Walker Family New Year's Letter 2009

Dear Friends and Family:

Happy New Year from the Walker Household! It is being some time since we’ve written a family newsletter and some of you than asking, what has been musically happening for all three of you? The fall was very busy for all three of us and we look forward to exciting and fulfilling events in 2009. We’ve included a recent photo of Emily and Ian for you to review.

Ian’s dear friends Michael and Louise Rutledge of Brantford (friends from High School) celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past August and it was a grand and affair. Michael and Louise have been great friends to both Ian and Elaine as we’ve enjoyed spending time with them when we can. To celebrate their anniversary they had a square dance and that was a fun filled evening, looking back on our high school days, their wedding (Ian was their best man) and there are ongoing family life. We wish them many more years together in the future.

For the last two years, Ian was writing his autobiography about his life with ADHD. With Elaine’s support to finish this manuscript, the book will soon be published through a Canadian publisher in the spring of 2009. The book is called Stirring my soul to Sing, Overcoming Obstacles of ADHD. Ian hopes that the book will be a blessing to those ADHD North American families, who to have suffered through this disorder. Ian’s book shares his story that through arts education, awareness (also having a strong faith) and through vocal and choral singing; led him to overcome his difficulties and focused on a career as an arts consultant. We will keep you all in the loop once our new web site is up and running and you can order the book from Amazon.CA

In conjunction with the publishing of the book, Ian returned to McMaster University in Hamilton ON, in September, 2008 to finish his Arts BA in the “Theatre and Film.” It will be completed in April, 2009, and initially he needed six courses to finish. Now in the term a two, he has only two more courses to go until he graduates. There are a work opportunities for Ian in the near future within the School for the Arts at McMaster or within Alumni Advancement Department,as well as promoting his book in the near future.

Ian decided to take a sabbatical year from and duties with the Youth Choir for the Nation’s… in order that he could concentrate on his studies. He has been getting new ideas for choral works and tour and opportunities when he resumes conducting the choir in the spring of 2009. In the late summer months we have formed a tremendous board of directors that have been working very diligently, creating I were bylaws for this organization. We’re proceeding towards our own charitable status in the near future. We would greatly appreciate your prayer support as they seek the lord for 2009 and for his directions and for the duties that the board of directors will administer. Elaine and I are so blessed by these friends and colleagues that the lord has brought together and we gratefully thank them for their commitment to our revitalized organization.

Elaine has had some new opportunities herself with the promotion of Canada revenue agency (CRA) as of October; she formerly worked in the clerical area for a lead in the years, and is now an officer in the collections department. She continues to love to learn more about culinary delights and most evenings (after a busy day at the office and relaxing in front of the TV) Elaine is happy to pull out several of her cookbooks and planned for the week’s meals and wants to try out these new recipes on Ian and herself. Elaine has become someone who likes to check her “Facebook page” every night, seeing what new and old friends have been in touch with her? Hopefully, in 2009, Elaine will have the opportunity to take some clarinet blessings that she has wanted to get back to her all own music making.

Christina who is 17, is in her last year in High School in London, ON and it is soon to be planning for auditions to universities that have a music program in both violin and viola studies. Christina's excellent academic standing, she applied and was accepted to take one free course from UWO and she selected “Astronomy”. Christina is taking five courses this year, plus her university course and is keeping up with both of her violin/viola lessons and she is also very involved in her church youth group. She also works part time at her local Tim Horton’s restaurant-needless to say, she is one busy girl!

The Orpheus choir of Toronto (“OC” 60 mixed voices) activities have been keeping both Ian and Elaine very busy. Ian continues to look after publicity and marketing needs for the choir. Our season with Robert Cooper, artistic director and his choral repertoire –keeps getting better and better each year. If you are within the GTA and never been to an “OC” concert you’re missing some great music making! For the opening of our 44 season, we performed a new Canadian and now nationally commission to work called The Houses Stand Not Far Apart, with 100 voiced Chorus Niagara and orchestra. We combined our resources for two concerts in Toronto and in St. Catharine’s, ON. We gave the Toronto premiere of Lux Perpetua by British composer Jonathan Willcocks. We were so pleased to have internationally renowned Sir David Willcocks ( father of Jonathan) conduct this works with us.

It was a thrill for Ian to sing in the “OC” under Sir David, as both of us began a friendship with him in 2001. Sir David is 89 years young and is still going strong with his career. Elaine is such a great supporter of the choir and we appreciate her assistance on “front of house duties” or at the box office. While we were rehearsing with the orchestra on November 2 (day of the concert) Elaine had the opportunity to sit and chat for most of the afternoon with lady Rachel Willcocks which was very relaxing for both ladies.

If you’d like to know more about our ongoing 44 season of the Orpheus choir of Toronto, please check out our web site at www.orpheuschoirtoronto.com

In December, we’ve gone back to bell Canada so our phone number and e-mail ISP has changed. Our new number is (905) 813 –9884 and our email address is emlian2@sympatico.ca . Elaine has set up her e-mail as elaineruth1@sympatico.ca . Please update these addresses in your contacts directories.

May god richly bless you and your family for this New Year! Happy “choral singing” and music making from our family to yours in 2009.

All of our love,

Ian, Elaine and Christina