Winnipeg, Manitoba – Henry Engbrecht and those who support his cause are on a mission; they want to raise money to continue making the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba a centre for excellence in music. And they’re going about it in an entirely unusual way.

“We’re bringing back a tried and true Mennonite tradition,” says Geraldine De Braune, event organizer and founder of the Fellowship. “We’re not charging admission for people to hear these high calibre choirs and nationally recognized soloists perform an evening of fantastic music; instead we’re asking people to make a donation.”

The concert, set for May 21st at Westminster United Church, is raising funds for the Henry Engbrecht Graduate Fellowship (HEGF) which hopes to award up to $20,000 annually to a graduate student of Choral Conducting at the University of Manitoba.

Thursday May 21st
Westminster United Church 7:30 PM
Admission is free; a collection in support of the Fellowship will be taken

“I was thrilled to have a fellowship established in my name. I fervently want to see others have the ability to follow their passions in music as I once did,” says Engbrecht.

Engbrecht retired from the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba in 2006 as the Professor of Choral Studies. He spent his entire career dedicated to music: 10 years directing private and public school choral programs, founding President of the Manitoba Choral Association, Chorus Master for the Manitoba Opera and 28 years at the University of Manitoba. The Fellowship was established last year.

The University of Manitoba welcomes the funds the Fellowship will provide to ignite the passions of other who want to follow in Engbrecht’s path.

“We have a pool of excellence that we have begun to establish here,” says Elroy Friesen, Professor of Choral Studies and a former Engbrecht student. “This fund will allow us to reach out nationally and internationally to teachers and students, to conductors and singers. The effect of that ever increasing pool will ripple right through the program, making Manitoba a centre of choral excellence.”

The first recipient of the HEGF will be there, along with her students from the Sisler High School Chamber Choir, as a testament to the value of the Fellowship.

“The Henry Engbrecht Graduate Fellowship has made it possible for me to pursue my long-time dream of studying towards a Masters Degree in Music. As an undergraduate I enjoyed singing for Henry in the University Women's Chorus. Many years later, he adjudicated my choirs at the Winnipeg Music Festival. His support and encouragement made me feel that I would like to grow as a choral conductor. How fitting that now, because of the financial support of his fellowship, I am able to study to that end.”

Performances confirmed for the evening

• Canzona, Henry Engbrecht, conductor; Canzona is a professional baroque 18-voice choir
• Faith and Life Men’s Choir, Henry Engbrecht, conductor; Faith and Life is an all-male, Mennonite men’s choir comprised entirely of volunteers from across Manitoba
• University Women's Choir, Elroy Friesen, conductor
• Sisler High School Chamber Choir, Carolyn Boyes, conductor; Carolyn Boyes is the first recipient of the HEGF
• With Special Guests: Monica Huisman, soprano and Victor Engbrecht, baritone

“We believe that with the calibre of performances being offered, and the reason we are inviting people to join us, we will succeed in raising funds for this fellowship,” says De Braune. “Winnipeggers are often the most generous people when they value the cause. Music is always a great cause.”