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April 28, 2003 May 10th 2003 Morden makes its mark on McKennitt By Lorne Stelmach The Morden Times—Morden can feel proud that it made a lasting impact on Loreena McKennitt.Global musical stardom gives McKennitt the freedom to travel to foreign lands like Turkey and Greece. While Morden might seem somewhat inconsequential in comparison, McKennitt's first 17 years in Morden made an indelible mark on her. And, it seems returning home to visit can still make an impact on her. "When I come back here, when I haven't been for awhile, I'm struck every time by the horizon," McKennitt said after finishing a sound check prior to a gala in her honour April 26. Driven to music? Not one to seek out a public spotlight, McKennitt nevertheless said she felt quite honoured to receive this kind of reception and tribute from her home town. It led her to reminisce a little about her childhood here in Morden. Describing herself as a bit of a tomboy, McKennitt recalled she didn't envision a career in music early on, with her thoughts initially leaning towards becoming a veterinarian. You often hear other musicians say how they feel like they always knew music would be the focus of their life, but McKennitt said she didn't feel that driven in terms of music at first. "I loved music, but I was never really that determined or inspired," she said. "I loved music; I loved sports ... but I thought I was going to do something else." Despite that, music was one of the constants in her life. Recalling the 1960s, she said there was always a lot of music going on within the community and the schools and churches. Two of her music teachers - Olga Friesen and Neil Hoeppner - became major influences on her, not only with their skills but their artistic vision and motivation. "Olga Friesen was my first music teacher, and she was a tremendous influence," said McKennitt, who recalled how Friesen required her piano students to also participate in a community choir. Her most vivid memories of the level of creativity in the community is how Friesen and Paul Sigurdson composed an operetta and even involved the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in doing the choreography - remarkable for a community of about 3,000 people at that point. "When you really think of it, that kind of strength of imagination is remarkable," she said. "Being exposed to all that creativity at a young age, it's not surprising, in a way, where I am now." Like a travel writer Where she is now is in a position where McKennitt feels very blessed to have the opportunities and freedom to experience so much of the world. "I'm really enjoying all of it," she said. "This has been a tremendous vehicle for self education." Her music is exploring the Celtic roots and connections in other cultures and lands. And the research she undertakes to help build the foundations for her songs takes her to all sorts of exotic places. "It allows me to travel and experience many different periods, different cultures. I'm like a glorified travel writer," she chuckled. Her music, though, can conjure up vivid visual images - listen to Marco Polo and see if you don't envision a sand-swept Arabian desert - and it is suggested to her that she can be likened as much or more to a visual artist. "I'm really impacted by things visually," she agreed. "My paintbrush is my music." Restructuring The challenge McKennitt faces is to free herself from other responsibilities to focus on creating her music. Unlike most other musical artists, McKennitt has always been in charge of every aspect of her career through her own Quinlan Road record label. But McKennitt now finds herself trying to reorganize in order to free up more of her time "I never planned on running a record label. But I've taken it on in a particular way ... I've done it with my eyes open," said McKennitt, who spoke then in rather non-musical terms. "I've started down the path of reorganizing my infrastructure," she said, noting the pending hiring of a general manager and financial officers. "The success has outgrown the infrastructure." While trying to scale back some of her other responsibilities as well, she remains committed to other endeavors she started in recent years. Since 1998, she has devoted much time and energy to the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety. In 2000, she also purchased a former school in a heritage building in Stratford, and has overseen its development into the Falstaff Family Centre. With a range of programs and resources for families and particularly children, it is a facility she takes a lot of pride in and has enjoyed seeing its programs grow. "That has been like starting another whole business," she said. "Now, with the help of the community, we're guiding it back into the community's hands." Once these things are taken care, McKennitt will be able to head off again to some faraway place and seriously get back to her music. "And I'm just itching to get things in place," said McKennitt, who added she is not sure which direction her travels will take her music this time. That is how she likes it, however, as she really seems to take to heart a saying she quotes on her The Book of Secrets recording. The quote by Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese Taoist philosopher, says "a good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." "I never know where it's going to take me," said McKennitt. "It's like an end of a thread ... and I just kind of go with it." May 10th 2003 Tributes flow for McKennitt and Morden By Lorne Stelmach The Morden Times—Family, friends and fans all paid tribute to Morden-born music star Loreena McKennitt at the gala in her honor April 26.With up to 400 people on hand in the Morden Recreation Centre hall, however, it was left to her brother Warren McKennitt to say a few words about his talented sister. He paid tribute to Loreena for her spirit in all her endeavors and her accomplishments. He also painted a bit of a picture of his sister's days growing up on the family farm and in Morden. The last time he likely shared a stage with his sister was when they were children, Warren said, describing an eight-year-old boy being upstaged by his five-year-old sister. Warren recalled her singing in a community choir and competing in the local festival of the arts. And that kind of involvement continued as she grew older and got involved in theatre. "We didn't have normal Christmases," he joked, noting the family once got involved in helping to make costumes for a play. Warren remembered Loreena always being determined, even when involved in athletics. "She could hold her own against the boys," he said. "I would not have wanted to play basketball against her." That spirit is reflected in her success today, Warren said, saying she gives everything 110 per cent. "We're very proud of Loreena." Reluctant celebrity As for Loreena, who then performed five songs for everyone fortunate to have tickets for the sold-out gala, she said she was deeply touched by the tributes. "I'm a very reluctant public person," she commented. "This is very humbling. I'm deeply honoured." McKennitt said she owes a great deal to her family for their support. She paid tribute particularly to two of her music teachers, Neil Hoeppner and Olga Friesen. Friesen recently passed away, and a short documentary presented at the gala was dedicated to her. The video, entitled To Morden With Love, offered a personal glimpse into Loreena's formative years in the town and was a touching tribute to the community, and particularly Friesen. "She was a very influential person to me at a very young age," said McKennitt, who also remembered Paul Sigurdson for "inspiring me to go on to more creative works." McKennitt also thanked the gala organizers for including some performers from this year's festival of the arts in the program, saying it is heartening to see these young people being supported and encouraged. In conclusion, she told everyone in Morden to ''please know you've played a very important part in my life. "I think this community gave me a great deal over the 17 years I had been here. And there are many times I think about this community."
