Song of the AngelsThis piece was commissioned by LaJeunesse from Canadian composerMark Sirett and is based on the Gloriasection of the Catholic Mass. “Glory toGod in the highest, and peace to menof goodwill” is sung peacefully at first,then with increasing intensity until itbecomes an ecstatic song of praise,ending as peacefully as it began.

Double ShotCommissioned by La Jeunesse fromStephen Hatfield, this is a song aboutgrace. When you need it, you get it.When you are really in need, you get“a double shot.” Our soloist is VanessaChase.

MagnificatThe text for this is the beautiful prayerof Mary after the angel has told her shewill be the mother of God. NancyTelfer’s setting has a feeling of wonderand a breadth of phrasing that makes itmost suitable for this exclamation ofjoy and acceptance.

Mass for a Young GirlLa Jeunesse commissioned the text andmusic for this mass in a very specialproject, which involved thecollaboration of Canadian authorRichard Scrimger, and Canadiancomposer Mark Sirett. The idea camefrom reading Richard’s novel, MysticalRose. At the very end of the novel theninety year old heroine Rose says thefollowing prayer on her death bed:…I, Rose, ninety years in the dying, askyou to look after me-not in the future,because I don’t have one; and not in thepresent, because it’s slipping away fasterthan a drunk’s inheritance. Look after mein the past. That’s right. If Your grace istruly infinite, it knows not space, nor canit be confined in time. Look after myyouth, will You? Look after me in mycradle. Let Your grace wash my childhoodclean. Be most careful of my growth, myyoung womanhood, my own experience oflove and trust. Let Your face be turnedtowards me as the years run back. Please.Heal my hurts, infuse me with hope, bringme to faith, to love. Bless the girl I was.Keep her in Your care. Watch over me allthe days of the life I leave now. Amen

We asked Dr. Sirett to write a missabrevis for the choir, incorporating Rose’sprayer as interpolations between theregular parts of the mass. Commissionedfor the choir’s fifteenth anniversary, it isa work that speaks to women of all ages.Life is experienced from the end to thebeginning, thus enabling understanding,forgiveness, and ultimately the grace ofacceptance and release.The parts of the mass are as follows:KYRIE - MERCY - soprano solos, KatieMcNeil and Julia Dawson - SANCTUS -soprano solo-Julia Dawson - THANKS TO

YOU - AGNUS DEI - YOU WHO SUFFER -BENEDICTION.

Jubilate DeoThis piece was written by Paul Halley.“Thanks be to God all the earth, peaceto men of good will.” Solos by JennaBryson and Alyson McNamaraKeyboards - Andy Thompson, Guitar -Drew Affleck, Drums - Steve Kostashuk

Ubi CaritasThis was composed for La Jeunesse byEleanor Daley. “Where there is love,God is there.”

The Green Shores of FogoThis song was written by StephenHatfield. It speaks to the kind of griefexperienced by fishermen and theirloved ones.

When the Stars FallWritten by Stephen Hatfield, this is asimple and elegant statement of faith.

How Can I Keep From Singing?This is our favourite arrangement ofthis well-known hymn by Americancomposer, Robert Hugh.

Brother Son, Sister MoonThe text for this piece is a prayer bySaint Francis of Assisi. The music wasoriginally composed by sixties rock starDonovan for the film about St. Francisentitled Brother Sun Sister Moon. Oursoloist is Madison Chard. Thisarrangement is by NorthumberlandCounty musician, Eileen March.

The DarkeningThe text for this piece is by Englishauthor Emily Bronte. It speaks ofcourage in the face of fear, optimism inthe face of dread. Soprano soloist isAlison Maxwell.

GGiirrllss’’ CChhooiirrSOPRANO IKathleen BaxterMara Berzins Alexandra Campbell Chanel Dametto Julia DawsonReghan Elliott Elly McCallKatie McNeil Crystal Thornton Oriah Wiersma

Co-directors Marie Anderson and DeirdreMorrell founded La Jeunesse Youth Choirs in1988. From an initial membership of twenty, wehave grown to four choirs with a membership ofapproximately one hundred young musiciansfrom Northumberland County. Admission tothe choir is by audition. Membership is drawnfrom the towns of Cobourg and Port Hope andthe surrounding areas of NorthumberlandCounty in Ontario.

La Jeunesse Girls’ Choir has toured Europe fourtimes, competing internationally andperforming throughout Western Europe. Eachtime they have received a gold medal, mostrecently at the Sacred Music Festival in Preveza,Greece in July 2003.

We continue to commission Canadian artists towrite choral music that inspires and challenges.Composers such as Mark Sirett, Geoff Sirett,Stephen Hatfield, Eleanor Daley, John Burge, JeffSmallman, and Murray Shafer have writtenmusic for La Jeunesse. We also encouragecomposers in our own area. Alumnus JohnHayden, composer of Stolen Child as well ascurrent members of our choir are writing musicfor us. Community members Eileen March andAndy Thompson continue to arrange previouslycomposed works to suit our needs. We strive toenrich our community, support our youth, andexpand our horizons through choral art.

