History

 

In 1960, a group of men from in and around Winnipeg formed the Metro Male Chorus of Winnipeg. The name was changed in 1974 to the present Winnipeg Male Chorus (WMC). In October 2020, the Chorus celebrated its 60th anniversary.

 

From 1970 until 2004, the Chorus was a member of the Associated Male Choruses of America. The AMC consisted of approximately 57 choruses. Every year 18 male choruses, from the Upper Mid-West district which included Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin,  Saskatchewan, Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba, would gather for a "Big Sing". For three days, 400-500 men would sing together culminating in a final concert. Winnipeg hosted the event in April 1964, 1970, 1988 and 2000.

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Although the WMC is based in Winnipeg, the chorus regularly participates in musical events throughout Manitoba. Annual weekend trips have been made to numerous rural Manitoba locations, various Hutterite colonies and to Kenora, Ontario.

 

In the spring of 2014, we travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan, where we joined the Regina Male Voice Choir and the Saskatoon Male Chorus for a "Big Sing".

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Weekend trips in April have taken us to Portage la Prairie, Treherne, Killarney, Neepawa and Brandon, Manitoba.

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The Chorus has been professionally directed by several talented musical directors.

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• 2023-             Bill Quinn

• 2005-2023   Helen Bergen

• 1993-2005   Ann Koop-Hunsberger

• 1980-1993     Gordon McNabb

• 1968-1977   Archie Stone

• 1967-1968   James Whan

• 1966-1967   Clayton Lee and Herbert Holland

• 1960-1966   Barry Anderson