Montreal native Margot Rejskind has taken over the baton for the popular musical institution and has steered it through a busy 2014 season.
“It was just one of those tricks of fate,” said Rejskind on her joining the choir.
She and her husband moved to Charlottetown in May from Toronto. Less than a month after the move she heard a CBC radio interview with the previous director, Mark Ramsay, as he explained he was leaving to further his education.
She called up the choir and within a few weeks she was in the driver’s seat as director.
Before moving to P.E.I., Rejskind taught at the Royal Conservator of Music for 10 years. She has doctorate in choral conducting from University of Illinois.
So this gig was right up her alley, she said, and it was specifically what she was looking for when she left Toronto.
“The pace of life in Toronto is bit hectic and we weren’t enjoying ourselves as much as we could be, so we decided to throw it all over and try somewhere with a bit of a more humane approach to things. We picked P.E.I. and we’re totally thrilled,” she said.
“And it’s nice to be part of a community music scene – Toronto has a wonderful music scene, but it’s often very competitive … so it’s nice to be part of a musical community that is more community oriented and more collaborative. We can do all kinds of fun things.”
Rejskind’s appearance was truly fortuitous, remarked John Martin, chairman of the choir.
“We’re really pleased to have found somebody of her caliber just when we were in our time of need,” he said.
They also put her right to work, he added, as thanks to some P.E.I. 2014 funding, the choir was able to travel around the province for a concert series focused entirely on Canadian compositions.
Shrinking their available repertoire was a challenge, but also forced the choir to take some chances, said Rejskind.
For instance, the choir tried a piece that incorporated Inuit chanting.
It turned out to be a big hit with the audiences, she said.
“We did some things we might not have otherwise done and I think it was good for us. It forced us to do some things that maybe take us outside our comfort zone, but that’s how you grow.”
In addition to her work with the community choir, Rejskind is doing some teaching at UPEI, directing the Island A Cappella Chorus and teaching privately.
She couldn’t be happier.
“I love arm waiving,” she laughed.
Anyone interested in joining the Summerside Community Choir may do so by joining them at one of their practice sessions downstairs of Trinity United Church on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.
All are welcome. There is a $40 fee to participate for the season.
A full account of the choir’s upcoming appearances can be found online at their website, www.summersidechoir.ca.
@JournalPMacLean
Montreal native Margot Rejskind has taken over the baton for the popular musical institution and has steered it through a busy 2014 season.
“It was just one of those tricks of fate,” said Rejskind on her joining the choir.
She and her husband moved to Charlottetown in May from Toronto. Less than a month after the move she heard a CBC radio interview with the previous director, Mark Ramsay, as he explained he was leaving to further his education.
She called up the choir and within a few weeks she was in the driver’s seat as director.
Before moving to P.E.I., Rejskind taught at the Royal Conservator of Music for 10 years. She has doctorate in choral conducting from University of Illinois.
So this gig was right up her alley, she said, and it was specifically what she was looking for when she left Toronto.
“The pace of life in Toronto is bit hectic and we weren’t enjoying ourselves as much as we could be, so we decided to throw it all over and try somewhere with a bit of a more humane approach to things. We picked P.E.I. and we’re totally thrilled,” she said.
“And it’s nice to be part of a community music scene – Toronto has a wonderful music scene, but it’s often very competitive … so it’s nice to be part of a musical community that is more community oriented and more collaborative. We can do all kinds of fun things.”
Rejskind’s appearance was truly fortuitous, remarked John Martin, chairman of the choir.
“We’re really pleased to have found somebody of her caliber just when we were in our time of need,” he said.
They also put her right to work, he added, as thanks to some P.E.I. 2014 funding, the choir was able to travel around the province for a concert series focused entirely on Canadian compositions.
Shrinking their available repertoire was a challenge, but also forced the choir to take some chances, said Rejskind.
For instance, the choir tried a piece that incorporated Inuit chanting.
It turned out to be a big hit with the audiences, she said.
“We did some things we might not have otherwise done and I think it was good for us. It forced us to do some things that maybe take us outside our comfort zone, but that’s how you grow.”
In addition to her work with the community choir, Rejskind is doing some teaching at UPEI, directing the Island A Cappella Chorus and teaching privately.
She couldn’t be happier.
“I love arm waiving,” she laughed.
Anyone interested in joining the Summerside Community Choir may do so by joining them at one of their practice sessions downstairs of Trinity United Church on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.
All are welcome. There is a $40 fee to participate for the season.
A full account of the choir’s upcoming appearances can be found online at their website, www.summersidechoir.ca.
@JournalPMacLean
