In The News...
Choir scales Andean heights in Ecuador
by Jeanne Chaussee
(Guadalajara Reporter, September 1-7, 2007
Forty singers of the Los
Cantantes del Lago community choir and 15 of their partners from Lakeside flew
far south of the border in August to participate in "Mes de Cultura" festivities
in Quito, Ecuador.
To warm up, the group sang
briefly in three churches, pr-arranged by director Timothy Welch, just for the
joy of the wonderful acoustics under the high vaulted ceilings of the churches.
Los Cantantes participated
in two concerts on August 5 as the special guests of Fundación
Teatro Nacional Sucre. The first was
an open air concert in Plaza del Teatro in the heart of old colonial Quito,
where the stage setup "would rival that of a world-class rock band." Television
crews took footage that appeared that evening on Ecuadorian television. That
evening Cantantes sang in the huge neo-Gothic Basilica del Voto Nacional as
guests of the Third Festival Internacional de Canto Coral.
Photo by Bob Kelly
One highlight of the trip was an invitation to
sing in the Iglesia La Compania de Jesus), a glorious old gold-encrusted venue,
as part of the celebration of Ecuador's Independence Day.
Photo by Bob Kelly
Another highlight was a stop at Sistema Nacional
de Musica por Los Ninos Especiales, a school where music is used to help
mentally and physically challenged youngsters enjoy and participate more fully
in life and work. The students sang and danced for Los Cantantes and Los
Cantantes reciprocated in song. Los Cantantes are investigating the possibility
of bringing the young performers to Lakeside for concerts and workshops.
The trips wasn't all about singing. The Lakeside
contingent visited markets, the Equator, museums, restaurants and a "stunning
performance" of the Ballet Folklorico Nacional's Jacchigua representation of
Andean culture.
Los Cantantes del Lago's
next concert is on October 30, when they
will participate in Guadalajara's Festival de Octubre with a performance at the
Ex-Convento del Carmen in Guadalajara. Rehearsals for the annual Lakeside
Christmas concert will begin soon.
According to Welch, the trip was more than a
success, "These people grew musically during the course of the trip and by the
end of it were performing like a professional world class choir. It was
wonderful. They will never be the same."
Those interested in joining Los Cantantes del
Lago or who would like more information about the choir should visit their
website at
www.loscantantesdellago.com
Choir members want to extend special thanks to
director Tim Welch and choir president Georgina Russell for their hard work in
arranging this nearly seamless ten-day trip for 55 people.
Quito... Here We Come
Guadalajara Reporter, July 14-20, 2007
Los Cantantes del Lago, the professionally directed community
choir at Lakeside, is off on its Quito Tour 2007 on August 3. Forty of the
singers and 10 of the non-singers will be going along on the trip. Their big
send-off concert will be Wednesday, July 25, 7 p.m. at Club Oxigen Fitness
Center in the Hotel Danza del Sol.
Since the choir will be performing in secular as well as
sacred places in Quito, Ecuador, the program is very diversified, with songs
from Gilbert and Sullivan, Amazing Grace, Telemann, Mendelssohn, American Folk
Songs, a German lullaby, a Swahili marching song, spirituals and much more.
The choir is directed by Timothy G. Ruff Welch, with Eleanor
Stromberg accompanying on the piano....
Los Cantantes add pizzazz to city concert
Guadalajara Reporter, March 24-30, 2007
Los Cantantes del Lago, directed by Timothy Welch, made a rare
appearance at the Teatro Degollado Wednesday, March 21, performing in the free
concert "Hagamos una Sinfonia por Mexico."
The concert starred the Orquesta Infantil Juvenil Guadalajara,
composed of musicians aged 10 to 22 from 18 Mexican states. The group, formed in
January 2006, is already sufficiently accomplished to represent Mexico at the
55th European Music Festival for Youngsters in Neerpelt, Belgium, April 27-30.
Los Cantantes del Lago were part of an all-star lineup of
invited performers, which included guest British director, Martin Andre
directing the orchestra in Suite No. 1 from Bizet's opera "Carmen" and the
CEDART dance troupe.
The Lakeside choir's participation varied the concert program
with "Chariot's on Its Way", "Go Down, Moses", "Behold the Lord High
Executioner" and "Elijah Rock".
"Hagamos una Sinfonia por Mexico," a rare free event at the
Degollado, played to a full house, which applauded enthusiastically in support
of the Orquesta's upcoming bid in the Belgium competition.
Los Cantantes del Lago bring Christmas home
by Jeanne Chaussee, Lakeside Arts, Guadalajara Reporter,
December 9-15, 2006
The Lakeside community choir, Los Cantantes del Lago, directed
by Timothy G. Ruff Welch, presented a wonderfully varied and ambitious concert
at Auditorio de Riberas del Lago. The theme of the program, "Christmas Is...."
was apt, with the 42 voices blending well in musical holiday fare from several
countries sung in English, Spanish, Latin and German.
