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McDougall United Church Choir
Who We Are and What We Do
The choirs at McDougall have a long history of making wonderful music in this historic church.
Today, our choir is non-auditioned and made up of ordinary people who sing extraordinary music. Some members are professional singers, some just sing for the love of it. Some read music, some don’t. All take pleasure in creating wonderful music
Their repertoire has evolved over the years. In the earlier times, they sang mostly classical music. These days, they sing a wide variety of music:
- Classical from several periods
- Spirituals
- Contemporary
- World Music
- Gospel
No matter the genre, the music is rich in heritage and contemporary in style.
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Our Music Leaders
Music Director
Lauressa Pawlowski
B.Mus., University of Alberta
M. Mus., Indiana University
Musicians
 Evan Thomas - Piano
B. Mus., University of Alberta
B.A., University of Saskatchewan
 Julia Hui - Organ
B.Sc., B.Mus., University of Alberta
 Taylor Schaerer - Drums
B.A., University of Alberta
 Keith Erb - Flute and Percussion
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Guest Musicians
In addition to our grand piano and organ, we introduce a variety of instruments and engage guest musicians to enhance our music and worship during the year.
Popular guest contributors have been Doug Berner on trumpet; John McCormick, percussionist; Pergolessi Brass; Bill Damur, flautist; Don Rose on guitar; members of the Strathcona String Quartet. We have also used violin, African drums, xylophone and marimba to add texture and colour to our music and Sunday worship.
Opportunities are available to join a guitar group, an African drumming group, a Christmas children's choir, and an informal jam session of musicians.
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Annual Choir Highlights
Gospel Music Month
Guest Artists
Back Porch Swing
Sunday, February 26
10:30 a.m.
February has been Gospel Music Month at McDougall. The organ is put to rest, and old time instruments emerge such as banjo, fiddle and guitars to accompany the singing.
Guests for Gospel Music Month have included: Junetta Jamerson and the Black Pioneer Heritage Singers, Back Porch Swing, Woodbend Bluegrass Band and Jay Kuchinski and Friends.
Christmas Cantata
Christmas provides a special opportunity for the choir to present a cantata. We take the entire service on the Sunday prior to Christmas to feature a special theme or composer. Past productions have included: Handel's Messiah with orchestra, Midnight Mass for Christmas by Charpentier, and A Celebration of Christmas Music by Karl Jenkins.
Each year, guest singers from the wider community are invited to join our ranks in singing a Christmas cantata, which swells our numbers to a choir of about 40 voices. In 2011 the choir and orchestra presented Handel’s Messiah (part 1) in December at the 10:30 a.m. service.
Easter Celebration
Every Easter, the choir prepares an outstanding program in celebration of this holy season with choir and brass.
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Community Musical Events
For a full visual summary of dates and times of upcoming Public Music Concerts & Events, please see our Events Calendar.
McDougall United Church is one of the most popular concert venues in the City throughout the year. We are host to dozens of concerts, choirs, musicians and artists, music competitions, and special public events, both local, national and international.
As a venue, McDougall Church was the precursor to the Jubilee Auditorium and the Winspear Centre for Music. The acoustics in the church sanctuary are outstanding and have allowed for many breathtaking concerts over the decades.
We are able to seat 1,200 people, which includes the main floor and balcony and are fully accessible. For rental information, please see the link Rentals.
Our resident choirs and performance artists include:
- Ariose Women’s Choir
- Kokopelli Choirs
- Chinese Children’s Choir
- Wednesday Music Wednesdays at Noon
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Christmas Music at Noon
McDougall Church hosts a series of FREE noon hour concerts in December that we call “Come Home to Christmas.”
 Amidst the splendour of the poinsettias, Christmas trees and lights which adorn the church, we offer Christmas carols, a featured musical artist, readings, hot apple cider, cookies, and coffee from Starbucks for the downtown crowd and the community. Bring your lunch and join us!
As well, we are mindful of the needs of the wider community and raise funds by donation at these noon time concerts for the School Lunch Program run by E4C (formerly Edmonton City Centre Church Corporation). These noon hour concerts are generously sponsored by individual and corporate donors. Detailed information about all concerts is provided on our Events Calendar.
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New Year's Eve Concert
It is an annual tradition that McDougall Church opens its doors on New Year's Eve for a FREE evening of music and entertainment.
Come in out of the cold and enjoy a great family event from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. of music, coffee, fruit drinks, desserts, mask-making, face-painting, free bus service and LRT - all this just in time for you to get to Churchill Square to welcome the New Year with fireworks!
Admission is by donation of non-perishable food items to the Edmonton Food Bank.
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Music Wednesdays at Noon
Presented by the McDougall Concert Association
For a listing of upcoming Music Wednesdays Performances, please see our Current Schedule.
The McDougall Concert Association is in it’s 33rd season of presenting outstanding artists in a FREE concert series during the Fall and Winter seasons.
The events are held in the Banquet Hall (lower level) of McDougall United Church and run from approximately 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. This is a bring-your-lunch event. Coffee and tea are available.
These concerts began in 1979, and since the beginning have been made possible through the work of volunteers, many private donors, the Edmonton Musicians’ Association, the Music Performance Trust Fund, and McDougall United Church.
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Bass
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