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Biography
| 2007 | *************************************************
- March 2007, "Ein klares Zeichen der Heiligen Nacht" commissioned for Stratford Teutonia Chor. - May 2007, Directed and conducted "Music Alive Goes to the Oscars" in Kitchener and "Nith Valley Singers Go to the Oscars" in New Hamburg. - August 2007, Release of new Children's pieces and the "Fifth Book of Sounds, Songs & Thoughts" of German music. - September 2007, "Kleines Kantata" Commission for Concordia Choirs. New German music chosen for May 2008 Deutsch Kanadischer Sängerfest in Ottawa, ON. - October 2007, Release of new Piano Pieces - November 2007, "Die Post" Commission for Concordia Choirs, - December 2007, "Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen" Commission for Concordia Choirs. Directed and conducted "From Magi to Mistletoe" in Kitchener and New Hamburg with Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers. |
| 2006 | *************************************************
- January 2006 "In Memoriam: Anna Tuerr" was commissioned by Paul Tuerr and Family. A historial epic of displaced persons in time of war. Scored for narrator, instrumental ensemble, mixed and male choirs. - "Canadian Portraits" commissioned by St. Jerome's University March 2006. A look at Canada through the eyes of Canadian Artists. Visual perceptions are given musical interpretations. - April 2006 "Song: Contemplation" requested for the International Thomas Merton Archives. - Directed and conducted "Canadian Rhapsody, A Tribute to Canada" at Kitchener's The Centre In The Square in May 2006. There was music and dance from coast to coast celebrating Canada's rich cultural diversity, highlighting the Irish, Afro-American, Ukrainian, German, Scottish, Maritime and French heritages. Guest were Music Alive, the Nith Valley Singers, Concordia Mixed and Male Choirs, Tenor soloist Peter McCutcheon, Pryvit Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and flag bearers from many service clubs of Waterloo Region. - July 2006 "Die Tage sing warm" commissed by Stratford Teutonia Chor. - December 2006 Directed and conducted "Ghosts of Christmas Past" in Kitchener and New Hamburg with Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers. |
| 2005 | *************************************************
- May 12, 2005 established a non-profit corporation called "Millennium Choral Organization". - Directed and conducted a series of concerts in Kitchener and New Hamburg Ontario called "You Raise Me Up" in May 2005 featuring Music Alive, the Nith Valley Singers and tenor soloist Peter McCutcheon of Toronto Ontario. - Conducted a Peter McCutcheon series concert in Toronto Ontario called "Rejoice!" featuring Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers. - Stratford Teutonia Chor commissioned "Ein klares Zeichen der Heiligen Nacht" in September 2005. - Directed and conducted a series of concerts in Kitchener and New Hamburg Ontario called "A Soul Full of Celebration" in December 2005 featuring Music Alive, the Nith Valley Singers and vocal quartet "Beyond Bliss". |
| 2004 | **************************************************
-A series of concerts in Kitchener and New Hamburg called "Rhythms of Earth" in May 2004. African music, spirituals, folksongs featuring Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers,the Organic Grove Drum Circle, Mangwanani Dancers and Instrumental Ensemble. -A series of concerts in Kitchener and New Hamburg called "Classically Christmas" in December 2004 featuring Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers, instrumental ensemble, music from Bach to Kunz and excerpts from Kunz's "Peace Motet". -Drei Chörische Tänze for Germain Chorus - Odyssey II (for orchestra) |
| 2003 | **************************************************
- June 6, 2003 "A Gift of Music", The Centre In The Square - Kitchener ON, Millennium Concert Choir, Alfred Kunz - Artistic Director/Conductor, Millennium Concert Orchestra, Rinceoiri Celtica Dancers, Guest Choirs - Concordia Mixed & Male Choirs, Spirituals, German Heritage Music, Children's Choir, Youth Choir, Irish Suite (Presentation of commissioned work 'Substance and Shadow'), and World Peace. - December 6th & 10th, 2003 "Christmas Kaleidoscope" for SATB Choir, Semi Choir, Instrumental Ensemble, Children/Youth Choirs, Handbell Choir and Audience Sing-a-long. - Let's Go South (Flute, Violin, Keyboard, Bass, Percussion) - Odyssey I (for orchestra) |
| 2002 | **************************************************
