Canadian Chamber Choir

Summary

The Canadian Chamber Choir (Choeur de chambre du Canada)'s mission is to build community through choral singing. The CCC is a national ensemble that provides a professional choral environment for Canadian singers, conductors and composers, and travels across Canada promoting Canadian choral music. Under the artistic direction of Julia Davids, the CCC convenes in different regions of Canada twice a year, offering concerts and mentoring choral practitioners of all ages and stages.

Projects edit

The CCC puts on two or three projects each year. Each project brings together 17 singers, an artistic director, and an accompanist from across Canada. Projects are usually seven to ten days in length and are put on in different regions in Canada. Singers will have received their music in the mail and learned it prior to arrival at the project. Upon arrival in the host city, they spend three to four days in rehearsal, hosted by a local school, choir, or community group. The CCC then travels to a few nearby towns on a tour, giving a combination of concerts and workshops throughout the province. Education is at the heart of the mandate of the CCC, and this model allows for an increasing number of communities and singers to have access to high caliber choral music.

Projects could not be carried out if not for the generous support of sponsors. The Canadian Chamber Choir is a registered charity.

History edit

The CCC was formed in July 1999 by a group of Canadian musicians. The purpose of the choir was to provide professional choral opportunities to young musicians that lived in areas of Canada that were unable to support professional choirs. Their mandate was to organize and perform short intensive 'projects' two or three times each year.

The original artistic director was Montreal conductor, Iwan Edwards. In 2004, Julia Davids took over artistic responsibilities. Under Davids' leadership, the choir focuses on developing the choral art through education and outreach initiatives, in addition to striving for artistic excellence.

Past Projects edit

2013 edit

  • 12–20 October – BC Tour: workshops with Oak Bay High School Chamber Choir, University of British Columbia, North Van schools, St. Patrick Regional Secondary School, Douglas College; Capilano University; concerts in Vancouver, and Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland areas. Joint concert with Vox Humana. Conducting Fellow: Kathleen Allan [1]
  • 2–10 February – Ontario Tour: workshops with All Saints Anglican Church, Parkview Elementary School, Sandwich West Public School, University of Western Ontario; concerts in Windsor (joint concert with Windsor Classic Chorale), St. Thomas, Stratford, Toronto (joint concert with Toronto Children's Chorus), Burlington.

2012 edit

  • 14–22 January – Ontario Tour: workshops with HB Beal Secondary School, Schuessler Singers, Wesley-Knox Church Choir; concerts in London, Kitchener, Guelph, Elmira.
  • 26 October – 5 November – Nova Scotia Tour: Partnership (workshop and joint concert) with Nova Scotia Choral Federation; workshops with Acadia Vocal Ensemble, Kings Chorale, Rockingstone Heights School; concerts in Port Williams, Wolfville, Truro, St. Francois Xavier, Halifax.

2010 edit

  • 18 May: The choir released their first studio CD, In Good Company. It is an all-Canadian CD featuring special guests, mezzo-soprano Christianne Rushton of Nova Scotia and talented cellist, Se Hee Kim. The recording has pieces by Canadian composers including Allan Rae, Jocelyn Morlock, Lionel Daunais, and Jeffrey Ryan. Additionally it contains the commissioned piece At Sunset by Jeff Enns of Elmira, Ontario.[2]
  • 20–23 May: The choir performed a sold out concert at Podium 2010 hosted by the Association of Canadian Choral Communities (ACCC) and the Saskatchewan Choral Federation (SCF).[3]

2009 edit

2007 edit

2006 edit

2005 edit

  • 16–22 February: Ontario (residency at Appleby College, Oakville). Debut of new Artistic Director, Julia Davids. Launch of new education initiatives with Choral Collaboration workshop at Appleby. Benefit concert in Toronto supporting The Stephen Lewis Foundation.
  • 18–24 September: Saskatchewan (residency at North Battleford Comprehensive High School). Concerts in North Battleford, Regina, Rosthern and Saskatoon. Four workshops in North Battleford, Regina and Rosthern

2003 edit

  • 19–26 January: Manitoba (residency at Brandon University). Performance at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Centara New Music Festival. First apprentice conductor position held by Rachel Grantham of Whitehorse, Yukon. Workshops at Brandon University School of Music.
  • 22–29 March: Quebec (residency at McGill University, Montreal). Commissioned Love Songs, by Stewart Grant. Full-length concert recorded by CBC Radio Two for Québec in Concert
  • 14–21 May: Nova Scotia. Guest artists at International Choral Festival Suas e!, Cape Breton. Mentors of the festival's mixed-voice youth choir.

2002 edit

  • 20–27 April: British Columbia (residency at Ryerson United Church, Vancouver). First workshops with secondary school and community children's choirs.
  • 1–14 August: Nova Scotia / New Brunswick (residency at Berwick United Church, NS). Artists in residence at the Nova Scotia Choral Federation's Adult Summer Camp Concert in Musique Saint-Bernard performance series

2001 edit

  • 25–29 January: Manitoba (residency at Brandon University])
  • 17–25 August: Ontario (residency at Appleby College, Oakville)

References edit

  1. ^ "Meet our new Conducting Fellow!". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Canadian Music Centre - CMC Boutique". Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  3. ^ Canadian Chamber Choir Website
  • Manitoba Sings article. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  • Mount Allison University article. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  • Brandon University events page. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  • Prairie Bible Institute. Retrieved 16 October 2007.

External links edit

  • Canadian Chamber Choir Website
  • Iwan Edwards' Bio
  • Make Donation