The Mississauga Chamber Singers are a community-based choir with high standards. They’re devoted to classical repertoire, as well as supporting emerging artists and strengthening their ties with the community.
Artistic Director Mervin Fick is a graduate of the University of Toronto (MusBac) and the Royal Conservatory (ARCT — Performance and Teacher). He has a 35 year career in choral directing, with an extensive repertoire and programming experience.
LvT spoke to him about the choir and the evolution of its role in the community.
Mississauga Chamber Singers Artistic Director Mervin W. Fick: The Interview
“The MCS went through two evolution states,” says Mervin Fick.
The original Mississauga Choral Society boasted a choir of 80+ members. That model was sustained for a few years, he notes, including a performance during the opening season of the Mississauga’s iconic Living Arts Centre in late 1990s.
Over time, as he relates, the large choir just wasn’t sustainable in the city. It was around that period at the turn of this century that he was invited to become the choir’s Artistic Director. He and the organization were looking for new directions. Mervin recalls meeting legendary Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion at a fundraising event. Her advice was something like “If the people of Mississauga can’t find you, you have to find them.”
The concept of exploring outreach more deeply sparked a new way of thinking in terms of audience development. A very large choir is a less flexible ensemble, and not suited for the many smaller stages in the city.
The once large choir and its mandate were divided into three streams: the traditional ticketed concerts, concerts for senior’s communities, and concerts for school kids.
Working with a chamber choir changes the dynamics and interaction of the voices, as he explains. It opens up the possibility for each singer’s contribution to be more involved. “They’re personally colouring the lines more intimately or more complexly,” he says.
A New Direction — And New Name
Along with the new direction came a new name.
For a time, the organization was known simply as MCS Choral Society. Advised by a consultant that “choral” wasn’t a word that contemporary audiences connected with, it then became MCS Chorus.
However, another artist management firm suggested that letter-based names aren’t as effective or memorable as a more specific moniker. “Now it’s Mississauga Chamber Singers.”
With strong support from the City of Mississauga, the choir performs 20+ concerts per years — including concerts performed at 18 schools and five senior’s homes. Part of the strategy is to offer live music to those public organizations at various times of the year. As he points out, many musical guests tend to favour Christmas and other holidays when it comes to senior’s home visits.
“I developed a program for the senior’s residences to help us all celebrate Canada Day,” he says. The choir will perform the program during the weeks leading up to Canada Day, a time when many musical organizations are on summer hiatus.
Fick had already been working in the field of arts administration for some time when he took over MCS. He understood that organizational change was necessary for a number of reasons.
“I knew that we had to do something for new generation audiences.”
He cites the inclusion of contemporary repertoire like Ottawa composer James K. Wright’s A Gallery of Song: Spirit of the Land, a work that sets to music poetry written by young writers inspired by the Group of Seven artists and their work. When such works are performed for audiences of school children, it’s not about emphasizing the idea of “classical” music. “It’s just live music,” Fick says. In some cases, it’s the only real live music experience many of the young listeners have had.
It’s also about sending a message. “Singing in a choir is cool.” he says.
Concert
MCS’s upcoming concert on March 1 includes two pieces: Mozart’s Solemn Vespers de Confessore, and Haydn’s Paukenmesse.
“We’re trying to say in Mississauga that classical music can be in your entertainment menu.”
With that in mind, the Mississauga Chamber Singers have established an annual “Mozart in March” tradition. Every five years or so, it involves the Requiem. This year, it’s his Vespers.
“The Vespers is actually quite famous,” he says, noting it’s often heard in an instrumental transcription rather than the original soprano solo with chorus. “It’s one of these graceful […] melodies.”
The piece, with text drawn from the Psalms, varies in mood throughout, but ends on a celebratory note.
Along with Mozart himself, Fick says he wanted audiences to know more about the people Mozart influenced — like Haydn. The Paukenmesse, or Missa in tempore belli (Mass in time of war), was composed as one of a group of six masses written by Haydn for the Esterházy family between 1796 and 1802. The last of these, H.22/14, was completed shortly before ill health took away Haydn’s ability to compose.
During this period, the Austrians, along with the rest of western Europe, were at war. “This one is in a time when Austria is being surrounded by people who would like to go to war.” Fick didn’t necessarily want to emphasize that aspect, particularly because of the work’s musical character.
“It’s mostly sunny, vigorous and dynamic, and optimistic,” he says.
That’s the sentiment he wanted to convey during these times of instability — the movement from reflection to renewed hope. As he points out, the longevity of the compositions is already a message.
“Both of these pieces, just like great works of art, they transcend — they’ve lasted longer — than their original church function,” he notes, just as they might admire the painting of a Renaissance Madonna in an art museum without feeling its spiritual message.
The concert also features soloists Mary Jane Egan (soprano), Rachel Miller (alto), Benjamin Done (tenor), and Bradley Christensen (bass).
Coming Up…
After the March 1 concert, the MCS season continues with a performance of Haydn’s Creation on April 26. Fick will also be conducting Haydn’s Creation the following day (April 27) with the Toronto Beach Chorale at St. Anne’s Anglican Church in Toronto.
He’s looking forward to the work.
“The whole purpose of that is to do it with the really large orchestra.”
- Find more details about the Mississauga Chamber Singers concerts [HERE].
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