Helen Litz

Litz, Helen

Helen Litz (b Wilms). Conductor, arranger, composer, adjudicator, b Winnipeg 7 Jun 1932; diploma (Manitoba Teachers' College) 1962.

Litz studied voice with Gladys Whitehead. She performed with Robert Shaw and Helmuth Rilling in the Mennonite Festival Chorus. Having obtained a background in music education, Litz dedicated her life to working with children. "Her intense pursuit of excellence, matched by her attention to the 'total child' in her choirs, has brought delight to and admiration from countless listeners around the world" (George Wiebe, Canadian Mennonite Bible College, 2000).

Conductor and Music Director

Litz founded the Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg in 1957 and as of 2004 continued to be its conductor and music director. Under her direction, the choir has earned an international reputation of excellence. The Dos Music Publishing Company stated that, "Helen Litz and the internationally acclaimed Mennonite Children's Choir have become an institution whose musical contribution cannot be measured." Litz is also active as an adjudicator and clinician, has served as guest conductor for such groups as the British Columbia Provincial Honours Choir, and has given workshops across Canada and the USA, including a special 1990 workshop for the Music Educators' National Conference in Washington, DC.

Compositions and Recordings

Litz's arrangement of "This is my home" by Brian Gibson and Bob Buckley, the theme song from the Canadian Pavillion at Expo 86, was published by Lenel in 1989 and later by Leslie Publications of Waterloo. Her other choral compositions have been published by Chorister's Guild, Dox, and Lenel. In 1989 she was commissioned by the Manitoba Choral Association to write "Let Bells and Carols Ring" for the 89 Chorfest. In 2002 Litz, along with instrumentalist Annette Hay, wrote and arranged (for choir, flute, oboe, violin, cello, and bass) Dona Nobis Pacem, set to Caccini's melody. This was a 45th-anniversary project for the Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg, with royalties supporting the Mennonite Central Committee Peace Project for all children. The music was chosen for the Honors Junior High Choir (more than 300 children) of the American Choral Directors' National Convention in New York City.

Discography

Litz as Conductor
Sacred Songs and Carols. Private recording MG-6337

Celebration '77. 1977. Century 21 MCCLP-77

Alumni Jubilee. WMCC 87

Celebration '87. 1987.Century 21 MCCLP-87

God Is My Song. Praise PRS-135

Mennonite Children's Choir. Redekopp piano, Anderson organ. ca 1969 CBC SM-67

Mennonite Children's Choir. Ritchey organ. 1972. CBC SM-208

1983 American Choral Directors Association National Convention. 1983. Crest ACDA-83-11

Silver Jubilee. 1982. Canada Stereocord MCCLP-82

Sing For Joy. 1983. Choristers Guild CT-3 (cass)

Singing the Seasons of the Lord. 1979. Choristers Guild DSC-1

The Winnipeg Mennonite Children's Choir. Anderson organ, Enns piano. (1973). RCA KCL1-0028/CTL CTLS-5175

A Singing Tree. Canadian Talent Library.

Favourite Songs of the Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg. Mennonite Children's Choir of Winnipeg.

CBC Recordings I and II. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

This Is My Home. 1992. Canada 125.

Celebrate the Seasons of Singing. Musica.

Count Your Blessings. 1992. Musica.

Anniversary Sounds of Music. Musica.

Celebrate 45 Seasons. 1996. Polar Bear Productions.