- Jubilate Deo Omnis Terra commissioned by St. Jerome's University for the installation of Chancellor Richard Gwyn on March 17, 2002. - New Release of Handbell music for 3-5 octaves and 2 voice choirs. Dandelion Dance Quiet Beauty Welcome Golden Rose When Jesus Christ Was Four Years Old The Lord's Name Be Praised - New Instruments Releases Essay For V'Cello Solo Excursion For Solo Organ Going for Baroque (Strings & Keyboard) Inventions for Piano Limits for French Horn & Cello Meditation for Solo Flute String Quartet in One Movement Three for Two (Cello) - Substance and Shadow commissioned by Dr. Val O'Donovan for A Gift of Music Concert at Kitchener's The Centre In The Square for June 2003. - Cantata "Noel" for chorus and orchestra - New Music Concerts, String Quartet in One Movement played by the Hyperion String Quartet in Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Aird Centre, Wilfrid Laurier University - New Music Concerts, Essay for Violoncello Solo played in Heliconian Hall in Toronto Ontario |
| 2001 | **************************************************
- Fundraising concert for the organ restoration at Zion United Church in Kitchener, Ontario. - Series of concerts entitled "2001: Music Odyssey" in Kitchener and New Hamburg, Ontario. - Awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Waterloo. "Peace Motet" composed as his acceptance speech at Convocation. - University of Waterloo Sponsor's Appreciation Concert in honour of Kunz doctorate at Humanities Theatre. - Premiere of "Ave Verum Corpus" performed for the Sponsor's Concert, Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario. - Concert tour with the Millennium Concert Choir (Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers) to Italy. - Concert tour with the Concordia Choirs to western Canada. - Creation of website www.kunzmusic.ca. - Volunteer "Citizen of the Year" Award for Culture for Wilmot County, Ontario Canada |
| 2000 | **************************************************
- "Give Back the Moon. Celebrate the Earth" Millennium Concert with symphony orchestra, Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers. Original compositions by Kunz. All orchestral arrangements or compositions by Kunz. - Raised $4500.00 for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing |
| 1999 | **************************************************
- "Two Piece Suite for Violin, V'cello, and Piano", No. 1 - Looking Backward and No. 2 - Looking Forward, awarded honorable mention in the Studea Musica Composition Competition. - "The Touching of Sky" commissioned by Music Alive for their 10th year anniversary. - Presidential Installation at St. Jeromes University with commissioned works "Bell Prelude and Academic Processional" and "Canticle (Daniel 3): Blessed Are You". - "Song: Contemplation" commissioned for the International Thomas Merton Society festival and performed in concert at Maureen Forrester Hall with Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Chamber Choir. - 70th birthday tribute attended by 300 family, friends, choir members and local dignitaries. |
| 1998 to Present | **************************************************
- Christkindl Markt Christmas concerts with Concordia Choirs at Kitchener's City Hall. |
| 1998 | **************************************************
- Commissioned work "Song: Contemplation" performed for Stoddart Publishing Co's book launch of Heretic Blood in Waterloo, Ontario. - Organized and conducted "Hurricane Mitch Benefit Concert" at the Concordia Club. |
| 1997 | **************************************************
- Detroit Concert Choir recording of "What Child is This?" on CD. - Concert Tour with Concordia Choirs to eastern Canada |
| 1996 | **************************************************
- "Looking Bachward" concert with the Bach Kantate Singers and orchestra at St. Jerome's University, Siegfried Hall, with analysis and commentary by Kunz. - "Rhythms of Earth" commissioned by the Nith Valley Singers for their 10th year anniversary. - "Staged Choral Concert" titled "I'll Be Home For Christmas". Actors, speakers, dialogue, costumes and staging with instruments. Performed at Kitchener Collegiate Institute Auditorium. |
| 1995 to Present | **************************************************
- Kunz sponsored Walkathons for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing with assistance by the Canadian Hearing Society of Kitchener, Ontario. |
| 1995 to 1996 | **************************************************
- Organized and conducted the Bach Kantate Singers |
| 1995 | **************************************************
- England, Scotland, Wales concert tour with Music Alive and the Nith Valley Singers. - Rogers Cable TV video taping for broadcast across Canada of We Are The Future, a collection of 9 pieces for children performed by The Singing Children of New Hamburg and the Kidz Choir of the Music Alive Choral Organization. - "Lied, Kling Hinaus", Concordia Choirs TV show recorded by Rogers Cable TV. |
| 1994 | **************************************************
- Invited to Adelaide, Australia for the 11th International Handbell Symposium, to conduct "Island Enchantress" with choir, orchestra, narrator, 900 bell ringers and 3000 bells composed by Alfred Kunz. |
| 1992 | **************************************************
