Fredericton’s 175th anniversary concert

Posted on July 6, 2023August 9, 2023

Christ Church Cathedral will be the host venue for Fredericton's 175th anniversary concert, A Celebration of Us, to be held on Tuesday, 08 August, 2023, 7:30 p.m. This article was shared in a recent newsletter from the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival.

Fredericton-based composer Christian David Bérubé has been commissioned to create a new work to celebrate the city's 175th anniversary. Partnering with the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival and Atlantic Sinfonia, Bérubé will bring a spark of celebration to the event and add to Fredericton's rich history of classical orchestral performance.

Bérubé began his composing career later than most, and he has more than made up for it with his wealth of credits which include film and video game scores. When asked about his entrance into composing and arranging, Bérubé states that “[he] began by writing piano arrangements for The Doors and Led Zeppelin, after finding [himself] unsatisfied with existing versions of [his] favorite songs.” Finding a love for the creative aspect of composition, he dove straight into the deep end by writing a piano sonata that won first place at the provincial music festival. Soon after, he switched from Biochemistry to Music at the University of Alberta.

This summer, Bérubé is writing a new piece for the Atlantic Sinfonia Orchestra, bringing local influences and an element of celebration to the work. He states that “it is a privilege to write a concert piece, and for instrumentalists to learn [his] work. It takes so many hours to create and rehearse something like this.” In early August, 13 musicians be at Christ Church Cathedral as the venue to perform a collection of Fredericton’s historical pieces, fan favorites, and Bérubé’s new creation. This event will be one of seven projects that received support from the City of Fredericton to mark the anniversary.

“I am looking forward to working with musicians, sitting in on the rehearsal progress, and hearing the final performance” (Bérubé).

Bérubé [has spent] two months creating and working with Atlantic Sinfonia and the New Brunswick Summer Music Festival. “[His] job in this case is to write a piece, an entertaining piece, a musically interesting piece, that is a celebration of us.”

Fredericton, A Celebration of Us takes place on Tuesday, August 8th, 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral. For more information, visit www.nbsummermusicfestival.ca.

Repertoire

Now-Baroque Suite – Richard Gibson
Aperture Akimbo – Christian Bérubé
Subway Thoughts – Eldon Rathburn
Song without Words – Robin Bayley
Improvisations on Two Latvian Folk Songs – Janis Kalnins

Free will offering. Seating is on a 'first come first served' basis.

Belize fundraiser supports three scholarships

Posted on June 29, 2023July 28, 2023

The Belize Mission Committee is thrilled with the outcome of a yard sale raising funds for high school scholarships in Belize. Between item sales and envelope donations, approximately $3000 has been raised so far - enough for three scholarships!

Currently, we provide scholarships for four students who would not able to attend high school without support, since high school is not publicly funded in Belize. This additional education provides them with important skills and opportunities. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year. The Cathedral also provides $2000 per year to St. Hilda’s Anglican School in Georgeville, Belize, which is used for supplies for the elementary school.

Held on Saturday, June 24, the yard sale attracted hundreds of community members searching for treasures and deals. Items in the yard sale were provided by members of the congregation and community who decluttered and donated their items to be sold at the pay-as-you-wish sale.

A dozen volunteers helped throughout the week to set-up, unpack and sort items, assemble photo collages, greet customers, collect donations, repack items, and distribute leftover items to organizations such as the Multicultural Association, the puzzle lending library at Wilmot United Church, Farraline Place, and charitable stores. Many leftover novels and children's books were also brought to Little Free Libraries and book houses around the city, for our neighbours to enjoy.

A number of people attending the sale asked about the scholarship fund and our relationship with students in Belize.

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school, which families must pay. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a recently established preschool.

Cathedral teams have travelled to Belize five times: in 2005, 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2018. Over 60 Cathedral members ranging in age from 15 to 79 have participated in a mission trip to Belize, and hundreds of people in Fredericton have supported the work at St. Hilda's through organizational support, donations and prayers.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education, and all have gained knowledge and experience that will help them in their future.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

You can still contribute to the mission in Belize through offering envelopes or donate online.

If you are interested in participating in future endeavors benefiting the students in Belize, please contact the Cathedral Office to connect with members of the Belize mission committee.