Though the acoustics, particularly those perceived in the
first several rows of the auditorium, sometimes distorted the harmonies (giving
off a blurred rather than blending feel), the choir was clearly at the top of
their game with crisp, well-rehearsed and knowledgeable skill.
Soloist soprano Millicent Brandow, though she would have
benefited from a lapel microphone, was at her best with Pietro Yon's "Gesu
Bambino" with perfectly pitched notes in seamless concert with the choir. Though
contralto Kimball Wheeler is an experienced performer with some astonishingly
deep resonant notes, her interpretation of the revered "Silent Night" might have
been better understood had she stuck to the song's familiar melody. Many in the
audience were left confused about exactly where she was going, which wasn't with
the choir. Her interpretation at times resembled a sort of classical jazz work,
but without the resolution.
The choir's interpretation of three spiritual works were
especially good; and their body language and facial enthusiasm enhanced what was
already a great performance.
The choir had great backup from keyboardist Sergio Hernández,
cellist Fernando Mesa Jiménez, Hector Gómez Espinoza, flutist Cuahtémoc García
Verdugo and violinist Nicole Orendain Koch.
A very pleasing addition to the vocals was a program by about
45 members of the 96-member Orquesta Infantil Juvenil Guadalajara, under the
direction of Marlon Enrique Jimenez. They gave a solid accounting of themselves,
particularly in various songs from the Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" and with
the chorus is full force in a stirring "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's
"Messiah".
The audience kept tradition, standing for the hallowed work
and kept right on standing for an ovation or the entire program.
Good work, Cantantes.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit various children's
music programs.
(with the kind permission of Alessandro Salimbeni, as it
appeared in the August 2006 issue of the Lake Chapala Review)
Behind the Music
......
by Alessandro Salimbeni
Mr. Music Man
He is neither Robert Preston nor Prof. Harold Hill, though he was born a few
years before "The Music Man," which became a hit in 1962. An organist, choir
director, soloist, and music teacher, Tim Welch has certainly become a hit
himself in the music community since he arrived in Mexico almost seven years
ago.
Tim leads a busy and challenging life, commuting from Guadalajara to Ajijic
five days a week to direct Los Cantantes del Lago; to play the organ and conduct
a 44-voice choir at St. Andrew's
Anglican Church; to teach voice to 18 students with many more on a waiting
list; to play in an octet and to participate in a horn trio. "I'm driven," Tim
laughs, "and relish every musical challenge." His only regret is a backlog of
music in Guadalajara, someday to be filed if a dinner engagement isn't looming,
usually the case. Tim and a group of his fellow soloists, "Quinteto
Guadalajara," will also soon be representing Mexico at an international music
fest in Quito, Ecuador: Perhaps after the fest, Maestro Welch will have some
time for filing--but one doubts it.
How did a farm boy with Norwegian roots from Wisconsin end up near the shores
of Lake Chapala with such a thriving musical menu? His talents arose early with
piano lessons at age five and then the responsibility of choir director and
organist at age twelve... that's right, twelve... when most boys his age were
playing marbles, spinning yo-yos, barking shins on trees, and wallowing in the
dirt. Dirt. Tim's favorite remembrance of farm life was the earth, its smell,
feel and essence. He finds the same pleasure in the earth of Mexico.
At age 14 Tim experienced an epiphany during a visit to Helsinki with his
grandmother and their visit to
Temppeliaukio Church, a structure that had recently been carved out of rock
and still vivid in Tim's memory bank. Entering the empty church, he was suddenly
surrounded by the organ sounds of Bach's "Wachet Auf" (Sleepers Awake!). He knew
then that he wanted a musical life, but a lengthy detour ensued. Tim had been
raised among skillful entrepreneurs, and after attending Luther College and the
College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, he wanted to make
some money. Working with sopranos wasn't part of the plan.
Now living in Chicago, Tim launched a career in the business world: first in
management and sales with a copy-shop chain; then his own copy-shop; and finally
as a print broker and co-partner in the publishing firm of
ETNA Communications.
The money grew with each endeavor as the musical career took a temporary hiatus.
...Until a certain lady found Tim busy in a copy-shop. Tim (a tenor)
auditioned for a well-known choir, was accepted and eventually became
choirmaster at Ebenezer Lutheran Church
in Chicago, which led to similar positions at the prestigious
Immanuel Lutheran,
also in Chicago. Suddenly Tim had the best of both worlds: brokering and
publishing on one end and conducting, performing and touring on the other. But
the time came for an escape, a life change. Tim, favoring Latin America,
narrowed the field to Mexico and to Guadalajara because the city's name (derived
from Moorish Wad-al-hidjara, "River of Stone") rang with musicality.
