June 16th

Women's Chorus a 'Choral Lab' for Departing Pianist

Another successful season for the Faith and Life Choirs concluded with a poignant goodbye to one of the Choirs’ beloved pianists and collaborators.

The Women’s Chorus and the Male Choir joined together for their annual spring concerts, May 3 and 4 at First Mennonite Church and Morden Mennonite Church. This completed a season that included Sunday morning visits to six different Mennonite Church Manitoba congregations and a Christmas carol service at Bethel Mennonite Church in December.

Anna Schwartz joined the Women’s Chorus as a student at Canadian Mennonite University, working with the choir in an independent study with professor and conductor Janet Brenneman (see image). Over the past four years Anna has played piano for the choir, as well as doing some conducting, arranging, and composing.

At the recent spring concerts, her piece, “One Thousand Women,” was performed by the Women’s Chorus.

“I wrote this piece in dedication to the Faith and Life Women,” said Anna. “It is my gift to them for all they have taught me, all that I have learned. They have nurtured me through all the different women I have been in the last four years.”
Anna is leaving the choir to attend medical school, and, while the choir will miss her presence and gifts, they wish her well.

“The choir became Anna’s ‘choral lab,’ an extension of the CMU classroom, and we all flourished in this endeavour,” said Janet. “This was a beautiful and meaningful four-year relationship and partnership that we have shared. We wish her all the best in her new adventures.”

“It has been my honour and joy to learn and grow with the Faith and Life Women’s Chorus,” said Anna, “I have often said that I’m in a room full of my sisters and mothers and grandmothers.”

The Faith and Life Choirs are a ministry of Mennonite Church Manitoba. Their mission is to participate in the mission of the wider church by leading others into worship of God through music.

If you are interested in joining either the Women’s Chorus or the Male Choir for the 2025-26 season, please contact the MCM office. Note also that MCM’s Faith and Life Choirs require about $15,000 per year to run, including honorariums for conductors and pianists as well as renting music and rehearsal space. If you are a choral music supporter and want to support the choirs financially, please see www.mennochurch.mb.ca/giving.