About

How did the choir begin?

While my wife and I were on our honeymoon in Hawaii in 1978, we saw a children’s choir from a local church perform in a mall. It made me realize that children had something to offer to the church and to the community, if given the opportunity. That fall, I started an instrument making class with a group of 17 children from West End Christian Reformed Church. When that program ended, the kids asked if they could sing together. That was the beginning of The Joyful Noise Choir.

Our work together has produced several recordings on behalf of Rehoboth Camp at Gull Lake:

1988

Kids For Kids | Production - Tommy Banks

1995

All the Way to Bethlehem with Ken Medema, Voce Humana Choir & Martin Murphy (Tenor) | Production - Tommy Banks

1998

It's a Miracle | Production - Rein Selles

2005

The Music of Our Hearts | Production - Ron Knol and Will Ryks

2009

Let The Children Come with Ken Medema | Production - Rein Selles

2014

Many Voices - One Song with Keri Zwicker Band & Martin Murphy - Tenor | Production - Rein Selles and Will Ryks

2019

Harvest of Praise with the Alumni Choir | Production Derek Schreiber. Available in two-CD package including a CD and DVD.

How did the connection to Rehoboth come about?
Before coming to Alberta I worked as a music and recreation therapist with developmentally challenged adults and children in Ontario. When the choir began to receive funds, I looked for an organization that we could support. Rehoboth had just begun their operations in Stony Plain and it seemed like a good fit. Over the years, that tie strengthened as we took on the goal of redeveloping Camp Rehoboth and we were asked to be their ambassadors across the province.

What does it mean to have done this for over 45 years?
I have now had the opportunity to see a second generation come into the choir. The experience of the parents stayed as a memory and provided inspiration for their own children to join. We have become a family of singers brought together with God’s hand to sing His praises and build His Kingdom.

What is your “leadership style”?
I use a teaching style that involves four vocal coaches – one each for the Soprano and Alto sections of the choir and two coaches to work with the junior choir. The coaches sing directly to their sections using monitors and microphones.

What draws children to the choir?
Children in the choir are given an opportunity to make a commitment to service and show leadership in worship, The musical gifts of the children are the tools they use to achieve those goals. As a priority, we also make choir activities fun for everyone.