Obituary for Helen Litz (Wilms)
HELEN WILMS LITZ
1932-2021
With heavy hearts, but not without eternal hope, we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Helen Litz, on January 13, 2021, in Winnipeg, MB.
She was born June 7, 1932 to Edward and Elizabeth Wilms in Winnipeg, and married Albert Litz in 1951.
Her formal education included Manitoba Teachers College, Affiliated Arts and Orff courses at University of Manitoba, Royal Conservatory vocal and theory honours, and studies with Gladys Whitehead.
Besides her devout Christian faith and her family, Helen’s lifelong calling and gift to the world was the Mennonite Children’s Choir of Winnipeg, a 40-voice group she founded in 1957, serving as principal conductor and music director until 2008. The choir, which was established “to glorify God and spread joy with the voices of children,” comprised girls and boys aged 8 to 16 who auditioned from locations throughout the province. It drew its repertoire from all periods of music, from baroque to contemporary, including folksongs in German and other languages. Its musical range and pure delicacy of tone led to comparisons with the renowned Obernkirchen Children’s Choir.
Often simply called “Mrs. Litz’s choir,” it introduced hundreds of children to music, international travel and public service. Singers were described as “Canada’s musical ambassadors for God and country at home and abroad.” In response to invitations for concerts and workshops, the choir travelled throughout Canada and the U.S. (including Carnegie Hall), as well as globally to England, Wales, Holland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Korea, Australia, South Africa and South America.
A regular winner at local, national and international music festivals, the choir celebrated music of all kinds and through concerts and recordings promoted peace and global goodwill, sponsoring numerous philanthropic children’s projects with proceeds from its concert tours. Years later choir alumni remembered lessons in discipline, diction and pitch that accompanied them throughout their musical lives. Helen Litz was known to set the bar high, both for herself and her choristers.
She was widely sought as a guest conductor and choral clinician/adjudicator for schools, festivals, churches, workshops and music camps. She is listed in the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music as one of the founders of the children’s choir movement in Canada. In 2006 the Helen Litz Award for Children’s Choirs was established by the Canadian Music Educators Association. In her 80s she still sang with the Mennonite Festival Chorus.
Helen Litz was predeceased by her brother Herman Wilms (2009), son Reginald Albert Litz (2013), and husband Albert Litz (2018).
She leaves to mourn her daughter Lori (Doug); daughter-in-law Lois (Reg’s widow) and granddaughters Sara and Rachel; son Conrad (Barb) and granddaughters Katrina and Cassandra; sister Betty Bergmann; sister-in-law Mary Wilms (widow of Herman); and brother Bill (Eve) Wilms.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Judy Urbonas, Erna Kehler and the staff and doctors at Seven Oaks Hospital.
A private burial has been held. A memorial concert will be held later.
All arrangements handled by Friends Funeral Service, Inc.
1932-2021
With heavy hearts, but not without eternal hope, we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Helen Litz, on January 13, 2021, in Winnipeg, MB.
She was born June 7, 1932 to Edward and Elizabeth Wilms in Winnipeg, and married Albert Litz in 1951.
Her formal education included Manitoba Teachers College, Affiliated Arts and Orff courses at University of Manitoba, Royal Conservatory vocal and theory honours, and studies with Gladys Whitehead.
Besides her devout Christian faith and her family, Helen’s lifelong calling and gift to the world was the Mennonite Children’s Choir of Winnipeg, a 40-voice group she founded in 1957, serving as principal conductor and music director until 2008. The choir, which was established “to glorify God and spread joy with the voices of children,” comprised girls and boys aged 8 to 16 who auditioned from locations throughout the province. It drew its repertoire from all periods of music, from baroque to contemporary, including folksongs in German and other languages. Its musical range and pure delicacy of tone led to comparisons with the renowned Obernkirchen Children’s Choir.
Often simply called “Mrs. Litz’s choir,” it introduced hundreds of children to music, international travel and public service. Singers were described as “Canada’s musical ambassadors for God and country at home and abroad.” In response to invitations for concerts and workshops, the choir travelled throughout Canada and the U.S. (including Carnegie Hall), as well as globally to England, Wales, Holland, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Korea, Australia, South Africa and South America.
A regular winner at local, national and international music festivals, the choir celebrated music of all kinds and through concerts and recordings promoted peace and global goodwill, sponsoring numerous philanthropic children’s projects with proceeds from its concert tours. Years later choir alumni remembered lessons in discipline, diction and pitch that accompanied them throughout their musical lives. Helen Litz was known to set the bar high, both for herself and her choristers.
She was widely sought as a guest conductor and choral clinician/adjudicator for schools, festivals, churches, workshops and music camps. She is listed in the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music as one of the founders of the children’s choir movement in Canada. In 2006 the Helen Litz Award for Children’s Choirs was established by the Canadian Music Educators Association. In her 80s she still sang with the Mennonite Festival Chorus.
Helen Litz was predeceased by her brother Herman Wilms (2009), son Reginald Albert Litz (2013), and husband Albert Litz (2018).
She leaves to mourn her daughter Lori (Doug); daughter-in-law Lois (Reg’s widow) and granddaughters Sara and Rachel; son Conrad (Barb) and granddaughters Katrina and Cassandra; sister Betty Bergmann; sister-in-law Mary Wilms (widow of Herman); and brother Bill (Eve) Wilms.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Judy Urbonas, Erna Kehler and the staff and doctors at Seven Oaks Hospital.
A private burial has been held. A memorial concert will be held later.
All arrangements handled by Friends Funeral Service, Inc.