There was something for everyone as Westgate kicked off its Capital Campaign with the Gala Concert held Friday, February 5, 2010 at Westminster United Church.  Thanks to our generous sponsors, Phillip Ens was able to join the Westgate Concert Choir, the Mennonite Collegiate Institute Chamber Choir  and other talented musicians for a wonderful night of beautiful music before a capacity crowd.

Serious music lovers heard Philip, accompanied by Edmund Dawe, perform Purcell's Arise ye subterranean winds, Beethoven's In questa tomaba oscura, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Song of the Viking Grave.  Phillip regaled and at times moved the audience with his renditions of spiritual, hymnal and folk music, often accompanied by Victor Engbrecht and the choirs.    Many were brought to tears when Phil, Victor and the two choir conductors, Vic Pankratz and Rick Heppner Mueller, joined to sing In the Rifted Rock I'm Resting.  It was good to hear two of Manitoba's best high school choirs under one roof. When both combined to serve us with their rendition of the traditional African spiritual Hlohonolofatsa, the virtues of supporting Mennonite education was clearly heard.

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