The first woman in Canada to be a member of the renowned RCMP band says she's "obsessed" with Canadian music, and she shared some of her obsession with the Battlefords last week.
Kerry-Anne Kutz of Montreal is known for her ability to sing many styles, seemingly effortlessly, and for her passionate promotion of Canadian music. She was the guest artist Sunday at a Gallery Singers concert at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts. The concert was entitled Awakenings, after music written by Saskatoon composer Angie Tysseland, and was billed as an evening of Canadian music.
Tysseland passed away at the age of 49 in 2010. The singer/songwriter's songs have been performed by more than 20 choirs across Canada and are regularly heard at music festivals and recitals. Her music has been recorded by Kutz, who is originally from Saskatoon, and Kutz continues to promote the work of Tysseland and other Canadian composers.
"She's the reason we're here, because I promised her we would continue to sing her music," Kutz told a group gathered at the Battleford United Church last Tuesday for a master class in singing.
Kutz presented a mini concert of a variety of Canadian music, then worked with seven members of a youth choir directed by Dianne Gryba and JoAnne Kasper, who also direct the Gallery Singers.
Gryba and Kutz met while attending university in Saskatoon, and Kutz said she was very happy when a phone call to her friend about bringing Canadian music to the Battlefords was answered with, "Great! When can you come."
Kutz may sing a variety of music, but her advice for all types is the same, to sing as you speak. With the right breathing technique, she told the Kamala students, one should be able to sing as long on a single breath as one can speak on a breath. She encouraged the young singers to practice yoga and strength training, and provided practical tips on posture and relaxation.
She also talked about her experience as a singer, about travelling extensively and working with other artists. She's married to a trumpet player who is as busy as she is.
"It's weird for the average person," Kutz said, "but we have such a good time."
Kutz said she has been working with Canadian composers since the beginning of her singing career.
When she first began studying at the University of Saskatchewan, she met Dorothy Howard, director of the voice program. Howard, who passed away earlier this year, paved the way for her to meet Marguerita Spencer, a skilled pianist and composer of some 40 songs.
Spencer was in her 90s when Kutz met her, and was almost completely blind, but "she could play anything on the piano. The association with Spencer began Kutz's interest in Canadian music.
Kutz has sung in concert halls in every province and territory of Canada and throughout the United States, including a New York City Metropolitan Opera Gala. On the international stage, she has sung in Australia, England, India, Singapore, Italy and Mexico. She has also performed with and for various celebrities such as Gregory Charles, Céline Dion, the royal family, international heads of state and the Montreal Canadiens. She is also a multilingual (French, English, Spanish, Yiddish, German) performer who has pursued language studies in Montreal, France and Germany.
She has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Saskatchewan and a master's degree in performance from the Université de Montréal. She has played a key role in the presentation of all-Canadian programs in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, Singapore, Australia and India. In addition to maintaining a busy performance schedule from her base in Montreal she also teaches voice to 30 vocal students. Her students' curriculum includes an annual concert of Canadian music.
Kutz performed at the Gallery Singers concert Sunday. Biggar's community choir, Prairie Notes, also performed.
