The Menno Singers are a choral group based in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. They perform mainly sacred works and frequently sing a cappella. [1] The Menno Singers frequently perform with their affiliated groups, the Inter-Mennonite Children's Choir and the Menno Youth Singers. [2] [3]
The Menno Singers were founded in 1955 by Abner Martin, [4] who acted as the group's first conductor. [5] Many of the original members were graduates of Rockway Mennonite High School. [6]
In the 1960s, the group began organizing combined concerts with other choral groups in the area, under the name Mennonite Mass Choir. [6]
The choir is affiliated with Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo; in 1990 the music director was William H. Janzen Jr. [7]
In 1999 Peter Nikiforuk became the artistic director of the group, and remained in this position until 2017. [8] In 2000 the choir performed in Toronto with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. [9]
In 2002 the Singers took part in the Toronto International Choral Festival. [10]
The Menno Singers received a $15,000 grant from the Region of Waterloo in 2017 to fund a special concert on the occasion of Nikiforuk's retirement, and for the commissioning of a musical composition by composer Colin Labadie and poet Amanda Jernigan. [11]
The Menno Singers are a choral group based in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. They perform mainly sacred works and frequently sing a cappella. [1] The Menno Singers frequently perform with their affiliated groups, the Inter-Mennonite Children's Choir and the Menno Youth Singers. [2] [3]
The Menno Singers were founded in 1955 by Abner Martin, [4] who acted as the group's first conductor. [5] Many of the original members were graduates of Rockway Mennonite High School. [6]
In the 1960s, the group began organizing combined concerts with other choral groups in the area, under the name Mennonite Mass Choir. [6]
The choir is affiliated with Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo; in 1990 the music director was William H. Janzen Jr. [7]
In 1999 Peter Nikiforuk became the artistic director of the group, and remained in this position until 2017. [8] In 2000 the choir performed in Toronto with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. [9]
In 2002 the Singers took part in the Toronto International Choral Festival. [10]
The Menno Singers received a $15,000 grant from the Region of Waterloo in 2017 to fund a special concert on the occasion of Nikiforuk's retirement, and for the commissioning of a musical composition by composer Colin Labadie and poet Amanda Jernigan. [11]