Category Archives: Events

Choral Fest 2021

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UPDATE: 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, Choral Fest is postponed to Spring of 2022. Instead, NBCF is  holding a one-day online workshop, Saturday, October 16, on the Choral Fest repertoire, in preparation for next year’s event.

Choral singers are invited to register for Choral Fest 2021, to be held in Fredericton 15-17 October, 2021. We are pleased to welcome this long-running musical event to Christ Church Cathedral and Memorial Hall, and to share that Thomas Gonder, Cathedral Director of Music, will serve as accompanist for the event.

For almost 40 years, singers from New Brunswick and beyond have gathered for the NB Choral Federation’s Choral Fest to rehearse and perform a significant work of choral music under one of Canada’s leading conductors. Choral Fest 2020, like choral events everywhere, was cancelled due to necessary public health restrictions, with singers sacrificing the activity they love to keep their communities safe by preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Thanks to vaccinations and ever-increasing knowledge of how to prevent transmission, the performing arts are coming back to life. The coronavirus pandemic continues to limit activities, but this year's Choral Fest will celebrate the music that we can make together.

Where: Christ Church Cathedral, Fredericton NB
When: Friday October 15 to Sunday October 17
Music:
- Requiem by John Rutter (selections)
- Aesop’s Fables by Bob Chilcott
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above by Robin Bayley
- Ambe by Andrew Balfour

Clinician: Dr. Kiera Galway
Accompanist: Thomas Gonder

Singers are asked to pre-register by email or by using the online form available on the Choral Fest website. Spaces are limited. A certain number of spaces are reserved for tenor and bass voices.

Choral Fest 2021 will follow all public health guidelines, and will incorporate additional expert recommendations specific to choral events. Registrants’ health and safety will be the top priority. Details about health precautions can be found on the Choral Fest website.

Choral Fest 2021 is supported by the Fredericton Community Foundation, the City of Fredericton, and the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

New Brunswick Summer Music Festival

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The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival is coming to Christ Church Cathedral. The annual classical music festival will host its main series, four evening concerts between 11-14 August, inside the Cathedral.

The festival, now in its 28th year, will run over a two-week period and include a variety of musical events, such as concerts, educational components, mentoring opportunities for young artists, free public events, lectures and exhibits.

The 2021 theme will reflect the difficulties of the past year, showcasing music from composers that were affected by previous pandemics. According to the festival website, “From the Influenza in 1918-19 back to others throughout the nineteenth century, several important composers were adversely set back as a result of the health issues of their day. But their lovely music transcends the difficult circumstances, and we will weave their stories with the music. Featured will be compositions of composers such as Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and others.”

Tickets for the evening concerts in the main series of the festival must be purchased in advance from the NB Summer Music Festival. Ticket prices range between $14.81 – $27.54. The main series will feature well-known performers: David Adams, violin; Sonja Adams, cello; Peter Allen, piano; Christopher Buckley, viola; Sally Dibblee, soprano; Nadia Francavilla, violin; and Richard Hornsby, clarinet. Details about the schedule and performers can be found on the festival website.

An additional event, a free noontime concert on Friday, 13 August, will be held as part of Christ Church Cathedral’s Summer Recital Series, and will showcase a sample of music from the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. Donations at this concert will be collected, with proceeds supporting the Cathedral Organ Renovation Fund. Please reserve tickets for the noontime concert through the Cathedral website.

2021 Summer Recital Series

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Music at the Cathedral is back!

The Summer Recital Series returns with nine noontime concerts, concerts, held each Friday until August 27. Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring cello, viola, bassoon, organ, guitar and vocalists. View the poster.

Cathedral Director of Music, Thomas Gonder, is excited to host the summer series, his first since stepping into the position in January 2020. He is enthusiastic about the program, saying, "It's my hope that Frederictonians will appreciate, enjoy and be inspired by hearing the abundance of local talent in an outstanding venue. We are blessed to be able to revive this series!"

Learn about the Cathedral, past and present, and visit the online 360 tour for a look at the interior of the building.

Seating is limited, so reserve your ticket now to secure your space. Tickets are free but donations encouraged. Proceeds after expenses to the Cathedral Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes immediately.

Attendees are welcome to wear face masks, and all are asked to be respectful of others' preferences regarding personal space.

Reserve your ticket online at the links below.

