Lyric soprano Rebecca Whelan sings Chris Dedrick at church
Lyric soprano Rebecca Whelan obtained her bachelor's degree in vocal performance from the University of Toronto and soon after graduating was engaged by the Elmer Iseler Singers. She still sings with the Iseler Singers and is also pursuing a solo career.

Rebecca Whelan

Composer Chris Dedrick is one of Caledon's best kept secrets. Although most people may say they do not know who Chris Dedrick is, they have almost certainly heard his music. Chris is the recipient of 3 Gemini Awards and 13 nominations, a Genie Award, 2 Golden Reel Awards, a Hot Docs Award and a Blizzard Award. He has composed soundtracks for TV documentaries, dramatic series, and mini-series such as Shades of Black (the Conrad Black Story), Waking Walter, Childstar, Tripping the Wire, I Claudia, Elizabeth Rex, Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, Emily of New Moon, The Avro Arrow, Walter and Henry, Road to Avonlea, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Planet of Junior Brown, Million Dollar Babies, to name but a few.

On a trip to Europe in 1983 with the vocal ensemble the Star-Scape Singers, Chris met and befriended the Chalogany family. As he got to know the Chaloganys, Chris learned of a tragedy they had experienced.

In 1981 their son Gabriel had fallen to his death. He was 11 years old. In 2004 Chris and his wife, Moira, were again in France and visited the Chaloganys. It was then that Chris saw, for the first time, the poems written by Gabriel in the last year of his life. Moved by the simplicity and naivety of these poems, Chris set them to music, as a gift to the family. He called the collection Suite pour l'Ange Gabriel.

Chris got to know Rebecca Whelan while preparing a commissioned work for the Elmer Iseler Singers in 2001. Impressed with the quality of Rebecca's voice, Chris has collaborated with her on film soundtracks and works for choir. But it was the desire to compose and present a solo recital that took their partnership to a new level. The recital, which took place last summer in a private residence in the Hockley Valley, featured Suite pour l'Ange Gabriel.

Saturday, May 26, as part of the Caledon Chamber Concert series, Rebecca will again sing music by Chris, including Suite pour l'Ange Gabriel, in a recital at St. James Anglican Church, Caledon East. Concert time is 8 p.m. and tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 16 and under. To reserve tickets or for more information contact Gordon Morton at 905-880-2445.