A blog of the tour follows the picture gallery.
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In the Fall of 1994, Canada received invitations for currently serving military personnel, veterans, civilians, musicians, choirs, and other artists, to participate in 50th anniversary ceremonies and celebrations of remembrance and liberation by Allied Forces during World War II, occurring throughout Europe in May 1995. For Manitobans, invitations arrived from The Netherlands and Italy, mainly because of the involvement of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles (RWF), and 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), in liberating parts of those countries. In the Netherlands, it was the cities of Hardenberg, Zwolle, and Slagharen, and in Italy, the area around Campobasso and the city of Anzio. Winnipeg conductor Julian Vanderput received a personal invitation to participate (through a governmental relative of a close friend), and after approaching his newly-formed Manitoba Sacred-Music Choir (MS-MC) about the opportunity, it was embraced enthusiastically. After carolling during Christmas 1994, the choir ardently rehearsed for the inaugural March concert of the choir and subsequent May tour. The choir's Assistant Conductor was Heidi Poetker. Tanis Kolisnyk was the Organist, and Assistant Accompanist was Celoris Miller. 103 intrepid Manitobans (including two singing RCMP tenors!), and some spouses, headed to Holland, and, following a path throughout Europe, finished the tour in Rome, almost fifteen days later.

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The Dutch 50th Anniversary WWII liberation ceremonies were at the beginning of May, whereas the Italian corresponding events were not until a full week later. By late November, a tour bus agency in Holland, Oad BV, was contacted to assist in planning the choir's travel plans and accommodations. Intensively over the next few months, a concert tour with several sightseeing opportunities was coordinated and planned for the choir between the official engagements. This included the choir having to record some demos as "auditions" in order to perform at some of the Cathedrals and venues in Europe. Propitiously, all demos were well received, and concert planning moved ahead full steam.

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The reception of our choir from Canada by the Dutch people was unbelievable – we were treated like long-lost family finally reunited! The MS-MC participated in civic events and church services in the aforementioned cities. Of particular note, the VE celebration in Hardenberg was overwhelming, attended by approximately 5,000 people in a huge indoor warehouse-style venue. In addition to the MS-MC, a Calgary, Alberta choir of 39 singers, a locally amassed Dutch men's voices (totalling about 280 singers), and a professional orchestra with military band, performed there. The ceremony was a spectacular expression, celebrating the joy of life, and an emotional affirmation of gratitude, as then-Crown Prince Willem-Alexander said in the official address, "...for those who freed us from the stranglehold of tyranny." Three mention-worthy moments included: a relay-runner presenting the "Torch of Freedom" as it was making its way across Holland (escorted in by our very own RCMP choristers in official Red Serge uniforms!); a warmhearted address given by then-Crown Prince Willem-Alexander; and a stirring presentation of The Battle Hymn of The Republic (!) by all musical forces present, led by the MS-MC. It was the choir's last official event in The Netherlands (of seven in five days!). The event was topped off with organizers and musical participants being awarded the Commemoration Medal of Honour by the Dutch government. The concert was nationally broadcast on television and radio, along with the sail-past and celebrations in The Hague, and Amsterdam, among others.

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The tour continued with an early morning service in Utrecht at the Dom Church (St. Martin's Cathedral), with its famous never-rebuilt collapsed nave (1674), and a later morning service at St. Lambertus Church (of 1248) in Ingen. The evening saw a special concert at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John The Evangelist in Den Bosch (the welcome by Bishop Schure was particularly warm). Three major events in one day was considerably immense, but we appreciated the opportunities (however, that first service was EARLY!). The choir continued the next day through to Belgium, with a performance at the beautiful 14th century Cathedral of Our Lady (Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekathedraal) in Antwerp. The urge to sing music by Johannes Ockeghem and Jacob Obrecht, great renaissance composers both of whom served as Music Directors there, is, of course, irresistible! What a treat!

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The next big stop? Paris, France! A concert at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Paris was the order of the day, after being invited through an audition process. The choir wasn’t sure what to expect at this great cathedral. There were lots of people in attendance (many of them tourists), including a welcome by Auxiliary Bishop Frikart, but most notably, among others, a seniors group touring from Kelowna, BC attending that day! It was a joy to connect with fellow Canadians, so far from home. An hour-long a cappella programme including Palestrina, Mozart, Bach, Distler, and then-Manitoba composer Judith Snowdon, was presented by the choir on the steps of the great nave altar. Singing in a huge stone edifice like Notre-Dame Basilica takes some getting used to, with 6-7 seconds of reverberation! The acoustics grabbed the sound right away, so every member thought they were singing a solo, and couldn’t hear much of anyone else! Further, the lighting in the Cathedral was surprisingly dim, so all the choir could see was Mr. Vanderput’s white shirt cuffs! However, all was worthwhile when we saw people deep in prayer, emotionally consoled as we sang. Very inspirational! A picturesque tour of the Seine River, and opera performance, capped off a wonderful visit to this marvellous city.

