Kunz rallies new choir members for special Canada Day celebration concert
Music man is still firmly holding the baton
KITCHENER — Alf Kunz has been experiencing some health challenges lately, but there is no ache or level of fatigue that will stop the maestro from leading his choir at Sunday’s special Canada Day concert.
“I feel fine,” he insists, mustering his considerable energy for “Oh Canada: Sing, Sing, Sing” featuring music by Canadian composers including Kunz’s own works.
“The concert is simply a celebration of Canada’s 150th,” he said. “I’m really excited about this.”
In 2013, after 48 years, Kunz retired as conductor of the Concordia Club Choir and in May 2015 he stepped down as the founding artistic director of the 90-voice Millennium Choir which was made up of two choral groups; Nith Valley Singers and Music Alive.
But full retirement, particularly without a choral group to lead, did not suit Kunz so he partnered with the Forest Heights Community Association to form the association’s mixed community choir.
The difference with this group from previous choirs is the lack of membership consistency. Each concert means recruiting new singers who have about five weeks to rehearse, learn the music and harmonies
from scratch. This makes Kunz’s job challenging but, according to him, fun.
He’s also still composing and arranging music as well as teaching vocals, pretty much the opposite of retirement.
“Within the last year, I’ve written 15 different compositions,” he said. “And all the music we are doing are my arrangements.” That will be music from Ian and Sylvia, Hank Snow, Gordon Lightfoot, Stompin’ Tom Connors and Leonard Cohen, to name a few. Every song was chosen for its inspiring message, said Kunz.
The concert will be full of pomp and ceremony befitting a 150th birthday party.
Bagpiper Andrew Huxley Osborne will lead the singers in and out of the hall and there will be an audience singalong, a special tribute to Canadian veterans and a lot of flag waving including an RCMP officer carrying the Canadian flag.
The concert finale will be Kunz’s composition, “The Canada Song.”
With the help of his wife, Dana Kunz, the maestro has put considerable effort into making this concert special despite his health. He wants everyone to know the music man is still firmly holding the baton.
“Though I’m retired from Millennium Choir, I’m not finished,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“I still have music in me.”