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Graphic and Website Designer, Annapolis Valley Honour Choir

Amazing Opportunity!

Request for Proposal (RFP): Graphic and Website Designer to Assist with the Rebranding of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir

AnticipatedTime Period – 5 months

Background: The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir is a charitable, not for profit choral organization based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir (AVHC) is a nationally recognized community organization known for its excellence in music education and capacity for community building. It has been a mainstay in the Valley’s cultural fabric for over 30 years. Artistic Director Heather Fraser, former alumni, curates a program for each of our choirs that not only teaches them the fundamentals of music but stretches their minds and fills their hearts at the same time. Currently there are 170 choristers ranging from Grades 3-12 in three choirs, representing communities from the Kempt Shore to Granville Ferry in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.

The AVHC’s goal is to provide an accessible, comprehensive, professional quality musical education for youth while providing a unique and powerful means for young people to express themselves both musically and individually. We are focused on nurturing healthy voices, strong musicianship and engaged community volunteers and leaders. The AVHC program offers the chance for choristers to work with professionally trained faculty in weekly rehearsals and workshop settings. It includes a full music literacy (theory/sight-singing) program, chorister apprenticeship leadership program, performances, community engagement, and cultural exchange travel opportunities.

Citizenship, strong community values, volunteerism and a global education are also a large part of the organization’s goals. As a truly inclusive, supportive family, the choir provides a safe space for young people to find their inner voice – to take risks, build confidence and be their true selves. Choir members learn the value and true meaning of teamwork – to feel a collective sense of responsibility, to learn what it means to be committed to something larger than individual accomplishments, and to share in a common vision and work ethic.To build on our success and begin to move the organization into the future, we are currently seeking an experienced Graphic and Website Designer to assist in creating a new, more modern brand that better represents the AVHC of today.

The Position: 

The successful candidate will follow a timeline of approximately 5 months. Primary responsibilities for this position will include: 

Working with the Project Manager, Artistic Director, and Board President, develop a more representative name and logo to be used on all communication materials, choir clothing, websites, etc.

Redesign the AVHC website to make it more modern and intuitive, user-friendly Assist in the development of a suite of marketing materials

The successful respondent (or respondent team) will be selected by the Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir based on the process detailed in this document.

The Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir will make the final selection of the successful respondent (or respondent team) to perform the proposed services.

The Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir reserves the right to cancel any and all solicitations and to accept, or reject, in whole or in part, any and all proposals when it is in the best interest of organization as determined by the organization in its sole discretion.

Proposed Project Timeline:

RFP Submission Deadline – 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 5, 2023
Clarifying Questions to be submitted to the Project Manager via email at coordinator@avhc.ca by noon on Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Anticipated Start Date – October 23, 2023

Within the proposal the respondent (or respondent team) must describe: 
● Past experience working with similar non-profit organizations
● Overall Experience
● Links to portfolio, including samples of similar work done for other non-profit or arts organizations, if possible
● A summary of your knowledge of the AVHC and a brief description of your vision for our design and marketing strategy
● References – provide contact information for three references – one of which must be a former client.

Submission Detail: Applicant Proposals should be submitted by 11:59 pm, Thursday, October 5, 2023 to coordinator@avhc.ca as a single pdf with no more than 10 pages
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Ancient River Festival Pop Up Choir – Thank You!

Huge thanks to everyone who made our Ancient River Pop Up Choir event such a heartwarming success. We had 35 choristers participate in the workshop, led by Cantabile Singers of Truro’s artistic director Chris Bowman. Cantabile performed a full set of Robbie Songs at the festival, which was named after one of Robbie’s songs. The finale was a group effort between the workshop participants and Cantabile for a lovely 70 person chorus singing “The Last Song” arranged by Donna Rhodenizer who was part of the chorus.

Stay tuned for more exciting news from the Robbie Songs Project as we prepare to release a full length digital recording of the best tracks from our Apr 29 and 30th concerts through Leaf Music Distribution.

Kathleen – Robbie Songs Project

Photo Credits: Heather Ingram Kaiser and Mimi Champagne.

The Robbie Songs Project
By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog • Professional Development 0 Comments

Performance Fees: Entandem & SOCAN

September is here and we wish you the very best for an exciting start to the choral season.  May it be enriching and rewarding for you, your choristers and audiences. 

Approximately three years ago, SOCAN handed over the collection of concert performance licenses to ENTANDEM. It has been found that the process is seriously flawed. One would assume that nothing more is required after payment through the on-line portal at Entandem.  However, the final step should be the submission of a digital copy of the concert program, otherwise it is impossible for SOCAN to disburse the funds appropriately to publishers, composers, and authors. The programs should be sent to:  concertsetlist@entandemlicensing.com and concertsubmit@socan.com 

Early in July, SOCAN and Entandem assured those affected that there would be improvements/clarifications to both websites. In the interim, it would be appreciated if you or your administrator would submit any programmes from the last three years and all future programmes to one of the above email addresses.  

Wishing you the very best for the upcoming season.

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Early Music Society of NS Madrigal Group starts rehearsals in September

EMSNS Madrigal Group starts September 14

Do you enjoy laughing and learning while you sing? The Early Music Society of Nova Scotia Madrigal Group is a relaxed a cappella ensemble that meets on Thursday mornings to sing a wide variety of English, Italian and French sixteenth-century music, directed by Andrew Pickett. Our next session begins Thursday, September 14 running through October 26, meeting at Faith City Church, 6225 Summit St, Halifax, from 10:30 am–12 pm. Please contact Andrew at andrewjpickett@yahoo.co.uk if you’d like to join in!