SOPRANO IIChristine ButtonStephanie Clark Heather CoyleChristina Forget Brittany FunstonSarah Harvey

Girls’ Choir

Laura HinmanMeaghan Macdonald Alison MaxwellValerie MacBain Claudia Sanchez Rebecca VanEssen

ALTO IMitzi BarthNina CaldwellEmlyn ClarkThea Clark Jessica Greydanus Arden HagedornKelly Henderson Rachael HinmanSophie Irwin Shawna Lee

Melissa MacCoubreyMallorie MaloneAlyson McNamara Cheryl McLeodCathy PetersonCaitlyn Robertson Claire RussellSamantha Tavenor Katie ThomsonErika Toffelmire

ALTO IIJenna Bryson Laura BurnhamVanessa Chase Sarah DeleskieDanica EveringDanielle Gray Jenica NonnekesDesiree Ouckama

CryThis selection is taken from the popularmusical Forever Plaid. Original music isby Bert Kosow, arr. James Raitt. Three ofthe four male singers are La Jeunessealumni who have gone on to work inmusical theatre. Tenor soloist is MattBoden. Chorus members are DylanMaher, Jeff Schissler and Zac Hutton.The song tells us that when life fallsapart, “…you’ll feel better when youcry.” Good advice.Piano Accompanist - Caitlyn Hayes

Beautiful CityThis piece is taken from the Broadwaymusical Godspell. Sung by Jesus in theshow, it is a beautiful statement of hopein the midst of despair. Baritone solo isour own Jeff Schissler. Keyboard and synthesizer have beenarranged by Andy Thompson.

Lift Thine EyesThis beautiful chorus fromMendelssohn’s Elijah is as fresh today asit was at its original premiere in 1846.La Jeunesse closes this recordingfollowing the tradition of generations ofwomen’s choruses, singing a message offaith, hope, and love.

MARIE ANDERSON is a graduate of theUniversity of Western Ontario. She has anHonors Bachelor of Music Education, aBachelor of Education, and a MusicSpecialist certificate from the University ofWestern Ontario and Elborn College. Shehas thirty years of teaching experience andstudy in the field of vocal technique andchoral conducting. As co-founder of LaJeunesse Youth Choirs, she has led thischoir in international competition fourtimes, resulting in the choir receiving agold medal each time. Marie is a recipientof the Rotary International Paul HarrisFellowship, the Queen’s Golden Jubileemedal for community service, and the firstrecipient of the Academic and Arts Awardfrom the town of Cobourg.She has a voice studio, and two choral

programs, La Jeunesse Youth Choirs, andOriana Singers. She is active as anexaminer and workshop clinician in vocaland choral music.

DEIRDRE MORRELL has a Bachelor of Musicin Education from Acadia University inWolfville, Nova Scotia. Under the tutelageof John Grew, Deirdre went on to receivea Licentiate in Music and a Master ofMusic in Organ Performance from McGillUniversity. She also attended the“Summer Academy for Organists” in theNetherlands where she studied with AntonHeiller and Werner Jacob. She has taught organ and piano

privately for thirty-two years. Deirdre wasDirector of Music and Organist atWestmount Baptist Church in Montreal.She has been Organist and Director ofMusic at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Churchin Cobourg for the last twenty-six years.In 1988 Deirdre co-founded La Jeunesse

Girls’ Choir with Marie Anderson, andjoined in the success of the choir inreceiving a gold medal in fourinternational competitions.Deirdre is a recipient of the Rotary

International Paul Harris Fellowship, andthe first recipient of the Academic and ArtsAward from the Town of Cobourg. Shecontinues her life long dedication tomusic as a teacher, performer andDirector of Music at St. Andrew'sPresbyterian Church.

Children’s Choir

SOPRANO I SOPRANO IISydney Fowlis Emery BoardmanRebecca Hubbs Rachel ClarkeKate Hunter Laura GreenwoodDevon McDonald Emma HeffernanAshley Olsen Julia KrylukTegan Niziol Erin LeadbeaterShannon Richard Maura MacKenzieLaura Sanint Taylor OlsenRachel Vander Vennen Brittany Pryce Louisa von Walberg Courtney Pryce Sahara Haelstrom Shannon Stroobach Teresa Riccio Kristy van de Valk

Lara Vlajkov

ALTORyan Elliott Kyle ThompsonBen Robins Mikayla AllisonMadison Chard Kristie LangfordDevyn Noonan Catelin RitchieKelly Scheddin Emma Shehan

he Swallowtail butterfly can be seen anywhere inNorthumberland County. We saw Swallowtails at theParthenon in Greece, on a magical day when the choirtoured these ancient ruins. Somehow this became asymbol of what we do in La Jeunesse. We make music thatspeaks to our youth with beauty and meaning. It can befound anywhere in the world where people look creativelybeyond their limits for beauty, harmony, and growth.

T