Last Sunday, UBC’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts resonated with the voices and instruments of Trinity Western University’s choirs and orchestra at the 10th annual Christmas at the Chan Centre concert. Under the direction of long-time TWU Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Wes Janzen, DMA, the choirs—including the Pacific Mennonite Children’s Choir and the Langley Fine Arts School’s Children’s and Senior Choirs—performed a selection of Christmas classics to the delight of concert-goers.
Among the voices in the choir loft, Langley resident and TWU Education Professor Ken Pudlas, Ed.D., made his choir debut, alongside his daughter Tamara Pudlas (’01), who has sung with the University’s renowned Masterworks Choir for a number of years. The father-daughter duo participated, in part, to honour their son and brother Matthew Pudlas (’00), a TWU Music and Education major, who passed away in May 2005.
As a TWU student, Matthew was involved with the choral program, serving as Wes’s teaching assistant for a number of years. “To Matthew, Wes was not just a professor but also a mentor,” said Tamara, who teaches at H. D. Stafford Middle School in Langley. “Matthew aspired to be just like him.”
Matthew went on to earn his B.Ed. at UBC, since TWU hadn’t yet launched its professional teaching year program. After teaching grade K-12 music in Washington State for a number of years, he was invited to serve as a worship pastor at Bulverde United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. It was there that he found his true calling. “Matthew’s single-minded devotion was to bring glory to God through music,” said Ken.
Tragically, just five months after he and his wife Sarah settled into their new life, Matthew suddenly succumbed to complications of a lifelong congenital blood disorder. He never met his daughter Makenna, who was born December 29, 2005. “It was devastating,” said Ken. “It’s still difficult.”
After Matthew’s passing, Ken began attending the Christmas at the Chan Centre concerts. Not only was his daughter in the choir, but Ken felt a connection to his son in the space—Matthew’s UBC graduation was held there—and through the music. Last year, the performance sold out before he could purchase tickets, so Tamara had a solution for this year: she encouraged her dad to sing with her in the choir.
Fall rehearsals gave Ken and Tamara an opportunity to share their memories, not only with each other, but with Wes as well.
“The purpose of music is to draw us into relationship with God,” Ken said. “Matthew got that. It’s been a wonderful experience to sing in this choir.”
“One of the greatest blessings to me was that I had my brother with me in the music program during my entire time at TWU,” said Tamara. “Singing with Masterworks Choir is like a family reunion. Being uplifted by excellence in music and—most importantly—celebrating the memory and legacy of my wonderful big brother, who was so passionate about music and worship, is more than I can put into words.”
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