"The name Walt Disney has long been associated with the highest quality in family entertainment, and the talent of the choir shared with our audience reinforces that standard" - Magic Kingdon, Epcot Centre, Disneyland
"Sincere congratulations for an outstanding performance. The quality of the literatue, tone quality of choir, professional appearance and attitude demonstrated by choir members and director made the performance a highlight of the ACDA Nashville National Convention." - Exec. Sect. American Choral Directors Assoc.
"The recording of this children's would convert Ebenezer Scrooge and W.C. Fields on first hearing - and it has made a believer of me. It is the sound of the youngsters that is so arresting - the quality, precision, pitch and diction." - John Osapien, American Organist
"One of the first Canadian ethnic choirs to achieve International recognition." - Canadian Encyclopedia of Music.
1990s
"The children really "feel" the music in their hearts, which I believe, sets this group apart from many other fine choirs. Your choir has the ability to captivate an audience because the expression and the love of the music comes from within each individual. Mechanics alone cannot bring the same result. I thank you for making me consider this point, as it is the conductor who must instill the music in the hearts of the children." -Kathy Saxon, President, Maryland Music Educators Association.
"The concert was a spectacular success and the audience gave the musicians a resounding standing ovation. A special mention must go to Helen Litz, director of the Winnipeg Mennonite Children's Choir for the musical integrity she brought to the performance." -Peter E. Tiboris, International Children's Choirs in Concert, Carnegie Hall, New York
Helen Litz has been working with children in the musical field for most of her life. The journey to build a children's choir into an Internationally recognized musical group began in 1957 and has been paved with many accomplishments and accolades along the way. A brief outline of some of these achievements is presented here.
Curriculum Vitae – Helen Litz
Helen Litz (nee Wilms) was born and educated in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada.
Graduate of Manitoba Teachers College, 1st A Diploma;
Affiliated Arts and Orff courses at University of Manitoba;
Royal Conservatory vocal and theory honours.
Formal musical studies include voice with Gladys Whitehead as well as violin and piano.
Highest standard of dedicated excellence and artistic achievement have won recognition in Canada, USA, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Orient, Israel, South Africa.
City of Winnipeg Community Service Award
Nominations in Arts Category for Woman of the Year.
On behalf of the choir – recipient of the Canada 125 medal
1997 Manitoba Registered Teachers’ Award
1998 Manitoba Choral Association International Peace Gardens Distinguished Choral Award
Governor-General Award in 2000
Invited as guest conductor, choral clinician/adjudicator for schools, festivals, churches, workshops, music camps, ETN Session for University of Wisconsin, Music Extension, Choristers Guild of Detroit, Rochester, Billings, Atlanta, Texas Choral Director’s Association, San Antonio 1988, MENC 1990 Washington DC, Columbia University, South Carolina 1992, South Africa 1998 Florida 2002
Canadian sessions include Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia Music Educators and Choral Federations, directing Provincial Choralfest Honours Choir of BC and as adjudicator/clinician at Newfoundland’s Choral Fest 1996, Edmonton 2002, Alberta Provincial Finals 2003.
Initiated and hosted choral exchanges with French Canadian and French Acadian choirs of Quebec and New Brunswick., American Boy Choir, Little Eagles of Siberia, Shchedryk of Kiev and Drakensburg Boys Choir of South Africa.
Featured recordings by CBC, Canadian Talent Library and Chorister’s Guild of America.
Compositions and arrangements published by Choristers Guild, Dox, Lenel (Vancouver), Canadian Pavilion’s Expo Theme Song “This is My Home” for children’s choirs, made available to all Canadian Schools by Canada 125. “Prayer of St. Francis” on several occasions chosen one of the most popular publications of Choristers Guild presently reaching sales over 85,000 copies.
Commissioned by Manitoba Choral Association 1989 Choralfest, “Let Bells and Carols Ring”. Most recent publication, “Dona Nobis Pacem”, released by Colla Voce, to the well-known Caccini tune was arranged with Annette Hay for voices and instruments as a special 45th anniversary peace project and chosen for an honours choir performance of 350 children at the National American Choral Directors conference in New York City, 2003, accompanied by Julliard instrumentalists. Royalties for Dona Nobis Pacem benefit the Mennonite Central Committee Peace Project.
Other publications with royalties to specific causes include: “Children Helping Children – Tears into Rainbows” for World Vision, “Reaching out to give the Master’s Touch” for Mother Teresa’s Mission, “In Flanders Fields” for Canadian Save the Children Fund and her tribute to Terry Fox “Courage” for the Children’s Cancer Fund.
Mrs. Litz has numerous other arrangements to her credit along with a conducting workshop publication entitled “Construct as you Conduct”.
In 2006 the Canadian Music Educators Association created the “Helen Litz Choral Award” to be presented nationally for outstanding children’s choral music.
Married to Albert Litz – mother of Lori, Reg, Conrad (all choir alumni) and grandmother of Sara, Katrina, Rachel and Cassandra, who participated in the 45th anniversary of the Winnipeg Mennonite Children’s Choir.