- 31st Singing Festival of the German Canadian Choir Association in Stratford, Ontario. - Concert Tour 19th Singing Festival for the German Singing Association in Cologne, West Germany. - Music Alive tour of Austria and Germany. |
| 1991 | *************************************************
- Premier performance by the Joshua Singers of commissioned piece, "The Island Enchantress" as part of the Grand Valley Handbell Festival, composed by Alfred Kunz. |
| 1990 | *************************************************
- Sold-out performance of Music Alive at Kitchener's Centre In The Square. - Concordia Choirs, 6-country European Tour. - Candlelight Children's Vigil, Centre In The Square. - Received Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Award in the Open category, presented September 27, 1990 at the 10th Anniversary Gala, Centre In The Square. - Praesident's Konzert, opening weekend of Oktoberfest, Centre In The Square with Music Alive, Joshua Singers and Schonach Band from Germany. - "Liebeslied" commissioned by the German Canadian Choir Association for their 18th annual Singing Festival. |
| 1989 to Present | *************************************************
- Organizer/Artistic Director/Conductor of the Music Alive Choral Organization in Kitchener, consisting of children, youth and adult choirs. |
| 1989 | *************************************************
- Taught self-defense courses for the Waterloo Region Board of Education. - Concert "Concordia and Friends" with members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra in The Centre In The Square with a 300-voice choir. - "Der Singende Vogel Der Ewigkeit (The Singing Bird of Eternity)" for flute and strings commissioned by the German Canadian Congress and Teleglobe Canada for Germanica. |
| 1988 | *************************************************
- Received Black Belt in Kung Fu. - Commissioned to conduct concert in Massey Hall with Toronto Symphony Orchestra and German Canadian Choir Association with 500-voice choir. - "Island Enchantress", a massed handbell choir composition was commissioned for the International Bell Ringers' Convention in England. - Performed for Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of Germany, with Concordia Choirs. - "Spring Into Summer", orchestral composition chosen by Nepean Symphony Orchestra for Canadian Composers' Competition. |
| 1987 | - "Night Sky" orchestral composition chosen by Nepean Symphony Orchestra for Canadian Composers' Competition.
- "She's Like The Swallow" arrangement for four-octave handbell choir, commissioned by Gerald Ziegler and his Forest Glen School Handbell Choir performance in England. |
| 1986 | - Western Canada and Expo 86 Tour with Concordia Choirs.
- Guest conductor with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in "Pops" Series. Christmas program with Concordia Choirs. - Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario, 30th Anniversary of the German Canadian Choir Association |
| 1985 | - "Te Deum" commissioned by Nestor Charton and the Cambridge Girls' Choir.
- "Hear This All Ye People" commissioned by the Hamilton Orpheus Male Chorus. |
| 1984 to Present | - Organized and directed the Nith Valley Singers of New Hamburg.
- "A Compliment of Song", original compositions or arrangements done for private commissions |
| 1983 | - German Canadian Choir Association concert tour to Hamburg Germany and premiere of Six Canadian Pictures.
- Letter of commendation from President Reagan for furthering goodwill relations between Canada and the United States through music. |
| 1982 | - Commissioned to write the City of Waterloo 125th Anniversary Song. |
| 1981 | - Established Alfred Kunz Music Publications with 400 compositions in print.
- Six Canadian Pictures commissioned by the German Canadian Choir Association. - "Indian Summer", "There's a Fire in the Forest" and "Twilight Song" commissioned by the Saskatchewan Music Educators' Association. - Music Director for Waterloo Little Theatre's production of Fantastics. |
| 1980 | - Composed music, coordinated and directed 500 singers and orchestra for "Opening Night - Preview Week" of Kitchener's Centre In The Square. "A Time to Celebrate" and the "Canada Song" were commissioned for the occasion. |
| 1970 to Present | - Wrote all instrumental and orchestral original compositions and arrangements for all choral, orchestral concerts. |
| 1979 | - Left the University of Waterloo to become a free agent composing and conducting.
- "Overture For Fun (Oktoberfest Overture)" was written and premiered by the Kingston Symphony and later played on CBC. - Cyex and Alcyone, Chamber Opera, 50 minute. - The Christmas Story commissioned by Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Choir. - The Second Book of Diverse Songs, Sounds and Thoughts (choral) composed and published. - "Beginning of Folk Song" project for public and high school bands. - 10,000 mile motorcycle trip covering 25 states and 5 provinces. |
| 1978 | - Member of the Building Committee for the designing of Kitchener's Centre In The Square.
