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History of the Refiners The
Refiners began in 1997, when St. James Church in Saskatoon commissioned
Angie Tysseland to write a cantata entitled “The Refiner’s Fire”.
Angie Tysseland, with the financial support of St. James, put
together a community choir with a supporting band of professional
musicians for the production of the cantata.
The production of the cantata was so successful, that the choir and
band continued performing together. The
group is made up of singers and musicians from the community at large. It performs two major concerts a year.
It also performs at events such as jazz festivals, gospel
festivals, concert series, chataquas, and conferences.
The
artistic director for the group is Angie Tysseland. Angie Tysseland
is a musician, composer, and performer who received her Bachelor in Music
with Great Distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. She has been heard often on CBC Radio, has four CDs and two
musicals in her portfolio. She
has shared the stage and/or studied with
several internationally-renowned women artists such as Jane Siberry,
Chloe Goodchild, Shirley Eickhardt and Louise Rose. She was recently honoured with the YWCA’s “Women of
Distinction” award. The Refiner’s Choir occupies a unique niche in the
music market. While its
style can be hard to categorize, it is likely best characterized as a
gospel performance choir. In addition to performing locally, it tours
communities in Saskatchewan and Alberta regularly.
It is, to our knowledge, the only performing gospel choir in
Saskatchewan. It is also
unique in that it performs predominantly Canadian pieces, composed or
arranged locally by Angie Tysseland.
It has also showcased works of other Canadian
songwriters/performers, such as Jane Siberry (also recorded), Kerry Anne
Kutz and Dr. David Kaplan. It
has produced three sound recordings, The
Refiners Fire (1997), Go
to the Rock (2000), and Angel on
the Roof (2001).
In 2001, it held a workshop production of a rock opera written by
Angie Tysseland, called The Rev. Parts of this composition were also presented at the New
Music Festival with the Saskatoon Symphony in May of 2002. Gospel music is one of the fast growing segments of the North American music industry. The unique nature and music of the Refiner’s Choir has attracted skilled amateur musicians, as well as allowing it to retain its core of professional musicians. Its concerts are regularly sold out. Some of its main accomplishments to date are:
The Refiners operated for 5 years as an unincorporated association. In May of 2002, it incorporated as a charitable non-profit corporation in Saskatchewan, under the name “Refiner’s Choir Inc.” The corporation has a board of six directors.
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