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The SingWell Project

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY: The Art and Science of Singing Together
Did you know that singing with others has been found to improve mood, decrease stress, foster social connection, increase pain tolerance, and support improved communication function in people living with Parkinson’s disease? 

These are a few of the many benefits our friends at The SingWell Project are uncovering in their research into how group singing can enhance wellbeing for people living with communication challenges.

Later this month, we’ll be kicking off a monthly speaker series in collaboration with SingWell where researchers, choral practitioners and participants will unpack what happens socially, emotionally, physiologically and biologically when we sing with others — and how to tap into these benefits in practice. 

Tune in on October 18 from 12:00-2:00pm EDT for our dedicated session on group singing and Parkinson’s. Sessions are free, virtual, and recommended for care professionals and caregivers, speech therapists, music therapists, people interested in social prescribing, and anyone who wants to learn more about some of the surprisingly powerful ways singing with others can enhance wellbeing.Visit SingWell’s website for more details and how to register:
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER
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NSYC Concerts Sept 22nd – Get Tickets Here!

In a program entitled “Seeking Light”, 35 talented young singers from across the province will raise their voices together again as the revived Nova Scotia Youth Choir! Their final performance take place Sunday, September 22nd in Wolfville and Halifax. 

PURCHASE/RESERVE NSYC CONCERT TICKETS HERE

The NSYC is an ensemble that provides musical training for singers ages 16-25 from across Nova Scotia. It is an opportunity for them to work intensively towards artistic excellence, develop their musicianship, and perform diverse repertoire together with some of the most accomplished and recognized choral instructors and conductors in Canada.  

On hiatus since Covid, this is an exciting year of rejuvenation and growth as we welcome a new generation of choristers into this nationally renowned program. 

Dr. Jamie Hillman, from the University of Toronto, is the guest conductor this season, supported by a faculty of fine musicians dedicated to excellence in vocal performance and musicianship – Amelia McMahon and Andrew Cranston as resident conductors, Adam Johnson on piano, and Maureen Batt, Ryan Henwood and Dr. Nicole Jordan as guest vocal coaches and clinicians. 

In “Seeking Light”, the singers will weave together a diverse program of uplifting music and will feature many Canadian composers like Marie-Claire Saindon, Tracy Wong, Matthew Emery and Andrew Balfour. 

Concerts take place Sunday, September 22nd at 1:30 p.m. at Denton Hall, Acadia University, Wolfville and at 7:30pm at The Joseph Strug Hall, Fountain School of the Performing Arts, Halifax.  Tickets are $25 and $10 (students) available to purchase with the button above, or at the door. 

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Sing Summer Events Open to Public! Join Us in Berwick!

See below a LIST OF ALL THE EVENTS happening at Camp in August! (listed by date) These performances and workshops are open for the public to attend! Plan a trip to the valley and catch some of these great events. All events take place at the United Church Campgrounds,115 Commercial St., Berwick.

CHOIR CAMPS – OPEN DAY FOR EDUCATORS & CONDUCTORS!
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14th | 9:00 – 12:30
FREE ENTRY

Join us for the morning to observe our Junior/Youth camp rehearsals and vocal health/musicianship activities with our amazing artistic staff Scott Leithead, Kitbielle Pasagui, Carmen So, Krista Vincent, and Nicole Jordan. Drama, dance and art activities are open as well with Netanya Backhouse, Josh Noiles, and Jane Beals! Email anne@nscf.ca to let us know you’re coming! (If you can’t come that day but still want to drop in another day send us a note!)

JUNIOR AND YOUTH CAMP CONCERTS!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th | Free Will Offering
1:00pm – Junior Choir Camp Concert – Conductors: Carmen So, Krista Vincent
2:30pm – Youth Choir Camp Concert – Conductors: Scott Leithead, Kitbielle Pasagui

Come on out to support these youth and all their efforts over the week, and hear what they’ve learned together!

