"I was swept up with the wonder and beauty of the singing. The song was a haunting German tune, and the sweet, pure tone and concentrated attention to the young woman conductor's beat, brought a lump to the throat." - Ron Maley, Winnipeg Tribune
"Workof this choir is tender, innocent and of rare sweetness. For all its seeming artlessness, represents hard work of the most loving, conscientious and tasteful kinds, completely disarming - music small but poignantly real." - Ken Winters, Winnipeg Free Press
"...vocal brilliance at the slightest gesture, the entire evening an uninterrupted string of highlights...they are welcome back at any time." - Lloyd Dyck - Vancouver Sun
1960s
"...Children's choir from Winnipeg displays amazing range and ability - no thread of sound however slight seemed unsupported, yet always fresh and spontaneous." - Lenore Crawford, London Free Press
"With their singing, we entered an area of worship where we had never been before." - Indiana News
"You inspired me to found such a choir in the Bozeman community." - A Montana Music Educator
"Winnipeg choir gets enthusiastic applause at Kennedy Centre's International Youth Festival." - WashingtonPress
"Children's choir concert - masterful and inspiring. Director of this phenomenal group perceived all the complexities and nuances of the true childs' voice. Highly effective form of directing inspires subtle interpretations and textures..." -Earl Schreiber, Winona, Minn.
The Mennonite Children’s Choir of Winnipeg was founded in 1957 by Helen Litz to glorify God and spread joy with the voices of children. Locally they have performed as guest artists for the Winnipeg Symphony, Philharmonic, Telethons, among countless invitations. The choir has an International reputation of excellence with performances throughout Canada, USA and Europe, including Warsaw’s ISME World Congress, Chicago’s MENC, Kennedy Centre’s International Choral Festival, Nashville’s ACDA and Canada’s National CMEA and ACCC Conferences; radio programming for Hilversum, Nederland, BBC, CFAM, CBC Radio and TV specials – PARADE OF CHOIRS, MUSICAMERA and National Film Board’s MUSICANADA.
Honours awarded include 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in International Music Festivals and Eisteddfod Competitions; National Award of the Canadian Federation of Music Festivals, Mathieson Trophy and Manitoba Lieutenant Governor’s Trophy. More recent honours include both first prizes of Recontres Chorales Internationales, Montreaux, Switzerland, being awarded over mixed, male, female and children’s choirs of the entire festival, and both first prizes of The International Koor Festival, The Hague, Holland. Performance at Expo ’86 Van. and ’88,Brisbane, Australia and the ISME World Congress in Canberra.
The 90’s include performance and workshops for MENC in Washington, DC, a residency for the International Children’s Choirs in Concert at Carnegie Hall, for the University of S. Carolina, and as Canada’s representative at International Festivals in Atlanta, Des Moines and Missoula. Most recent awards include first prize in the ’92 Des Moines Chamber Choir Competition. In ’93 the choir was awarded the coveted Dr. Leslie Bell Memorial Trophy by the Canadian Music Educators’ Assoc. In ’97 the choir was received the CKJS Talent Award. In ’98 the choir was recommended as finalists for the CBC Amateur Choir Competition, ’92 Anniversary Celebration highlights included guest performance of Alumni, Dr. Karin Redekopp Edwards with the choir and invitations to perform at ISME World Congress in Korea as Canada’s representative with Pacific Mennonite Children’s Choir (PMCC) performance also in Hong Kong, China and Japan. International performance were given in Germany and Israel, including a workshop with the Ankar Children’s Choir at Jerusalem Conservatory of Music. Special highlights were meeting the choir’s sponsored children Asayla in Bethlehem in ’95 and Nathaniel in Capetown in ’98. ’96 included performance in B.C. at the International Kathaumixw and with PMCC and The Amadeus Children’s Choir. For ’98 the choir was chosen to perform in S. Africa, as Canada’s representative at the ISME World Congress in Pretoria. This International Goodwill Tour included performance in Germany, as guests of Juventus Vocalis, who were hosted by the choir in Winnipeg. Additional highlights included guest performance with alumni Dr. Karin Redekopp Edwards on CD and on tour to Europe, Israel and South Africa and with Ben Heppner in a benefit concert for World Vision and the Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA).
2000 Millennium Celebrations featured the choir in Ottawa’s daily exhibit “Under the Sign of the Cross” at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The choir is honoured to be chosen for this project and the Prairie Choral Festival “Youth in Song 2000”, Kathamixw and World of Children’s Choirs 2001. For 2002, the choir’s 45th anniversay highlights include performance with the Vienna Boys’ Choir at the Vienna Konzerthaus, Budapest, Venice and Germany. Dona Nobis Pacem written for the choir and for all children anywhere who pray for peace in our world everywhere was a 45th anniversary peace project with royalties for MCC and in 2003 performed in New York’s ACDA National Convention Honour Choir by over 300 choristers accompanied by Julliard Instrumentalists. For 2006, the choir was invited as Canada’s representative to the Melodia International Choral Festival in Buenos Aires and Rio de Janiero, including a workshops in Mennonite colonies in Paraguay’s Chaco.
The choir has sponsored children throughout the world and many other Benefit programs. The choir and founder are grateful for the continued opportunities to serve as Canada’s musical ambassadors for God and country at home and abroad.