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Heading on their way, zooming on the “Autobahn” #A4, the choir made stops at World War I memorials in Verdun, Metz (France), and Saarbrücken (Germany), finally stopping in Worms, the city of Martin Luther, the great church reformer. An organ concert at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter (dated 1181), was given by Mr. Vanderput. The pipe organ is elevated towards the back of the Nave, on the left side. In order to get to the pipe organ one must travel up a very narrow circular staircase in the small narthex at the back of the nave, travel through a little door in the cathedral wall, and then outside along the edge of the roof, across to another door to get back inside, passing huge concrete counter-weights (balancing the organ on the cathedral walls) in order to access the "bird's nest" organ console. I couldn't imagine travelling this route every Sunday during winter!

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A day’s break for the Choir to enjoy some sightseeing in Darmstadt included an impromptu concert of some choir favourites at the famous Russian Orthodox Church, St. Mary Magdalene Chapel, on the “Mathildehöhe”. Next day the MS-MC travelled to Heidelberg with performances in no less than three churches: The Church of The Holy Spirit (Evangelical), The Church of The Jesuits (Roman Catholic), and The Providence Church (Lutheran). Each church presented different challenges, whether it be no stage or platform, logistics, acoustics, singing in a split balcony at the back of the church, or even finding the key to unlock the pipe organ! Nonetheless, the choir’s concert at The Providence Church included a memorable performance of Bach’s Cantata No. 80 "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott", based on Luther’s well-known hymn taken from Psalm 46. The choir’s stay here ended with a visit to the Heidelberg castle ruins, replete with massed group photo.

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The choir then travels to Kufstein, Austria, through the area from Sinsheim to Heilbronn, known for its rolling hills, and many vineyards. Kufstein is home to the second-largest open-air pipe organ in the world. Called “The Heroes’ Organ” (Heldenorgel), it was built in 1931 by organ builder Oskar Walcker in the Citizens’ Tower at Kufstein Fortress to commemorate the dead of World War I. And then on to enjoy sightseeing in Stuttgart at the Porsche museum, and enjoy a concert at the famous BachAkademie. Then we motor on to Ulm and a concert in the now-Lutheran Ulm Minster, currently the tallest church in the world. Unfortunately, our schedule didn’t permit a chance to stop at LEGOLAND® in Feriendorf (!), so we keep on travelling to Oberammergau, site of the famous passion-play performed every ten years since 1634, and from there to singing at the famed Benedictine Abbey and Cloister at Ettal. The choir then travels to the German/Austrian border and a town called Mittenwald, famously known since the mid-1600s for the Klotz family of luthiers, their work which can be enjoyed at the local Geigenbaumuseum. From there, the choir travelled on to a fun, short, sing-for-our-lunch concert in Innsbruck, Austria. With no time to waste, it is onwards to the Austrian/Italian border and the choir’s evening concert at the Romanesque-style Church of St. Nicolò, in Treviso, Italy. This was a very formal event attended by Bishop P. Magnani and Mayor G. Gentilini. The choir’s performance was part of the Festival Organistico Internazionale. The weather didn’t cooperate at all that day, but the church was full, and the choir thankfully not too wet! The organ is located on the right aisle, in an elevated position, kept in the sixteenth-century chest with the doors painted by Giacomo Lauro (1550-1605). Our organist had quite the time with that tracker instrument! The audience enjoyed the choir’s vitality, freshness of sound, and diversely contrasting repertoire. After the concert, the Artistic Director was presented with the Coat of Arms for the City of Treviso as a thank you, learning the MS-MC was the first foreign choir ever known to sing in the church since it was built in the early 1300s! It was an absolute honour.

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After this, it was on to Venice, “The Floating City”. A day of sightseeing by boat, including shopping, and an impromptu concert inside the glorious 11th century St. Mark’s Basilica. It was very special to hear the same acoustics heard by the famed musical Gabrieli family. And then finally, all roads lead to Rome! While there, we sang outside the papal apartments in Vatican City for the preparations of the 75th birthday celebrations of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. His presence made it very special for all of us! Also singing Palestrina in the Sistine Chapel after our visit to the Vatican Museums, was accordingly extraordinary! A most blessed day for all of us. Tiring, but blessed!

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The next day saw our official 50th Anniversary WWII liberation ceremony concert at the Anglican All Saint’s Church, attended by the Venerable Geoffrey B. Evans (Canon of Malta and rector of the church), the Mayor of Rome, F. Rutelli, and Dr. de Montigny Marchand, Ambassador to Italy from Canada. After a day touring Rome, our hotel back in Anzio had “difficulty” preparing dinner for the famished choir, so the Artistic Director contacted The Venerable Evans, and explained the situation. All he could do, since the nuns had left for the day, was raid what he could find in the larder for us (crackers, cheese, grapes, and wine!) – it was actually quite a humorous situation, but his efforts were sincere, most welcome, and very much appreciated! Delightedly, the concert went off without a hitch, and the choir’s artistry was enthusiastically received. This official event was the choir’s final concert in Europe, and conclusively Canada was proudly represented!

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All-in-all, the tour was a truly remarkable experience for all who participated. Months of rehearsal culminated in a life-changing experience. And this is inevitable. When you travel far from your comfort zone, connect with people on a deep level through artistic endeavours, one cannot help but be changed – and, we hope, for the better. (There's a song in there somewhere!) It was a privilege and an honour for the MS-MC to be invited and participate in the 50th Anniversary concerts and remembrance celebrations of The Netherlands and Italy, performing in some of Europe's most celebrated churches and cathedrals. These are treasured memories of a lifetime, and a good foundation to build upon!