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Instead of taking time out, they put the rest of their lives on hold and gathered at St. _ Matthews _ Lutheran So what happens when dedicated _ church choir members are invited to "get away from it all" for a couple of days? Might they opt for a blissfully silent weekend off? Not for 58 keen area chorisâ€" ters, who spent last Saturday and Sunday in a musical immersion experience with noted Canadian composer, conductor, organist and vocal clinician, Mark Sirett. hey show up every I Sunday, for one or more worship services; they show up every midâ€" week for one or more rehearsals. They will often go the extra musical mile to master _ difficult â€" pieces they‘d ratherâ€" avoid, but faithfully believe in. *@==R ARTS FOCUS Getting away from it all: Church choirs share the fruits of a musical retreat By Pavuine FincH For The Chronicle "It‘s an invitation to open their ears, explore new posâ€" sibilities... and to experiâ€" ence their innate musicaliâ€" ty," she explained. The result It‘s the second time in recent years that Sirett, a Kingston native who foundâ€" ed and conducts that city‘s Cantabile Choirs, has shared hisâ€" teaching inspiration here, but it probably won‘t be the last. Feedback from a previous workshop for local Lutheran choirs was so enthusiastic that organizer Corinne â€" Dutton > of _ St. Matthews felt others should be welcomed into the mix. Church _ in _ downtown Kitchener to expand their technique, tap into their undiscovered artistic potenâ€" tial and then share the results of it all at a Sunday evening public concert, sponsored by the Waterlooâ€" Wellington chapter of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. "It‘s been a wonderful opportunity for people to stretch themselves, to grow musically," he said. "There were challenges of course, and more noteâ€"learning to do, but to see these people so energized and confident, to feel the sense of enjoyâ€" ment they brought to this experience; for me, that was such a big part of it." After a short but outâ€" standing _ program â€" that treated about 100 listeners to major selections by Vaughan Williams, Gabriel Faure and Mozart, as well as some memorable recent Canadian works, Sirett felt that everyone‘s efforts were richly repaid. was this year‘s ecumenical focus, with choirs from seven â€" Catholic, United, Lutheran and Anglican conâ€" gregations signing up, as well as a number of individâ€" uals from other churches. Most ambitious of the Does crime pay here? Vaughan Williams‘ more exuberant anthem, O How Aimiable Are Thy Dwellings, presented from its midst a rousing chorale version of the popular hymn, 0 God Our Help in Ages Past. In a more _ reflective _ mode, Pickett, with pianist Corinne Dutton, sang The Call, from the same composer‘s Five Mystical Songs. Mozart was represented in the famed Laudate Continued on page 16 weekend‘s repertoire were three _ movements _ â€" Introit/Kyrie, Pie Jesu, Agnus Deiâ€" from the everâ€"popular Requiem by Gabriel Faure. The blended choirs delivâ€" ered remarkably precise Latin diction {only a few stray "S‘s" short of perfecâ€" tion) and their beautifully shaped phrasing supported and enhanced expressive solo lines featuring soprano Rosalind Pickett and tenor Mike Garboll. Global National" im vithKEVINNEWMAN Composer Mark Sirett