By. Consuelo (Chit) E. Munar

The Calgary Philharmonic Chorus and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra  jointly presented  Handel’s  “Messiah” in a three-day  sing along performance (December 6-8) at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Together with my older son who sings  tenor with the chorus,  I had the great opportunity to participate on-stage during the last day of performance .  This experience will be left indelible in my mind and in my heart and  I will cherish  for the rest of my life.  For many, many years I’ve always been a spectator to musical performances in the  concert hall.  Singing with  the musically gifted  members of the philharmonic chorus  was, indeed, exhilarating and a great honor.

I come from a family that loves music very much.  I don’t have a great voice but I certainly love to sing.  My late father  was a  musician, leader of a band  and musical director of operettas and zarzuelas in our small Philippine  hometown during the years prior to World War II.  He played the violin,  trumpet, banjo, bandurria (chordophone) and guitar while his older brother played the piano and violin. I vividly remember  my parents singing  duets on classical Tagalog  haranas (serenades)  like  Francisco Santiago’s  ” Madaling Araw “(Dawn) and  “Pakiusap”(Plea) and Nicanor Abelardo’s “Mutya  ng Pasig” (Muse of Pasig) which I eventually learned and sang.  Growing up,  I learned  from my  father other  fabulous 1920 and 1930 songs  such as “All the Things You Are, Indian Love Call, Girl of Sigma Chi and A Dream, my favorite lullaby for my children.

Like most parents here in Canada  my husband and I wanted the best for our three children.  We unconditionally supported their  pursuit for musical interests such as singing and playing musical instruments  in great lengths of time.   My two boys  played trombone and trumpet in their junior and senior high school bands and  spent  a decade singing with the Calgary Boys’ Choir which gave them the  great opportunity to travel to  the US as well as to faraway places like Russia, Europe, Japan, Britain and  Wales.  The things they’ve learned from the  choir and their travels are priceless.

Maria  von Trapp, the matriarch of the famous  Trapp Family Singers of Austria once said, “music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.”  In 1965, Maria Von Trapp’s  life story  inspired the filming of the Sound of Music.  Who  would never enjoy  singing “Do Re Mi,”  “My Favorite  Things,”  or “Edelweiss” ?  Worldwide,  all kinds of people from all walks of life  sang these songs with great joy.

Music is such an incredible force.  It has power.  Something  that people who differ on everything and anything else can  have in common.   Truly, I believe, music is a great uniter.