August 27
Sally Dibblee, soprano and J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ/piano - Tickets

 

Variety show supporting Mary Sumner House

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Mark your calendar for June 13th!

The Cathedral Branch of Mothers’ Union is pleased to present 'Prelude to Summer', a variety show which will feature local talent including music, dance and a magic show! It will be held outside on the Cathedral 'green', Sunday, 13 June following 10:30 a.m. worship. View the program in the 13 June Sunday bulletin.

A freewill offering will be collected in support of Mary Sumner House, the worldwide body of Mothers' Union. A variety of giving options are available:

  • Freewill offerings accepted onsite
  • Donations by e-transfer to <lilian.ketch at gnb.ca>
  • Mail a cheque to Diane Radford: 105 Sutton Street, Fredericton, NB  E3B 6L4
  • Use an offering envelope noting 'MU fundraiser' (tax receipt will be mailed)
  • Give online through the Cathedral website GIVE NOW link or our Facebook page and note 'MU fundraiser' (tax receipt immediately through email)

Pandemic precautions will be in effect. Bring your own lawn chair for social distancing with your bubble. Food will not be served, but we encourage you to bring your own picnic lunch to eat while you enjoy the entertainment. In the event of inclement weather, the show will be held inside the Cathedral without the picnic.

Mothers’ Union Canada is part of a global movement that has its work created, developed, coordinated and implemented by a group of people who work at Mary Sumner House in England. The COVID-19 crisis has detrimentally affected operations, and Mothers' Union needs support to continue the spiritual, practical and emotional support they have given worldwide for almost 150 years. The Cathedral Branch pledged $500 towards Mary Sumner House, and looks forward to this fundraiser for an important cause.

Elm City String Quartet – Friday, 26 March 2021

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We're so pleased to host the Elm City String Quartet!

The Elm City String Quartet performs at the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral, featuring works by Haydn, Borodin, and Shaw.

The Elm City String Quartet returns to the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral for their first concert of 2021. Enjoy the charm of Haydn’s “Lark” quartet, the romance of Borodin’s quartet number one, and the dynamism of Caroline Shaw’s “Blueprint.” The concert will be one hour in length with no intermission. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Please bring your community mask.

Get tickets HERE!

Elm City String Quartet

Annual Congregational Meeting

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2021 Annual Report (for 2020)

The Annual Congregational Meeting will be held in the Cathedral on Sunday, 21 February at 11:45 a.m, following worship. A representative from each family in the congregation is urged to participate.

Members of the congregation can participate in three ways:

1) Attend the meeting in-person. Please sign up separately for worship and in-person attendance at the meeting. Maximum capacity of 50 for each event, according to pandemic regulations for gatherings in the Orange Alert Level.

2) Observe the meeting by watching the livestream on the Cathedral YouTube channel.

3) Participate online via Zoom, using the link in your Friday bulletin email (if subscribed), or email the Cathedral Office <office at christchurchcathedral.com> for the link. If you've used Zoom on your device before, you're all set. If not, you'll be given instructions for installing the Zoom application. Zoom participants will be able to view speakers at the lectern, vote, and ask questions through a moderator. Looking for detailed instructions for voting via Zoom?

See the "Voting on Zoom" how-to guide.

Please bear with us as we launch out in these new ways of being the Church in community with the uncertainties we face.

View the Annual Report or obtain a print copy at the back of the Cathedral.

2020 ADVENT-ure

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Download in PDF format

With a new Church year  upon us! ...
Why not add something to your devotional life to mark a fresh start?


Listen to Christian Formation Director Kurt Schmidt talk about opportunities for ADVENT-ure


Choose from the following list of diverse opportunities on the Advent weekdays to deepen your prayer or study—you’re encouraged to add at least one new ADVENT-ure to your schedule!

MONDAYS

TUESDAYS

  • Short guided meditation on the upcoming Sunday Gospel in the tradition of Ignatian contemplation (imaginative prayer), 5:30-6:00 pm on Zoom. Link through the Cathedral Calendar or from Kurt Schmidt.

WEDNESDAYS

  • “Advent of the Heart” series—an in-person study of some of the Advent meditations of Alfred Delp, heroic German priest and martyr of the 20th century. Cathedral Memorial Hall Lounge, 6-7pm. Sign up with Kurt to access the preparatory reading materials.

THURSDAYS

  • Virtual Taizé worship series, 5:30-6pm on Zoom. A simple and contemplative blend of prayer, song & silence.  Link through the Calendar or from Kurt.