May 10th 2003 McKennitt makes award memorable for Rampton By Lorne Stelmach The Morden Times—It seems music is in the stars for Andrew Rampton. But the young Morden resident was face-to-face with a down-to-earth star last weekend.He received the annual Loreena McKennitt Award of the Morden Festival of the Arts from the Morden Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his excellence in musical studies. With the presentation coinciding with a gala honoring the award's namesake, Rampton received the additional honour of having McKennitt personally present the award. Rampton also performed on piano at the gala as one of several top participants selected from this years festival of the arts. The highlighted performers included: * Voice - Jessica Friesen and Jennifer Schroeder * Strings - David Warkentin, Jessica and David Persson, Mattias Warkentin and Duncan Halstaedt * Piano - Aaron Loeppky, Jenna Hamm and Andrew Rampton. Multi-talented Rampton was praised as a multi-talented young man who has excelled musically in piano, trombone, choral and as a tenor soloist. He began studying piano at the age of eight and began classical vocal studies in 2002. He first entered the Morden Festival of the Arts in 1992 as a pianist and has performed nearly every year since then. It was noted in his first adjudication that he is a natural performer. He has also competed in the Associated Manitoba Arts Festival music finals as a pianist each year he has been eligible and was a runner-up in his class in 1998. Rampton has had an active role in local theatre since 1996. He began with the junior high school production of The Woman at Dead Oaks and worked with The Company as a lighting technician for Desperate Ambrose. In 1997, he had a role in the Morden Collegiate production of Little Shop of Horrors, then participated as an actor, writer and director in The World According to Us dinner theatre production in 1998 while in Grade 10. In 2000, while in Grade 12, he played the part of Kenickey in the musical Grease. In 2001, when a cast member withdrew, Rampton was asked to take over a main role in the drama West of the Pecos only three weeks before opening night. Other extra curricular activities included working on the MCI fashion show committee in 1997 and 1998, helping organize a student group to discuss current events, attending the Forum for Young Canadians and serving as secretary on student council in 1999-2000. Community service has also played a role in Rampton's life so far. While in Grade 11, he was the charter president of the Leos Club, a youth-wing of the local Lions Club. His future plans include continuing his classical vocal studies and studying the organ. He has applied for scholarships in both of these disciplines at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Winnipeg. Rampton intends to study music education at the University of Manitoba with the possibility of continuing towards graduate studies in the future. Rampton received a $100 cheque as part of the Loreena McKennitt Award. Past recipients of the award since its inception nine years ago have been Leanne Zacharias, Andrea Letkeman, Kyla Friesen, Kelly Cumming, Tara Pauls, Karen Hoeppner, Keith Cumming and Jenna Hamm.
July 14th 2003 McKennitt honoured with Order of Manitoba The musical pride and joy of Morden will be invested into the Order of Manitoba at a ceremony July 15 at the Manitoba Legislative building. And with McKennitt so close to home, Morden officials seized the opportunity to bring her here briefly for one more special occasion. She will make a quick trip to Morden Tuesday morning for the official hanging and unveiling of a photographic portrait of her in performance. The portrait will be kept on display in the Morden Civic Centre after the 11 a.m. ceremony. Meanwhile, McKennitt will now be able to put the initials O.M. after her name in honour of being named to the Order of Manitoba. She was one of 12 Manitobans past and present invested into the order by Lt. Gov. Peter Liba this spring. “Each year, I recognize outstanding citizens who have made a difference to our province and its people through their accomplishments and contributions,” said Liba, who is chancellor of the order. The Order of Manitoba was established to recognize Manitobans who have demonstrated excellence and achievements which have lead to improving our social, cultural or economic well being. McKennitt was recognized for winning critical acclaim and selling about 13 million records worldwide on her self-managed record label Quinlan Road. Among other highlights noted were her support for the Morden United Church building fund by hosting a concert and her appearance at the opening of the 1996 Manitoba Summer Games in Morden. More recently, she was the headline performer for Queen Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh at the Manitoba Legislature in October, 2002. She has also been an active member of her community in Stratford, Ontario and oversees several charitable undertakings in the fields of water safety as well as family and childhood support services. Since 1998, she has devoted much time and energy to the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund for Water Search and Safety. In 2000, she also purchased a former school in a heritage building in Stratford, and she has overseen its development into the Falstaff Family Centre. Announced in May, her induction into the Order of Manitoba came within a month of Morden paying tribute to McKennitt at a gala in her honour here April 26. Up to 400 people were on hand for the gala, at which McKennitt performed five songs for her home town.
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