In my tenth year living in Montreal, I received an unexpected and unintended gift. I had been singing for just over a year at St. Matthias when I subbed for my boss as a conductor over the Christmas break. I was skeptical, dubiously so, but also very willing. Why on earth he would choose me was totally immaterial - I love conducting and was happy to say yes.
Montreal – Part one
Montreal - my home now for 20 years - is one of Canada's gems. It is a marvelous place to encounter music and make friends and be involved in the arts on many levels. I've been very happy to live here this long - and I thought to share just a few snippits of what life was like in my first decade here.
A Manitoba Upbringing
We spent the last month or so in Manitoba, and now that I've had enough time to think about it, I'm struck again by where I grew up. I'm really lucky.I grew up in a fantastic musical environment. From my earliest memories as a chorister to when I left, I got the best that Manitoba … Continue reading A Manitoba Upbringing
John Wiens, Conductor 