Juvenata is an opportunity to get away and Sing! Come rehearse, sing, and perform in a fun environment with singers from across Nova Scotia and beyond. Juvenata is open to choirs or individual choristers from grades 7-12. This year we are again joining forces with the Atlantic Festival of Music and offering an expanded three day event that will welcome choirs and singers from Nova Scotia and beyond. Juvenata 2020 will include an extra day of adjudication and clinics for choirs led by Carrie Tennant at St. Andrew’s United Church. There will also be more social time including a Friday evening performance with special guest choir, Sirens.
Given the circumstances we all find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to inform you that the Nova Scotia Choral Federation has decided to cancel the Juvenata event planned for May.
April 30 – May 2, 2020
St. Andrews United Church , Halifax
This program is open for choirs and individual singers . Groups can come as full choirs and take part in all events from Thursday to Saturday including an adjudicated performance and clinic and the massed choir workshop and concert. You can also bring a smaller group of your singers and take part in the massed choir workshop and concert on Friday and Saturday. Individual singers can register as Come Solo participants for the massed choir workshop and concert. Singers will come together for two days of choir rehearsals, fun social activities and a closing concert. Carrie Tennant, guest conductor for the massed choir workshop and concert, will lead them in engaging rehearsals and final concert. The weekend will end with a short concert featuring guest choirs that are participating in the program, and the mass choir as the finale to highlight what was learned over the two days.
Carrie Tennant - Massed Choir Guest Conductor and Adjudicator
Carrie Tennant is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Vancouver Youth Choir. For the past 15 years, she has worked primarily with youth, developing leadership and artistry with young singers. In addition to VYC, Carrie has held conducting positions with Chor Leoni, EnChor, the Coastal Sound Youth Choir, and the Sarah McLachlan Youth Choir. Carrie’s choirs have been featured at Chorus America and Podium (Choral Canada) conventions, and have twice been awarded first place in the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs. During her time with Coastal Sound, their popular Indiekör shows were recognized with Choral Canada’s National Award for Innovation. In 2019, the Vancouver Youth Choir was featured at the National Convention for the American Choral Directors Association.
Currently, on top of her work with VYC, Carrie is an Affiliate Conductor with the Vancouver Chamber Choir, and a frequent clinician, adjudicator and retreat facilitator across North America. A passionate advocate for building and sustaining community among BC choirs and conductors, in 2010 Carrie helped found the "BC Choral Mentorship Project": a collective that brings together expert speakers/conductors from across North America with local choral directors for master classes, discussion groups, and good food and wine. Currently in high demand as a guest clinician, Carrie’s work with youth choirs has been praised internationally. In a past life (before she had two small and very lovely children) Carrie also toured, performed and recorded as a member of Vancouver-based indie-pop group, the Salteens (Boompa Records).
Gary Ewer - Guest Adjudicator
Gary Ewer is a composer, arranger, conductor and clinician. A native of Halifax, he received his B. Mus degree in music composition from Dalhousie University. He subsequently studied composition at McGill University with composers Alcides Lanza and John Rea. He has been conducting Symphony Nova Scotias school concert programs for the past several years. He also has an extensive background in choral conducting as the current director of Dalhousie Universitys Collegium Cantorum, as well as former director of The Dalhousie Chorale and Chamber Choir. He has also most recently been a Senior Instructor of Music at Dalhousie, teaching aural skills, music theory, orchestration and choral techniques.
As a public school music teacher for many years, Mr. Ewer conducted concert bands, choirs, and the Halifax Schools Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Ewers choral and instrumental compositions and arrangements have been performed by The Elmer Isler Singers, Symphony Nova Scotia, Halifax Camerata Singers, and many other ensembles.
Sirens- Special Guest Choir
Named after the singing femmes fatales of Greek mythology, Sirens is an award-winning women’s choral ensemble based out of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Under the artistic direction of Kelsea McLean, the group has developed a strong following of supporters and has been lauded for its pure tone quality, sensitive musicality and tight ensemble. Sirens produces two full-length concert programs each season while maintaining a busy schedule performing at a variety of concerts, fundraisers, events and workshops.
A recipient of several awards at the local and provincial music festivals in 2015, Sirens earned the Richard W. Cooke award at the FCMF National Music Festival, placing first in the Choral Ensemble Class. That same year, Sirens also received a nomination for Music PEI’s award for Achievement in Classical or Jazz
Committed to fostering the development of choral music in Prince Edward Island, Sirens initiated Harmonia Girls’ Choir in fall of 2015 to nurture the next generation of PEI’s female choral singers. In its fourth season, Harmonia is made-up of approximately 25 young singers.
Music
Accessible SAB/SATB (depending on registration) - pieces that are fun, engaging and quick learns for the most success! Music for the massed choir workshop and concert will be received by singers at registration - no preparation required.
Cost
Choir Fee - $200 per choir
Member of Registered Choir Fee- $85 per singer for the weekend.
Come Solo Fee (individual singers only*) - $95 per singer for the weekend
This includes:
- An adjudicated performance and choir clinic (Come Solo participants may watch the adjudications if they wish)
- Massed choir rehearsals and concert
- Music rental
- Lunch on Saturday and snacks for breaks in rehearsals
- A ticket to a Friday evening concert with special guest choir Sirens
Choirs/singers are responsible for their own dinners, accommodations and travel.
*Individual singers are those who wish to attend Juvenata but are not associated with or a member of an attending choir.
Schedule Overview
All activities will take place at St. Andrew’s United Church. Schedule to be announced.
Registration
Registration for Juvenata 2020 is now open! Deadline to register is March 15th, 2020!
Step 1: Please register your choir here: Juvenata 2020 Choir Registration
Step 2: Please have each of you chorister's complete this form: Juvenata 2020 Individual Registration