- Composed, conducted and produced four television shows for CKCO called Music Alive |
| 1977 | - Commissioned to write theme song and athletic march for the Ontario Student Games in Kitchener, Ontario with assistance from Canada Council. |
| 1976 | - Tour of West Germany after attending the 16th National Singing Festival in Berlin. Choir and orchestra concert of the German Canadian Choir Association. Works featured by Kunz. Canada Council assistance for the premiere in Berlin. |
| 1974 to 1984 | - Organized and conducted the Kitchener-Waterloo Regional Male Chorus. |
| 1974 to 1979 | - Organized and conducted the Alfred Kunz Singers and Mini-Pops Ensemble. |
| 1973 | - Composed, arranged and conducted music for the Concordia Club/Choirs 100th Anniversary with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony at the Concordia Club.
- Introduced to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their tour of Canada. Conducted Concordia choirs as part of their welcome to Kitchener. |
| 1972 to 1973 | - Host of a one-hour weekly television show on GRC TV in Kitchener featuring local instrumentalists.
- Visit to Moscow and Russia as music representative in a bid for the World Student Games. - Member of steering committee to create the Ontario Choral Federation. |
| 1971 | - Attended the International Choral Conductors Symposium in Vienna, Austria. Assisted in preparing the choir for a performance of the Mahler 8th Symphony |
| 1970 to 1975 | - Music advisor for CKCO Television, Kitchener, Ontario. |
| 1969 to 1979 | - Appointed full time Music Director at the University of Waterloo. Coordinator and organizer of the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Band, Stage Band and the Little Symphony Orchestra. |
| 1969 to 1970 | - Coordinated the revival of the International "S?ngerfest". |
| 1968 to Present | - Conductor of Concordia Male Choir, Ladies Choir and Mixed Choir.
- Founder of the Concordia Children's Choir. - Six European choir tours. - Organized annual "All Choirs Nite" for 450 singers and guests at the Concordia Club |
| 1968 | - German Canadian Choir Association concert tour to Germany; 15th National Singing Festival concert with orchestra in Stuttgart assisted by grants from Canada Council. All music and/or arrangements were by Kunz |
| 1967 | - Premiere at University of Waterloo's Theatre of the Arts, of The Big Land, an oratorio celebrating Canada, with words by Professor Larry Cummings of St. Jerome's College amd music by Kunz. |
| 1967 to 1972 | - Organizer and coordinator of the Kitchener-Waterloo Heritage Singing Festival. Choirs from across Canada and the United States attended these events |
| 1965 to 1998 | - Appointed Association Choir Director for the German Canadian Choir Association |
| 1965 to 1967 | - Principal of the Canadian Music Teachers' College of Burlington Ontario.
- Appointment as part-time Director of Music at the University of Waterloo. - Six weeks in Germany studying and touring |
| 1965 | - Composer in residence on the Isle of Sylt, North Germany with Jeunesses Musicales.
- Founded Concordia Children and Youth Choirs. |
| 1964 to 1965 | - One year of study in West Germany on scholarship from West German Government, German Canadian Choir Association and the Concordia Club and Choirs. Studies with Karlheinz Stockhausen and Earl Brown in Cologne. Choral conducting in Mainz. Worked as assistant in the Mainz City Opera House. Attended various courses in composition in Darmstadt, Bilthoven, Holland, etc. Took choral conducting exams at Mainz University and awarded "Staats Exam" papers. |
| 1962 to 1964 | - Conductor, Germania Male Choir in Hamilton.
- Organized the Germania Children's and Mixed Choir in Hamilton |
| 1962 to 1963 | - Arranged, composed and conducted music for Jewish Music Month. |
| 1962 | - Joined Concordia Choirs as a singer.
- Composed and produced the two chamber operas, The Damask Drum and Three Figures in a Crystal Ball. - "To Hear an Oriole Sing" and three short instrumental works for young musicians commissioned by the Ontario Choral Federation with grant from Ontario Council. |
| 1959 to 1964 | - Organist and Choirmaster, Mount Zion Lutheran Church. Organized Children's Choir, Youth Choir, and Adult Choir. |
| 1959 | - Organized the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Choir. |
| 1955 | - Returned to Kitchener, Ontario. Taught piano and theoretical subjects.
- Organized the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Orchestra. |
| 1949 to 1955 | - Studies in Toronto, Conservatory of Music. Private work with Gordon Dolamont, Toronto, Ontario |
| 1929 | - Born May 26, 1929 - Neudorf, Saskatchewan. |
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