Neelin choirs shine at ‘Best of the Fest’ concert

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This article was published 19/03/2025 (212 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon residents were treated to an evening of choral and instrumental performances Monday night as École Secondaire Neelin High School’s choirs hosted their annual “Best of the Fest” concert at First Presbyterian Church.

The event, which featured performances from all five Neelin choirs, included a diverse selection of musical pieces, ranging from an Italian madrigal and two French songs to a lively Irish folk tune, a Stevie Wonder reggae hit, an Imogen Heap composition and swing-era classics.

In addition to the choir’s renditions, the evening also showcased festival award winners from Neelin, including Alyssa Newitt (piano), Karsyn McMillan (voice), Eleanore Wilts (voice) and Hope Winters (violin). More than 100 attendees gathered to witness the musical celebration.

The concert is an opportunity for families to experience the students’ festival performances, Neelin choir director Marla Fontaine told the Sun at the event.

“Lots of our parents can’t come during the day to hear us at the Brandon Festival of the Arts last week, so this is a chance for us to showcase all our hard work,” she said.

Fontaine said it was exciting to lead the event for the first time after taking over from longtime director Carolyn Gwyer, who retired in 2024 after 30 years of shaping the school’s choral program.

“I feel very humbled, honoured and excited,” Fontaine said. “This is such a well-oiled machine and an amazing group and program. For my first year, I wanted to maintain the traditions that have worked so well for so long, but I also introduced a bit more jazz and improvisation with the vocal jazz group.”

The evening included performances from the Neelin Concert Choir, the largest ensemble, as well as the Chamber Choir, which performs both as a mixed-voice group and in upper and lower-voice sections. Simple Green, the school’s vocal jazz ensemble, also took the stage following their participation in the Brandon University Jazz Festival over the weekend.

Fontaine said the event was not only a culmination of the students’ festival journey but also a celebration of their dedication.

All the students were enthusiastic about the evening’s success, Neelin choir president Adriana Hoskin told the Sun after the concert.

“I think everybody had a great time. Everybody puts in their hardest work, especially at concerts, and we’re always excited to share the music we’ve learned with our families and friends,” she said.

The night also saw the return of former director Gwyer, who represented the Brandon Festival of the Arts and presented two festival awards to the Neelin choirs. She presented the Kayleigh Brugger Memorial Trophy to the Neelin Upper Chamber Choir and the Kiwanis Club Choral Scholarship to the Neelin Concert Choir.

Reflecting on her 30-year tenure, Gwyer described the choir program as “the best thing that could have ever happened” in her career.

“I studied at the School of Music at Brandon University, just like Marla did, and I didn’t quite know where my degree would take me,” Gwyer said. “But leading the Neelin choirs for 30 years has been an incredible journey.”

Fontaine said proceeds from the concert will cover venue costs and musician fees, with any remaining funds going toward the general choir account, which helps support activities such as an upcoming choir exchange trip to Victoria.

As the evening ended, the director expressed her hopes for the future of the Neelin choir program.

“Next year, I hope we continue to grow and get more of our community involved. We’ve been doing a lot of collaboration with other high schools in town, and I look forward to seeing where that takes us.”

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