Alumni Choir
Background
In early 2001 Professor Dan Lichti of the Laurier Faculty of Music approached a number of friends and WLU Alum who, like himself, had been members of the Waterloo Lutheran University Choir during the early 1970’s. He proposed the establishment of an award within the WLU Faculty of Music in memory of a friend and former chorister, Keith Knights, who had a positive impact on all those who sang with him.
The choir during the 60s and 70s was representative of the full university as membership came from all university students including the Seminary. The University Choir in those days rehearsed twice weekly under the direction of Dr. Martin Dolbeer (late 1950s –1962), Dr. Charles McLean (1962-4) and Dr. Walter Kemp (from 1964 - 1976). There was no Faculty of Music in those days so students in music/voice classes did so under the penumbra of a degreed program.
Significant volunteer effort was made in seeking out over 200 University Choir members from the 60s and 70s and a reunion occurred in 2001 where alum reconnected, friendships were renewed and all recalled fond memories of Reading Weeks when the choir acted as ambassadors for WLU. Alums determined that fund-raising for an award to honour Keith Knights was something to work towards.
The creation of the Keith Knights Award coupled with increased participation in university-related activities has encouraged others from the Alumni Choir to contribute significant amounts. Another WLUAC member put a significant amount in place for the establishment of the WLU Alumni Choir Award, which is also awarded annually to a music student. As of Fall 2009, the core group has been responsible for raising over $125,000.00 in grant/scholarship monies in the past few years and clearly, this activity speaks well of the importance of music and fellowship coupled with WLU has had on the Alumni Choir.
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