A second epiphany befell Tim on September 1, 1999, when he decided to begin a
new life on some new earth, that of Mexico. He arrived for good a year later:
After a month of Spanish lessons and several months of investigating his
environs, Tim concluded, "These people know how to live." Tim soon became
heavily involved in Guadalajara's musical scene, meeting many musicians and
performing, including stints at
St. Mark's Anglican
Church.
Then the call came from Ajijic to accompany Handel's "Messiah," leading to
his current positions at St. Andrew's. Tim Welch becomes a Mexican citizen in
October as Jalisco and Mexico embrace "Mr. Music Man."
Los Cantantes del Lago Delights with "Mostly Musicals"
Article courtesy of El Ojo del Lago, June 2005
If you like the music from many of our favorite
old and new musicals, such as “West Side Story,” “Evita,” &
“Cats,” and other tunes songs such as “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Ol Man River,”
and “A Lovely Way to spend an Evening,” the program presented by the LC del L
was made with you in mind. Director Timothy G. Ruff Welch, with guest
musicians Douglas Livingston on keyboards, and Les Sasvari, percussion, plus
the 31-voice chorus put on a show that was in a word, superb. Kudos, too, to
David Irving for his rendition of “Ol Man River,” a big hit with the audience.
The event was held at the Riviera Alta clubhouse, with St. Andrew’s Anglican
Church handling the bar. The organizing committee of Frank Edwards, Tina
Jones, George Fee, Jane Hainsworth, Nancy Kendrick, and Ron Russell are to be
complimented for a job well-done in aid of many Lakeside charities.
Choral's 'Musicals' performance is a pleaser
(Courtesy of the
Guadalajara Reporter, April 2005 by Jeanne Chausee)
Los Cantantes del Lago, a community chorus that
is the inheritor of the Christmas Cantata Choir, which sang here for many years
under the baton of the now deceased Bonnie Wolff, presented an energetic and
much appreciated concert at the Riviera Alta Clubhouse April 12 and 13. The
program, christened, "Mostly Musicals" was a
crowd pleaser with tunes from several of the best Broadway hits on the list.
It's hard to miss with songs such as "You'll
Never Walk Alone" from "Carousel," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Don't Cry for Me
Argentina" from "Evita," "Memories" from "Cats" and a dazzling medley from "West
Side Story." And that was just the first half.
What really put the choral group over the top for
this reporter was the attention to diction. One of the biggest problems with
choral music for those who love the lyrics as much as the music is that those
words often disappear or muddy up into the harmonics. That was seldom a problem
during this concert, indicating the hundreds of hours of rehearsal and the keen
ear of director Tim Welch.
There were also some unusual and well-executed
harmonies from well-trained tenor and bass sections. Speaking of bass
sections... basso David Irving did a moving and musically commendable job as the
soloist in the much loved "Ol' Man River" from "Showboat."
The choir was well accompanied by Douglas
Livingston on the keyboard and Les Sasvari on drums.
Los Cantantes want to thank homeowners at Riviera
Alta for donating the clubhouse for the performance, the Saint Andrew's Company
of Gentlemen, who handled the bar, Frank Edwards and Tina Jones who sold
tickets, George Fee for program graphics, Jane Hainsworth for spearheading
publicity and Ron Russell, in charge of lights and sound.
It was a terrific concert in a great setting and
enjoyed by all. It's great that Los Cantantes isn't just for Christmas anymore.
Lakeside.... Singing
(Courtesy of the
Guadalajara Reporter, November
26, 2005 by Jeanne Chausee)
Los Cantantes del Lago choir, under the direction of Timothy G.
Ruff Welch, will present a concert of seasonal music Tuesday, December 13, 4
p.m. and Wednesday, December 14 at 7 p.m. at Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago in
La Floresta. They will be joined by the 46 children of the choir from the Marcos
Castellanos Primary School in Ajijic, under the direction of Ceclia Garduño
Ochoa.
Los Cantantes donated money from their spring concert to this
choir so that the children could buy new performing outfits.
The choirs will sing together and separately, in English and in
Spanish, interpreting a range of popular and classical Christmas music.
Professional musicians will accompany the choirs....
AN EVENING OF MUSIC FOR
MUSIC LOVERS
by Cindy Lou Paul
Courtesy of El Ojo del Lago, December 2002
I
have rarely been so moved by a show as the evening last month when I attended
the concert benefit for the Niños Incapacitados. Presenting Peter Schaefer on
piano and the Los Cantantes del Lago choir, the concert warmed a packed and
appreciative auditorium audience, eliciting a standing ovation thank-you at the
final curtain.
With a pure expression of his beautiful spirit, Peter Schaefer played several of
his own compositions along with some familiar numbers, my favorite being a
crystalline rendition of “When I Fall in Love.” The Cantantes deserve special
plaudits for an excellent performance, accompanied by Douglas Livingston and
directed by multi-talented Darel Walser.
In this full program there was no showboating, just a reflection of the chosen
title, “Music for Music Lovers.”
Los Cantantes del Lago
"Gives Back to the Community"
