As we celebrate the centennial year of Ascension of Our Lord, we have an opportunity to reflect in ways we are not particularly accustomed to, namely on the themes of duration, existence and presence.
I can think of no other art form that explores these themes in ways as powerful and fragile as music does. The power music has to fill a moment with joy, pain, nostalgia or faith is truly beyond my understanding, despite my many hours alone practising the time-tested masterpieces on the piano or pipe organ.
And I believe this is largely because music is something to be shared, experienced together with others through singing, playing, and dancing. It’s this point that I want to emphasize. It is not just the sounds we make — our voices, our strings, our trumpets — but the people behind those sounds that make music-making so meaningful, especially with a congregation, whether participating through listening or singing. Sometimes all we can do is listen. Sometimes a hymn like How Great Thou Art will bring up memories that pull tears from our eyes and take away our voices. And so, I am continually reminded that a musical tradition is never really about the music alone.
It is about the people who make it.
As Music Director, I have found that much of the inspiration to make music comes from doing so with others. We inspire one another simply by showing up, singing, listening and sharing something that none of us could create alone. I see this in people’s eyes and hear it in their stories.
For 100 years, music has been an essential part of life at Ascension of Our Lord Parish. Generations of choristers, organists, cantors, conductors and musicians have gathered in this church to serve the liturgy. As we mark this milestone, we are reminded that above all, we come together to make music in the presence of God — Soli Deo Gloria.
It is with these broader themes in mind that I would like to introduce a few of our choir members who have volunteered to share their stories about their time in the Ascension Choir.
— Joel Peters, Music Director & Organist
Monika Ag
Alto
I moved to Canada from Hungary in August 1991 at the age of 19 and started singing at Ascension that October. I already had a classical music education and had been singing since the age of five. Ascension Church is my safe space in Canada. I was married here, while the Choir sang during the ceremony, and my children were baptised here.
I also sing with the McGill Choral Society (MCS). I joined as a McGill student and sang with the choir for about four years before taking a break, while I was working full-time and a mother to two young boys. Throughout that time, I remained with the Ascension Choir. Now that my children are older, I’ve returned to the MCS.
I think community and music quality are the main reasons why I have stayed with Ascension. Even before we had the McGill section leads, it was already a very good choir.
Our repertoire is broad — we sing everything from Gregorian chants to 21st-century music.
Since Ascension’s beginnings 100 years ago, the parish has been known for both its choir and its service to the community. Originally, the church had strong Irish roots. When I joined, Father Griffin was the pastor, and some of the choir members were born in Ireland.
Things have changed, and our members now come from all over Montreal and from many different backgrounds. It’s a fun, fun community!
Noah Gabriel
Bass, Section Lead
This is the end of my first year with the choir, and I’m happy to be staying.
The other section leads are wonderful, and the rest of the choir is so kind. It’s a lovely community.
I’ve been a section lead at churches for the last seven years. For me, it’s very much about being the anchor for the other basses, and supporting the rest of the choir, which I take very seriously. It’s also a great way for me to keep my sight reading at a good level. We get so much new music and have a chance to do a lot of different kinds of choral works.
My family is protestant and my parents were Lutheran pastors in the U.S., so music has always been around me, and I’ve always been singing. I started taking it seriously in high school, and completed undergraduate studies in music and voice, at Western University and the University of Alberta. I’ve only been in Montreal for the last three years. I’m at McGill University for my Master’s in Early Music.
Montreal has one of the best early music scenes in North America.
There are so many talented and hard-working individuals who are making early music here. I get to balance going to school with working as a professional singer, which is a huge blessing. I just love making art with other people who also love to make art.
I sing regularly with the OSM and just had my Opéra de Montréal chorus debut with Carmen, which was a lot of fun. I sing and tour with Harmonie des saisons, a period instrument orchestra, and I’ve sung with the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (SMAM).
Patricia Smith
Alto
I’ve been in the choir for about 24 years. We are a Catholic family and lived on Kitchener Avenue across the street from the church. I was singing during mass one day, and Monika, who was the cantor then, heard me and said, “You should join the choir.” So, I did.
I’m originally from the UK. As a child, I had singing lessons, did my grades, etc. At university, I sang with the choir and later with the Royal Choral Society in London.
The Ascension Choir is fun, and the members are very caring. If you don’t turn up for a while, they’re checking in to make sure you are all right. It’s not just about singing, the choristers care about each other. They are very kind and caring people. And Joel our music director is fabulous, and he’s very kind, as well. And in terms of the repertoire, and of the experience of singing along with that glorious, restored Casavant organ, and being up there in that loft, in this beautiful church, I feel very privileged. Especially since we’ve got the McGill section leads. They pave the way and help with the more complex pieces, and we soon join in. We learn quickly when we’ve got someone good around us.
We stand up there singing, and the sun shines through those windows, bathing us in sunlight. It’s a very spiritual experience, with the altar down below.
I do worry that because the choir sounds so good, that people may be put off from becoming members. I go up to people in the church, and say, “Do you sing?”, and they say, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly sing.” And I say, “Oh, no, don’t worry. Most of us are terrible. You wouldn’t pay to hear most of us. It’s the section leads that bring it all together.”
So even if you’re a bit nervous that you’re not good enough, if you like to sing and can hold a tune, I encourage you to join. It’ll be fun.
Lavinia Lee Soprano
I moved to Montreal in 2013 to study at McGill University.
I was in the McGill Choral Society for a semester, and at the time, the choir raised money by organising groups of volunteers to do paid performances. We sang at a wedding at Ascension, and I met the previous music director and organist, David Szanto. He introduced me to the church and encouraged me to try out. I have been here ever since.
I take being a chorister seriously and really appreciate the opportunity to grow as a performer.
I’ve been playing music since I was a child but I was a very timid performer, and without the structure of the choir, I would never have had the confidence to sing as a cantor or perform a solo. I also really enjoy that every week we have two opportunities to come to the church and sing, and to spend time with other people in this beautiful community.
Emma Battel
Soprano, Section Lead
2022–2026
Working as a section lead is the perfect job for a university music student as it connects you to locals in the community through music.
I was starting my Master’s in Music at McGill University and was searching for a choir that would be the right fit. I found the Ascension Choir section lead posting through my teacher and auditioned. It was the first year of the program, so I got in early, and I’ve been here for four years. Today is my last day.
I had a wonderful time. They were looking for someone to take the lead and sing out which was a good fit for me. I’ve enjoyed the repertoire selections and although I was being paid, I also learned a lot. My sight-singing improved tremendously, and my voice has changed during my time here. I’ve started singing more musically and enjoyed opportunities to work on leadership skills by running occasional warmups. Our music director has provided many solo opportunities. I feel very lucky to have been able to sing and share my voice with Ascension.
This is definitely a special group.
We have choristers of all ages and everyone is kind and welcoming. I felt supported in many ways — musically and personally. The whole choir team has extended their generosity to me far beyond the rehearsal space.
I will miss sharing my Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings with them. It is clear why so many choristers have been in the Ascension Choir for years.