2023 Summer Music Series

Posted on June 20, 2023August 25, 2023

The annual Summer Music Series at Christ Church Cathedral is back! All are welcome to attend these concerts, designed to fit perfectly within the lunch hour.

Fridays from 12:10-12:50 p.m., 30 June - 25 August at 150 Church Street, Fredericton.

Join us inside historic Christ Church Cathedral as we present a series of concerts featuring soloists and instruments such as piano, violin, guitar, organ, fiddle and viola. View the poster.

Free admission, donations encouraged. Proceeds will support the Organ Renovation Fund. Online donations will receive a receipt for tax purposes emailed immediately. Thank you for helping us to preserve the organ!

June 30
Julien LeBlanc, piano
Matthieu Deveau, violin
Julie Ekker, voice

July 7
Stephen Peacock, guitar
Natalia Delacroix, viola

July 14
Katherine Moller, fiddle
Tom Richards, guitar

July 21
Kathrin Welte, voice
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

July 28
Christian Vanicek, piano and organ

August 4
Barachois Summer Music Academy

August 11
New Brunswick Summer Music Festival:
Natalia Delacroix, viola
Nicholas Roy, piano

August 18
Jillian Bonner, voice
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

August 25
J. Thomas D. Gonder, organ

* * *

Make a donation to the Organ Renovation Fund
(tax receipt emailed immediately)

Decluttering for a cause

Posted on June 8, 2023June 26, 2023

Cleaning up around the house? We can help!

Donate your good condition, previously loved items and we'll sell them at our upcoming indoor yard sale. All proceeds will go towards high school tuition for Belize scholarship students.

We're looking for household items, decor, toys, games, books, etc. No clothing or furniture please. We'll also accept reusable shopping bags.

Deliver items to Cathedral Memorial Hall between June 19-23, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Due to storage limitations, we cannot accept items before June 19.

Thank you for your generosity!

If you don't have items to donate but would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please make a donation using your offering envelope or donate online.

Mark your calendar and shop the pay-as-you-wish yard sale on Saturday, June 24, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon!

Why do we have a high school scholarship program for students in Belize?

In Belize, the average age at which a child leaves school is 13 years old, because of the prohibitive costs of tuition for high school, which is not publicly funded. Unemployment in the country is high, there are many large single-parent families, and almost half of Belizeans live below the poverty line.

The Cathedral has a special relationship with the staff and students of St. Hilda’s Anglican School, an elementary school in the rural village of Georgeville. Over two hundred children attend the school, ranging between kindergarten and grade 8, in addition to a preschool recently established at the school.

In 2010, Cathedral mission team members established a high school scholarship program which has allowed students from St. Hilda’s to apply for a scholarship to continue their education past grade 8. Some of the graduates supported by the Cathedral have gone on to post-secondary education. Currently, we provide scholarships for four students who would not able to attend high school without support. This additional education provides them with important skills and opportunities. Each scholarship is $1000 CAD per year.

We are grateful for all who have helped to provide scholarships for these teenagers, and support for programs at the elementary school. Learn more about our mission work in Belize.

NOVENA – Thy Kingdom Come 2023

Posted on May 20, 2023May 29, 2023

Join us at 5:15 p.m. on weekdays during Thy Kingdom Come.

Two options to participate: 1) In person in the boardroom, second floor of Cathedral Memorial Hall 2) Online via video conference. Check the Cathedral web calendar event to connect. Download or view the NOVENA reflections.

The word novena is taken from “novem,” the Latin word for nine. A novena is usually made up of nine days of prayer and meditation.

Novenas are an ancient tradition that goes back to the days of the Apostles. Jesus told his disciples to pray together after his ascension into heaven, so they went to an upper room along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, (Acts 1:14) and joined constantly in prayer for nine days. These nine days of constant prayer by the Apostles at the direction of Jesus led up to Pentecost. This is when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples as “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:1-4). This pattern of 9 days of prayer is the basis of the novenas we pray today.

Thus, the novena is an imitation of the Lord’s command to the Apostles when they prayed for 9 days in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Getting to know each other at a newcomer event

Posted on May 18, 2023June 12, 2023

On May 10, we hosted a Newcomer Dessert Event at Cathedral Hall. The evening was organized by the Mother's Union, Kurt Schmidt (Director of Christian Formation), and Andreas Decken (Chair of Welcoming and Hospitality).