FRIDAYS

  • “Mini” Advent Lessons-&-Carols series—in-person and live-streamed (both) each Friday evening, 6-6:30pm, with different musical styles and singers featured:
  • 4 Dec—Come Worship Group
  • 11 Dec—Traditional Choir and Organ
  • 18 Dec—Cathedral Youth Group (CYG)

Please use the Cathedral Sign-Ups platform if you would like to attend in person.

________________

Please also consider the diocesan Advent Retreat with Archbishop David, online with live teaching and guided prayer. 11-12 December (Fri-Sat), beginning at 4pm on the Friday.  Register here.

The Cathedral Branch of Mothers' Union has advent wreath candles available for purchase again this year. Contact a branch member or the Cathedral office.

Questions or expressions of interest can be communicated to Kurt Schmidt <formation at christchurchcathedral.com> by phone/text to (506) 259-3711, or contact the Cathedral Office.

“Being shaken awake is entirely appropriate to thoughts and experiences of Advent. But at the same time there is much more to Advent than this. The shaking is what sets up the secret blessedness of this season and enkindles the inner light in our hearts, so Advent will be blessed with the promises of the Lord.”  Fr. Alfred Delp, SJ  --  December 1944

Organ Concert – 20 November 2020

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On Friday evening, 7:00 p.m., 20 November 2020, J. Thomas Gonder, Director of Music and Organist at Christ Church Cathedral will be in concert.

Thomas recently played a concert at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Moncton and will reprise several of the selections from that concert at the Cathedral.

There is no charge for tickets (get them here) with the hope that any and all who wish to attend are able to do so. Donations to the Cathedral Organ Renovations Fund are encouraged and welcome.

The poster for the event can be viewed or downloaded here.

Farraline Place Fundraiser

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Although Farraline Place could not hold its annual fall fundraising gala dinner due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing work and caring of its residents has not been cancelled. The challenge is ongoing to make a home for low-to-modest income residents, and this particular year is more crucial than previous years.

A virtual fundraiser was held with tickets $50 per person, and donations of any amount are still being accepted.  For details about how you can support the home's important work, call Sharon Simms (Farraline Board) at (506) 452-8909 or Judy O’Donnell (home administrator) at (506) 455-6443.

Yoga is back!

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It was a long stretch (pun intended!) without yoga classes at Cathedral Memorial Hall. Thanks to the pandemic, the popular weekly classes ended abruptly on March 9th and finally resumed Sept. 21st.

Parish nurse Kathleen Snow, who organizes this wellness activity, is pleased that the classes can finally resume although certain restrictions are necessary.

“Participants must sanitize their hands upon arrival and sign in and out of the hall,” Kathleen said. “People have been asked to bring their own yoga mats, pillows and blankets rather than use items stored at the hall although some extra, sanitized mats will be available for the Monday afternoon classes.”

She added that people must maintain physical distancing while in the hall, but it isn't difficult since the mats are always set up a good distance apart even in normal times. The floor, with its pattern of foot-square tiles, makes it simple to stick to the rule of staying six feet (2m) apart.

While entering and leaving the building, and while setting up the mats, people must wear masks. However, it's permissible to remove them during the actual yoga practice. It could get hot and uncomfortable otherwise.

The first class attracted a mix of 13 new members and eager returnees who know that this type of self-care can help reduce stress and inspire well-being. The instructor, Tammy Blyth, said breathing deeply and deliberately provides oxygen to nourish the body; it can also relax the brain and nervous system.

Tammy also pointed out that exercise and stretching not only boost the effectiveness of the lungs and circulatory system, but can also lift the spirits. That's something most of us need in these trying pandemic times when life is so different.

Eric and Jane Hadley agreed it was good to be back for the physical and social aspects of the class. Although they kept busy all summer with gardening, hiking and biking, they looked forward to the resumption of yoga and the chance to see friends from the congregation and the community.

“I find that the gentle warm-ups to loosen shoulders, neck and back are helpful,” Ann Deveau said, “and the mix of standing and reclining poses can gradually increase mobility for people like me who are challenged by the stiffness of osteoarthritis.”

The yoga classes start at 1:30 p.m. on Monday afternoons except public holidays, last one hour and cost $5 per session. Kathleen asks people to arrive a few minutes early, due to the need for physical distancing and a requirement for newcomers to register the first time they participate.