Choral director, acclaimed pianist, Lakeside resident and director of the well known choir Los Cantantes del Lago, Timothy G. Ruff Welch, has been named to direct the prestigious Coro de Zapopan.
The surprise appointment puts Welch in a key cultural position in Zapopan, the suburb that rings Guadalajara and a city — one of the largest in Mexico — where on October 1, a revolutionary switch took place from government by the usual suspects to government by the new Movimiento Ciudadano (Citizen Movement).
Welch, an area resident since 1999, said he became a Mexican citizen several years ago, which helped him overcome the bias that can hinder foreigners seeking work. Moreover, he had become a familiar face to cultural doyens, including some associated with Movimiento Ciudadano, due to his frequent performances as an accompanist and as director of Los Cantantes del Lago.
He said that traditionally when a new government takes over in any Mexican entity, there is an exodus of workers affiliated with the party formerly in power and openings for new people. This phenomena fueled his invitation to direct the Coro del Zapopan.
“When the Movimiento Ciudadano came in, I was invited to director the choir. I just started November 1.
“We’ve only had a few practices so far,” he said, “but for the first time, I don’t feel any xenophobia. The singers are open to my directing techniques, which are different from what they’ve had.”
Welch noted that one of the reasons he accepted the position, even though it involves considerable travel for practices and the 24 concerts a year he must direct, is the magnitude of Zapopan’s commitment to promoting the performing arts.
“They have the Coro de Zapopan; they have a symphony orchestra, a children’s choir, a ballet folklórico, a hip-hop dance group, a theater, a school of music and they’re building a big new cultural center near Colonia Seattle.”
Asked whether his new position would lessen his involvement with Los Cantantes del Lago or his other position as minister of music at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Ajijic, he was emphatic. “No. Los Cantantes … that’s my baby. Besides that, governments come and go, so I’m definitely sticking with Los Cantantes and St. Andrew’s.”
“Tim will be great for the Coro de Zapopan,” said well known Guadalajara singer Debbie Matthew. “He says they’re responding really well. What he really wants is to teach them is how to be real choral singers instead of operatic soloists, to learn about the choral tradition and to take pride in it.“
Welch said that as part of seeking to instill a new approach to singing into the choir, he plans “a big revamp” of the group and will re-audition everyone in January and make the group smaller.
“I want a true, versatile choir,” he said, adding that the group is already very versatile in how many languages they can handle. “They can sing in six languages and of course they can sight read.”
Some say that although Welch is known for his broad smile, he is also noted as a disciplinarian and that could present a shock to singers who are not used to it. Others note that Welch may have to struggle with the heavy bureaucracy, a problem for any government worker here.
The first concert planned with Welch at the helm of the choir will be Wednesday, December 9, 8:30 p.m., at the open air Plaza de las Americas in front of the Basilica of the Virgin of Zapopan in downtown Zapopan. The event will include Christmas carols from around the world, some parts of Handel’s “Messiah” and gospel and spiritual songs.