Watch: “Mennonites Put the Oba in Manitoba”
While there are Mennonites aulawäajen (everywhere) in Manitoba, Jeremy Giesbrecht and Darren Kehler of the Quonset Brothers have found that such is true internationally now that thousands of people have watched the video for their song, “Mennonites Put the Oba in Manitoba.” Written by Kehler to the tune of a classic country song, the lyrics…
Watch: Ohio band Girl Named Tom’s big year
Last year was a big one for Girl Named Tom, a sibling band composed of Mennonites from Pettisville, Ohio. On Dec. 14, Caleb, Joshua and Bekah Liechty became the first group to win the NBC singing competition The Voice. Competing on the show’s 21st season resulted in international exposure, US$100,000 and a recording contract for…
Paul Bergman returns with new single
It’s been more than five years since Paul Bergman’s last album, but the wait for new music is over. “I Just Want to Walk in the Dark with You,” a three-minute single from the southern Manitoba singer-songwriter, is out today. Bergman wrote the song almost 15 years ago. He recorded it during the sessions that…
Watch: A virtual Mennonite Easter choir
In the past few weeks, it’s likely you’ve seen a video of people singing together virtually. When the members of Winnipeg’s Prairie Voices choir had to cancel their 20th anniversary concert as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, they channeled their disappointment into this video. A group of singers in Nashville put together a rendition of “It…
Musician offers online singalong
“A little bit of yeast makes the whole dough rise . . . you do your part; I’ll do mine,” sings Bryan Moyer Suderman, using his body as a percussion instrument. But instead of singing at a concert or a worship service, the itinerant musician is at home singing into an iPad propped up on a…
Watch: Three songs to bring you solace
Efforts to produce online worship resources have resulted in three new videos featuring music written and performed by musicians from Mennonite Church Canada. “PSALM 46” by JESSICA & MOSES FALCO Jessica and Moses Falco from Sterling Mennonite Fellowship (Winnipeg) filmed their original song, “Psalm 46,” on March 19 when they were at Douglas Mennonite Church, recording…
Breathing new life into the music
When a Toronto-based LGBTQ orchestra approached queer classical pianist Darren Creech about performing Victor Davies’ “Mennonite Piano Concerto” with it in concert, it didn’t realize what a perfect fit he would be. Unbeknownst to the Counterpoint Community Orchestra at the time, Creech is Mennonite and he grew up listening to the piece. “I’ve owned the…
‘A family camping trip . . . with a lot more guitars’
Most university students use reading week to study or go on a quick vacation, but not the members of Pocket Change, a Winnipeg rock band. While their peers were hitting the books or the ski slopes this past February, the band members were busy recording their new EP, Party Culture. Pocket Change’s second EP. Made…
