SSI United Church is delighted to welcome composer and musician Ron Klusmeier as the new Music Director, and he is welcoming singers to join in the journey. Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 3 pm. ALL are welcome.
Ron Klusmeier is known in church circles nationwide for writing the music for more hymns in the United Church of Canada hymn book VOICES UNITED and its more recent companion, MORE VOICES, than any other composer. His compositions are also featured in Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic hymnals in Canada and United States.
Why, you might ask, is Salt Spring Island lucky enough to have someone so talented want to join us? Ron’s story reveals that the seed was planted some 40 years ago when he was the National Music Ambassador for the United Church of Canada. The BC Conference of the United Church invited him to lead a province-wide event in Parksville and some members of the SSI United Choir attended. They were so impressed with Ron that they invited him to come to SSI as their guest. They invited him into their homes, and showed him around the island. Ever since, he has hoped to live and work here. In short, he “fell in love” with Salt Spring.
Ron has been Minister of Music at St. David’s United (Calgary); Glebe-St. James United (Ottawa); Central Presbyterian (Cambridge, Ontario), and Knox United (Parksville). Most recently, he was serving as the music director for two Anglican churches in Parksville and Qualicum when he picked up a copy of the BC Choral Federation newsletter, “something I almost never have time to read,” he admits. There he saw a notice that the SSI United music director was retiring and there was a search for a new director. And the rest, they say, is history.
Islanders may remember attending one of two sing-along concerts he held here to help raise funds for the Canadian Food Grains Bank. Ron and his partner Christina Bogucki toured Canada for several years and, with generous matching financial support from the Government of Canada, raised over $1,000,000 to help alleviate global hunger.
Ron has high hopes for growing the choir, and is welcoming new singers to join. ALL are welcome. Choir practices are Wednesdays from 3-5pm. The choir sings on Sundays at 10 am. If you want to check it out, simply come to a Sunday service at 10 am to get a taste of Ron’s incredible music! Or come to a rehearsal on Wednesdays at 3 pm to try it out or just sit and listen! All are always Welcome!