Kurt and Andreas are extremely grateful to the Mothers' Union for doing an excellent job providing treats and setting up the Hall for the event. We had over 30 people in attendance; many congregational members that are part of various Cathedral Groups were present, but also a number of "new" faces to our worship. We were able to formally welcome people that call Christ Church Cathedral their spiritual home after moving to Fredericton within the last few years. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that many newcomers were active in other parishes prior to moving to Fredericton and bring their expertise, experiences and ideas with them.

Many in attendance also noted that this event was an excellent venue for members of the various groups within the congregation to talk to one another, learn more about each other's involvement and getting to know each other.

And yes, the desserts were amazing.

- Andreas Decken, Welcoming and Hospitality Chair

Choral Evensong celebrating the Coronation

Posted on May 11, 2023May 18, 2023

Newcomer Dessert Event – 10 May

Posted on May 5, 2023May 11, 2023

Are you relatively new to the Cathedral family -- or "new at heart"?!

If so, you are cordially invited to a welcome, dessert and information-sharing event on Wednesday, 10 May in Cathedral Memorial Hall, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Come along to hear about the various ministries supported by individuals and groups from the Cathedral, and discover the many opportunities to participate, experience, share, or join. We'll introduce you to the wonderful work(s) undertaken by so many of our Cathedral members, and we'll find a way to match your gifts and abilities with one or more of the programs, groups or activities in our Church family. We'll even invent such a way if we have to!

All are welcome, including and especially any newcomers -- those who've joined within the last year or so -- and newcomers at heart!

Local musicians featured in Cathedral concerts

Posted on May 2, 2023May 18, 2023

Known for its wonderful acoustics, Christ Church Cathedral is considered an excellent venue for musical performances. We are pleased to be the host venue for concerts featuring local musicians this spring.

12 May, 2023 -- The High Tide Winds will perform a classical music concert on Friday, 12 May at 7:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Performers are Julie Grant on flute, Margaret Isaacs on clarinet, Charlie MacKinnon on French horn, Fran Robinson on oboe and Catherine MacDonald on piano. The group will perform pieces from Carl Reinecke, Heinrich Herzogenberg, Malcolm Arnold, Paul DeWailly and Gabriel Faure. Admission is by donation. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Phone Fran Robinson at (506) 461-5817 if you have any questions.

27 May, 2023 -- Fredericton's Bel Canto Singers and the Sussex Choral Society are joining forces to present Gabriel Fauré's iconic Requiem and other works in Christ Church Cathedral. Fauré’s Requiem mass, well-known as a comforting and tender vision of the afterlife, will include soloists and chamber musicians, along with the Cathedral’s historic Casavant pipe organ. The choirs will also present a number of contemporary pieces, some jointly and some individually. Artistic Director: Christopher Lane. Accompanists: Thomas Gonder and Betty Weatherby. Saturday, 27 May, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 general admission, $10 students. Available online, at the door, or from choir members. Visit the Bel Canto Singers website for details.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral to enjoy these musical events!

The Cathedral Summer Music Series will return in 2023 with concerts at noon each Friday throughout the summer. Stay tuned for an announcement about the lineup.

Gallery exhibition features Cathedral items from Provincial Archives

Posted on March 16, 2023April 28, 2023

The Beaverbrook Art Gallery and the Provincial Archives have collaborated on an exhibit showcasing artistic treasures from the archives.

The exhibit, AR(T)CHIVES: Visual Treasures from the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, is open to the public until May 28, 2023. Gallery admission is required.

"Archives are more than simply repositories of paper documents, ledgers, and census volumes; they often hold artistic treasures that tell an entirely different story than one containing only the written word. In partnership with the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, we are pleased to present some of the most beautiful and fascinating visual records of New Brunswick (and Canada, for that matter) that you may ever see."

An illustrated booklet, available at the gallery, includes several works featuring Christ Church Cathedral, including architectural designs of the stonework, a pencil sketch showing the Cathedral and the Parish Church, and a watercolour sketch for the Reredos. Visit the exhibit to explore other treasures!

Category Archives: Events