In Memory of Bob de Frece,
Founding Conductor of Greenwood Singers
On January 7, 2026 our beloved founding conductor, Dr. Robert de Frece passed away, and we grieve. The Greenwood Singers, current members and alumni alike, are part of a much larger community of those who are saddened by the loss of our mentor, leader, conductor, teacher, and friend. In one sense, Greenwood Singers members feel that we are special, somehow, because our choir was a passion project of Bob’s, a group he founded in 1980 because there was just so much music to make, and he wanted a chamber choir to make it with. We made music with Bob for more than 40 years! But then, all the members of the University of Alberta Mixed Chorus who sang under Bob feel that theirs must also be a special grief, as will all the university students he taught and mentored, and the high school students he inspired, and the professional musicians with whom he collaborated, and the littlest children who learned that they too had a song to sing. Bob may have left us, but the treasure of music he has bequeathed is past any ability to fathom. His is this breathtaking legacy: he saw each one, every one, as having music to make, songs to sing, and lives to touch in the process. His was a life of empowering children, youth, young adults, adults young at heart, those with experience, and those who had been afraid to try, each and all alike. The world has in it more song, more music, more community, more beauty because of the life Bob lived. Some lyrics for this moment...
Through all the tumult and the strife,
I hear that music ringing.
It finds an echo in my soul,
How can I keep from singing?
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that Rock I’m clinging,
Since Love is lord of heav’n and earth
How can I keep from singing? (Anon)
Shannon Robertson, on behalf of Greenwood Singers
For those wishing to sing at Bob de Frece’s funeral, please review the important information below. If you plan to participate, be sure to complete the sign-up form to assist with planning. Thank you for helping make this a meaningful tribute.
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Thank you so much for your interest in singing for Bob de Frece's funeral, and thank you for your patience as we organize key details. We are so grateful to have so many people wanting to contribute to making this a worthy tribute to his memory. This performance is being organized and conducted by Brendan Lord, Adam Robertson, and Jamie Burns, three former assistant conductors of UAMC under Bob. Len Ratzlaff, Bob's long-time choral colleague at the U of A, will also be conducting a few of the pieces.
As all who ever sang with Bob know, the "this one will be sung at my funeral" list was a long one. While Christine and Laura have worked hard to narrow down a selection, it is still a robust repertoire (twelve pieces), including some challenging titles. As such, in order to ensure that the music can be up to the "Bob standard," we're asking those participating to do everything possible to attend three rehearsals, but at minimum be available for the Friday night final rehearsal and at least one of the other two rehearsals.
Rehearsals will take place at the University of Alberta, Fine Arts Building room 1-29, and are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday, February 18, 7-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 22, 2-5 p.m.
Friday, February 27, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The service itself is on Saturday, February 28, with the following schedule:
9:30 a.m. Warm up and spot check
10:00 a.m. Break
10:25 a.m. Prelude begins (and will run right until 11:00 a.m. with no break before the service)
11:00 a.m. Service begins
We know that this schedule may exclude some from being able to participate in the choir, and we appreciate your understanding of the need to balance maximizing access with meeting the standards that feel like a worthy tribute to Bob.
Prelude selections:
The Blue Bird - Charles Stanford
Cantique de Jean Racine - Gabriel Fauré
Thou Shalt Know Him - Mark Sirett
I Will Not Leave You Comfortless - William Byrd
Sing Me to Heaven - Daniel Gawthrop
Rise up, my love, my fair one - Healey Willan
Choose Something Like A Star - Randall Thompson
Mass:
Processional: Alleluia - Randall Thompson
Offertory: All My Trials -arr Norman Lubhoff
Communion: Amor de mi Alma - Randall Stroope
Song after final blessing: I Have Had Singing - Steven Sametz
Recessional: If Music Be the Food of Love - David Dickau
If you would like to participate, please sign up using the form linked here:
https://forms.gle/WtYi37h9SPam3HvF9
A folder of resources, including digital copies of scores (we have secured licenses for this purpose), part practice tracks/videos, and other information can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EE7zCVNey3jjZDesM_AHJGHbN3BTR4za?usp=drive_link
One request: We are actively looking for recordings of the repertoire selections sung by Bob-conducted ensembles. You can see which ones have been found so far in the info/resources document. If you are able to find more of these (i.e. rip old Greenwoods or UAMC CDs in your possession), please message Jamie Burns directly or email at jamie.m.burns@gmail.com.
Please contact Jamie for other questions you may have as well.
We look forward to making music with so many of you, starting on Feb. 18!
Please share this far and wide!
- Brendan, Adam, and Jamie
If you would like to participate, please sign up using the form linked here:
https://forms.gle/WtYi37h9SPam3HvF9
