June 15, 2018
Staff hit all the right notes on graduation day
Dedicated members of Waterloo’s community pipe up as performers of national anthem.
Between Tuesday, June 12 and Saturday, June 16, thousands of graduates will cross the stage and transform from student to alumni. The experience is a huge milestone for both those receiving diplomas and the university staff/faculty who helped them get there. Whether it’s raising the graduation banners, lining up the audience chairs or (as this article will highlight) singing the national anthem, it’s clear that everyone has a role to play.
Reinhold Schuster (right) receiving his Distinguished Professor Emeritus award.
According to Reinhold M. Schuster, who made his first convocation performance back in June of 2007, being invited to perform the national anthem at a convocation is a huge honour. Having begun his relationship with the University back in 1970 as a Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor, Schuster has remained active at Waterloo’s convocation ceremonies, especially since his retirement in 2005, performing the national anthem for audiences upwards of 40 times.
“June will be my 11th year, and I do this with the utmost pride for the graduates of this great University,” said Schuster.
In front of an audience of thousands, convocation singers must perform a cappella, without vocal effects or back-up music, a challenge that these vocalists are more than eager to tackle each convocation. It takes a lot of consistent practice and maintenance of one’s voice in order to get the performers where they wish to be in time for the big event.
Michael Klein, a University of Waterloo graduate with a Bachelor of Arts and national anthem performer for the last three years, explains that it’s not only important to keep your voice in shape, but to also beware of un-checked nerves prior to performances.
“I always get nervous. Every time,” said Klein. “What gets me calmer is singing the whole anthem a few times earlier in the day. In the shower the morning of (I assume my neighbors are always annoyed), or during the drive, or even in another room on campus before I am supposed to be there."
Michael Klein performs O Canada at the Spring 2018 Convocation.
For Birgit Moscinski, Administrative Assistant at Conrad Grebel University College, she recalls an early trick she used when first performing the national anthem, especially when it involved Canada’s second national language.
“When I first was asked to sing, I’d write the first word of each phrase in pen on my right-hand pointer finger. I’d hold the mic in my right hand, so the words are right there at eye level in case I forgot which lines I was singing in French,” said Birgit. “Thankfully, I don’t have to do that anymore.”
Singing the national anthem is just one significant part of the yearly contributions staff and faculty make to support students on graduation day. For performers like Schuster, Klein and Moscinski, the yearly excitement and anticipation is no exception. Their weeks leading up to Convocation Day are always busy, spending hours practicing and preparing to ensure each performance is as memorable as the day itself.
Birgit Moscinski at this year's Convocation ceremony.
“There is something calming about gathering together at these events, and hearing the national anthem performed,” said Klein. “It gives everyone a chance to reflect about how lucky we are to be here in Canada (either living or studying) and adds a bit of dignity to the proceedings. Convocation may seem like a small thing for some, but for others it is the biggest achievement of their lives.”
