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Embracing the spirit Leonard Enns thinksculture is what connects human beings eonard Enns can Loften be seen rid- ing his blue bike through Waterloo Park on his way hemefmm Work- I' "Howéver. a wide Canadian public knows him more as a coral composer and conductor." said Coun. Jan d'AilIy. who honoured [inns at last week's council meet- ing for his contributions to the community's musical heritage. [inns a University of Waterloo music professor who teaches at Conrad Grebel University College, has an extensive resume. with highlights like founding a chamber choir, His interest in music was piqued as a child growing up in a small village in southern Manito- ha. "We all sang in church choirs as young kids and I took piano les, sons," he recalled. adding he asked to take lessons because his older sisters did, and they often per- formed duets. He was later influenced by the director of his high-school choir, but eventually moved away from piano and went on to study choral conducting for his master's degree and music theory for his PhD. "Piano is very competitive. Either you end up being a piano teacher or doing modest things, or you're really really brilliant and motivated," he said. After completing his studies. [inns moved to Waterloo, where he now lives with his family, and has been teaching at Conrad Grebel since 1977. His two professional areas are choral music and domposing, although he doesnt have the same training in the latter. "This was still in the mid-6Os, so it was what we call folk music, Guitars and lyrics you wouldn't want to remember anymore," [inns said. He Regan composing. or "mah. ing up songs," as a teenager. just like many otherspf that age group, l-‘ady on, his compositions were mainly for choirs. His choral music Br [mun-tn 0mm 'Chreniflsirell can be heard on NonhWord. a CD by the Elora Festival Singers that came out a year ago _ - Hammer and Wind. released in 2007. contains his chamber music. including a piano sonata, as well as a saxophone and piano duet. "tt is a treat to hear this highly textured music. which imparts to us a fresh, vibrant and visual imagery" d'Mlly said. University of Watertoo Prof. Leonard inns was recerttiy recognized by the City of Waterloo for his contributions to the community's mama! heritage, - MY“ MVO Enns. who has been writing more chamber music in the last 10 years, is not a "one-idea person," although he finds much of his inspiration in religion. 'Tm very intcrEsted in the spin' tual dimension of life. of exis Hence." he said. But nature also plays a role for him. "Growing up in the prairies. you can't help but have in your imagi- nation the sky." ARTSFOCUS Enns is also proud of a CD pro- duced by a group he's the founding director of: the DaCapo Chamber Choir. "Regina founded in l998. formed en some of the students in the Conrad Grebel chapel choir wanted to continue singing after their grad uation, Evéntually Enos gave in to their requests, with the condition their "The arts keep us from killing each other... And I think our world needs that desperately. " VF"; M7 "Ihopewe'removt'ngtoanew I think our level of activity," he said "We world needs think we should be spreading out a . " bit more geographically." hat desperately This "fine" choir has been a - [mum Emu finalist and a semi-finalist is a CBC 'trntmmmtroratrtrnductor radio competition for amateur choirs. (HRIHIII 2 your 40,000 km comprdnnsm ttmitodworvoetey 2 your 00W mil.” Roadsid- Mm Low Fioooeq In.» by Vouuwogon PM. O.A.C. " H M numb an) Volkswagen Waterloo work would be much more chal hanging than at the university, The choir - which now has 20 members -- performs at the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Kitchener a few times a year. and Enns hopes to get them tour- ing around the province more downthe road. With his recent recognition from the City of Waterloo. Enns is glad the city is giving attention to the arts. He hopes more funding will be directed to the arts in the future. and that one day a modest per- 550 Weber St Nodh, Wonder: (.19) I'd-7.70 Here's why: WHEELOO cummcu'. . Wednesday. lune 27, mm . 23 formance hall will be created to facilitate smaller musical groups. "The arts keep us from killing each other," he said. " don't think you can walk out of a choral rehearsal and shoot the person with whom you were singing "And I think our world needs that desperately" Technology and industry aren't a is on which a lasting dviliur tion be built, he predicts, (it ing the ancient Greeks, who are known priNrily for their culture and arts h But, for him, it's not necessarily about "continuing to be knqwn" 'Auhc end,j think the arts address us at the level which makesushuman beings _ Td like to think I'm addressing people " some kind of a spiritual level," he and. "And I think most arts would want to claim that."