About us
at the Manitoba Legislature
The Bison Men’s Chorus has been in existence since September 1985. It is a community-based chorus made up of singers from Winnipeg and the surrounding area many of them students, faculty, staff and alumni of the University of Manitoba . The repertoire consists of traditional male chorus selections, spirituals, jazz arrangements, folk and art songs, sacred music, show pieces and commissioned works.
The Chorus also keeps very busy with performances outside of their own schedule. They have performed Haydn’s Creation along with the University of Manitoba Women’s Chorus and University Singers, with featured soloists Tracey Dahl, Mel Braun and Robert McLaren, and the University of Manitoba String Orchestra under the baton of Earl Stafford. The Bison Men performed with the WSO under Henry Engbrecht in the performance of Mendolssohn’s “Elijah”. As well, the Chorus participated in the Opening Ceremonies of the Arthur Mauro Center for Peace and Justice as a part of the 250 voice choir and instrumental ensemble under the direction of Zane Zallis. The group has also performed at national and international events in Vancouver, Banff, Fargo North Dakota, Morris, Crookston and St. Paul Minnesota, and Eau Claire Wisconsin.
At both the 2012 and 2017 Winnipeg Music Festivals the Chorus was awarded the Helga Anderson Trophy for “the most outstanding performance by an adult community choir”.
The group has recorded 3 tapes and 4 CD’s. The most recent, recorded over the 2009-2010 season is entitled He⋏𝒶rdAcross Canada.
Our Director: Murray Wichert
Murray has been a band and choir teacher since 2011. While studying music at the University of Manitoba he sang in the Bison Men’s Chorus for 3 seasons. He has also enjoyed performing with many community ensembles around the city including the Riel Gentlemen’s Choir, University of St. Boniface jazz band and in the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Winnipeg’s chorus.
Murray has been director since September 2022.
Our Accompanist: Héctor Pinzón-Arroyo
Héctor is an established Colombian pianist, conductor, and composer. From a family of musicians, he started playing piano at the age of 5. Since then, his creative output has taken different shapes leading him to a variety of performances and opportunities throughout North America and Europe.
Héctor holds a master’s degrees in conducting and collaborative piano, at universities such as Azusa Pacific University, University of Southern Mississippi, and University of Manitoba, specializing in instrumental, operatic, and vocal music. He has also won several competitions in piano performance and conducting, consequently touring Germany, Austria, USA, Ecuador, and Colombia. As a conductor, Hector has worked as the musical director of youth and professional orchestras, in symphonic and operatic productions, and his compositions – a fusion between classical and latin folk music – have been performed in three different continents, including his last work, a Piano Concerto, premiered at the University of Southern California in November of 2019.
Collaboration is perhaps the artistic practice that encompasses the meaning of music making for Héctor. From his family musical gatherings, salsa-dancing sessions, his piano and cello duet with his beloved wife, Gabriella, and his passion for teaching, music represents an important part of his life.
Héctor, who joined the Chorus in 2023, replaces the Chorus’ long time accompanist, Cary Denby who was a mainstay of the Chorus since 1998.
Our History
The Bison Men’s Chorus was formed in September 1985 by Dr. Larry Patterson of the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba in cooperation with the University’s Faculty of Music. The goal was (and remains) to foster University and community relations by providing expanded choral opportunities for students, faculty, staff and members of the Winnipeg & area general community. From its inception the Chorus has performed a broad selection of music styles including traditional male chorus selections, spirituals, contemporary and jazz as well as original and commissioned pieces. The Bison Men’s Chorus is an “affiliated organization” of the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music.
Larry Patterson served as the Chorus’s director from its beginnings in 1985 until 1997 when Reno Gerl took over as director. Steve Denby held the position from 1999 until 2017 and Dr. Stuart Sladden held the position from January 2018 until March 2022. The Chorus’ current director is Murray Wichert.
The Chorus has produced a number of recordings over the years.
- Home for the Holidays (cassette)
- Brown and Gold 1995 (CD & cassette)
- He⋏𝒶rdin Manitoba 2000 (CD)
- He⋏𝒶rdat Christmas 2006 (CD)
- He⋏𝒶rdAcross Canada 2010 (CD)
In addition to its regular concert schedule the Chorus has participated in a number local, national and international concerts of some significance.
- 1988 – CBC National Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs
- June 1990 – Gala Concert with the Ron Paley Trio, Winnipeg , Manitoba
- July 1990 – Pacific International Festival of Male Choirs, Vancouver , British Columbia
- November 1991 – Manitoba Choral Association Choral Concert Gala, Winnipeg , Manitoba
- November 1994 – Augustana Concert Musical Traditions, St. Paul , Minnesota
- April 1995 – Canadian Rocky Mountain Festival, Banff , Alberta
- January 2006 – Medelssohn’s Elijah with the University of Manitoba Singers , the University Women’s Choir and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg , Manitoba
- May 2008 – Sister Cities Concert: with the Setegaya Citizens Chorus from Setagaya , Japan , Winnipeg , Manitoba
- May 2010 – Brothers in Harmony: A Celebration of Male Voices in Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Golden Chordsmen, the Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus, the Winnipeg Male Chorus, the Faith and Life Chorus and the Winnipeg Boy’s Choir, Winnipeg, Manitoba