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Musical Director, Canadian Military Wives Choir (Halifax)

    

The Canadian Military Wives Choir in Halifax is seeking a new Musical Director. Rehearsals are Monday nights from 6:30-8:30pm at CFB Halifax. They are a bunch of lovely ladies with various levels of musical knowledge. They are looking to fill this position ASAP. More information is provided below. If you would like to learn more contact canadianmwc.halifax@gmail.com.

           General Duties

  • Teaches musical selections to choir members in a fun, supportive environment.
  • Attends weekly rehearsals and performances as required.
  • Abides by Canadian Military Wives Choir Constitution.
  • Operates within the guidelines of the Canadian Military Wives Choir, as administered by the Halifax CMWC Committee.
  • Provides a welcoming inclusive musical environment for choir members.
  • Encourages a fun and safe environment for all singing levels.
  • Refers all performance requests, membership enquiries, media enquiries, fundraising opportunities and all other choir administrative business to the local Committee for consideration.  Final decision for choir participation in all events rests with the local Committee as representatives of the Canadian Military Wives Choirs movement. 

        Music Selection

  • The Music Director shall in consultation with the President and/or the Vice President, prepare and teach music for rehearsals and performances appropriate for various experience levels and performance opportunities of the choir.  Note: Music will usually be chosen jointly by the President and/or Vice President and the MD; the MD may submit selections to the President and/or Vice President for consideration.  The final selections will be reviewed by the MD to confirm the pieces are suited for the choir members abilities.
  • Create arrangements of songs that cannot be purchased or sourced, within the guidelines of current Canadian copyright laws.
  • The MD is responsible for producing performance tracks if they have not been purchased.

        Digital Content

  • The MD shall-generate and make available digital copies of sheet and audio music required for choir members.
  • Forward any costs for digital copying to the committee for prior approval and payment.
  • Generate rehearsal recordings of individual parts, including solos as required adhering to reasonable time requests.
  • Notify the Committee when new complete sets of recordings and sheet music are ready and uploaded to the Choir Google Drive for member access.  Consult with the Committee regarding musical content on the National CMWC website.

Rehearsals

  • The MD shall prepare fully for warm-ups and practices and lead weekly rehearsals tailored to diverse levels of musical understandings. 
  • Assist in preparation of rehearsal space as required.
  • Assist new members to find their musical range and section within the choir. 
  • Create and contribute to a collegial, creative, supportive environment where members feel comfortable to take musical risks together.
  • Improve and maintain confidence in musical abilities of both individuals and the group.
  • Review CMWC Core music selections on a regular basis in order to be prepared for combined choir or seasonal events. 

Performances

  • The MD shall consult with the Committee in generating musical programs for performances.
  • Liaise with event coordinators regarding logistics as required.
  • Liaise with hosts to ensure performance details have been addressed.
  • Forward ideas and opportunities to collaborate with other groups or musicians to the Committee for discussion and approval.

Spreading the Movement

  • Be willing to support the choir in fundraising and profile-raising events.
  • Refer new possibilities to the Committee for discussion.
  • Refer new possibilities to the Committee for discussion.
  • Attend local Committee meetings when required (occasionally).
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ECMA Awards 2024 Information

Submissions for the 2024 East Coast Music Awards are just around the corner beginning September 1st and lasting until October 3rd. If you are interested in being submitted as a nominee for the awards, or you or your group would like to participate, all information on what is needed to submit for ECMA Awards or Showcasing opportunities can be found on their website as well as access to the submissions platform. 

Please follow this link for all submissions information:

https://www.ecma.com/ecma-2024/2024-submissions/

They are also actively looking for folks interested in being a part of the jury. This group of music professionals review the submissions for the various awards and/or showcase opportunities. Anyone interested in joining our jury can do so by following this link to the ECMA website:

https://www.ecma.com/jury/

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact at membership@ecma.com

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Pop/Contemporary Quartet seeking Soprano Lead

Pop/contemporary quartet (SATB)

Are you looking for more fun and challenge in your musical life and interested in performing pop, contemporary, folk and jazz music? Then this could be the quartet for you!

We are looking for an experienced soprano/lead with the ability to read music and sing both a capella and with musical accompaniment (preferably, you also play an instrument that could be used in the group such as piano, fiddle, recorder, guitar, etc.).

Rehearsals are bi-weekly (2 hrs) at one of our singer’s homes in HRM. Please reach out to sthompson829@gmail.com if interested.

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Chebucto Community Singers – Tenors and Basses Wanted!

Wanted: Tenors and Basses
Chebucto Community Singers

Are you looking for a fun, sociable, and relaxing way to express your creative side? Under the direction of Louise Grinstead, the Chebucto Community Singers has approximately 60 members and has enjoyed 45 years of making music together. We sing a broad range of music from folk, pop, Broadway and even some classical repertoire.

We meet on Tuesday evenings, 7-9 pm at the Oxford School, 6364 Oxford St. Halifax, beginning September 26th


Tenor and bass singers who are interested in joining the choir are invited to audition during our registration night at the Oxford School on September 19, at 7:00 PM. Those auditioning should have a strong ear for music. Experience in choral singing and/ or sight reading is an advantage, but not required. For more information on the choir and to register for an audition, please contact Cynthia Gatto at gattoc@gmail.com or call 902-800-3259