with them."
—Cathrie Yuen, TWU Interim Choir Director
This winter, Trinity Western University SAMC choral singers present a special outdoor concert and video performance, "Pilgrimage."
Conductor Cathrie Yuen said, "We would like to give our audience a brand new experience this year from our beautiful campus." The concert's theme of "Pilgrimage" is wonderfully apt for the Christmas season.
"In this 30-minute virtual choir performance, we are bringing the audience on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem, the night when Jesus was born. We picked a diverse style of music, including Gregorian chants, Baroque arias, upbeat gospel, and of course, some of our favourite Christmas carols," Yuen explained.
"Our concert is titled, 'Pilgrimage' to reflect the pilgrimage to Bethlehem, but beyond that, we view this performance as a personal pilgrimage in connecting our community with our musicians," Yuen shared. "We are honoured to continue the TWU Christmas concert tradition of connecting the community, professional musicians, and our students." Many TWU alumni continue to remain connected to the University's musical community, and often perform together with current students and faculty.
Despite this semester's pandemic-related challenges, TWU choral singers performed with excellence and professionalism. "The musicians exceeded all my expectations this year," said Yuen. "All of the choirs had to transition to online rehearsals in September. It has been a steep learning curve for all of us to navigate through the audio and video technology, as well as having our musicians learn in isolation (via Zoom) in an environment that is usually a group collaborative effort."
"Despite the challenges, the singers have grown so much in terms of vocal technique and musicality. I am proud to be a part of this journey with them," Yuen said.
This concert was made possible by the efforts of faculty member, Jef Gibbons, and his wife Becca Gibbons, who spent many hours producing the video. Yuen also credits the help of Anna-Marie Ryan, Director of the TWU Masterwork Chorus and a SAMC alumna.
Read this story in the Langley Advance Times.
Watch Trinity Western SAMC choral singers' special outdoor performance, "Pilgrimage.":
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About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is Canada’s premier Christian liberal arts university dedicated to equipping students to establish meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. It is a fully accredited research institution offering liberal arts and sciences, as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has five campuses and locations: Langley, Richmond-Lansdowne, Richmond-Minoru, Ottawa, and Bellingham, WA. TWU emphasizes academic excellence, research, and student engagement in a vital faith community committed to forming leaders to have a transformational impact on culture. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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