CONDUCTORS WORKSHOP WEEKEND – Spots Still Open!
AUGUST 17 – 19
Clinician: Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

Wonderful opportunity to improve your skills and soak up a weekend in beautiful Berwick Camp in a supportive, casual atmosphere for learning. Come as a conductor OR a singer/auditor! Click here for Info and Registration!

PERFORMANCE by CANVAS Jazz Quartet!
MONDAY, AUGUST 19th – 8:00 pm | Free Will Offering

CANVAS is a newly formed vocal jazz quartet. Kurt Sampson is a Juno nominated performer who was a Toronto-based member of the professional acapella group called Cadence. Now based in Halifax, Kurt maintains a busy vocal studio and performance schedule. Tenor Michael van der Gaag is a seasoned chorister having sung with Canada’s top choral ensembles including the Canadian Chamber Choir, Musica Intima, and the Halifax Camerata Singers. Currently he sings with the Helios Vocal Ensemble, based in Halifax. Amelia McMahon wears many musical hats. She conducts the South Shore Chorale, co-conducts Eastern Horizon ensemble, and is the assistant conductor of the Halifax Camerata Singers. Amelia is also an active vocalist both in choral and solo settings. Frances Farrell is a music educator with the Halifax Regional Arts program specializing in voice and choral music. Outside of school, Fran maintains an active schedule as an Alexander Technique teacher and as the conductor of the Aeolian Singers.

IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. BRAINERD BLYDEN-TAYLOR
TUESDAY, AUGUST 20th – 7:30pm | FREE WILL OFFERING
(immediately following the 6:30pm AGM)

Join us for an important conversation led by ACC guest conductor Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor. Hear about the founding of the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, his career with them, and the diffusion of Afrocentric Choral Music in our choral communities.

ADULT CHOIR CAMP CONCERTS!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 24th – 1:30pm | Free Will Offering
Guest Conductor: Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor

Come out to support these 115 (!) singers and all their efforts over the week learning a program of beautiful, diverse music together.

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Introducing the New NSCF Portal! Coming Soon! Important Info for Membership and Library use

Introducing the new NSCF Portal!

Happy August, NSCF Community! We have some very exciting news!

As we approach a new season, it will be soon be time to welcome new NSCF members, and to renew memberships for those who are already a part of our community. This process will now be done a little bit differently. We are modernizing our office systems and are thrilled to soon launch our new Membership Management and Library Lending platform called the NSCF Portal. Thanks to our NSCF Board Member, Andrew Cranston, tech guru & designer of this system, and all of Tim’s work on this before he retired!

Please read the information below carefully. We will send another notice when the portal is live and ready! It should be soon… we’re in the final testing phase! 🙂

What is the NSCF Portal for?
All NSCF members will now have direct access to their membership profile in a system called Podio. With this portal you will:

1) Manage your membership (either individual or a group/institutional membership of an organization you are connected with). You can update the profile, change contact info, pay dues etc.)

2) Access our Lending Library – Search the Catalogue, Reserve and Request Titles for borrowing. (all lending requests will be processed through this service)

3) Access the Directory of Member Choirs and all the info they provide.

How do I access the Portal to browse the library, become a member or renew my membership?

a) If you are already a member, or are connected to a choir that is a member, you will soon receive a notice via email that will provide you with instructions to access portal and renew membership. (Please don’t renew until this notice has been issued)

b) If you are NOT already a member, you can still create a profile and browse the library. You can access the portal via the NSCF website. (But we would love for you to become a member! See below!)

c) When you first arrive in the portal, the home “Dashboard” will provide detailed instructions for the next steps!

2 Important Heads Up before you start:

1) Be aware that you will need to create a password to login with an email. *Please save this password for all future use for your membership/library access*.

2) Choirs/Organizations must been connected to a person – therefore anyone who wishes to act on behalf of a group must register first with a profile. This includes conductors, volunteers etc. Instructions after login will direct you to request access to be connected your choir.

Please Consider Becoming a Member!
In addition to the many member benefits for both individuals and groups, you will be joining a rich cultural network of singers, artists, composers, educators, administrators – learners of all ages and abilities. As a member, your investment directly enables us to provide enriching programs and services for singers across this province. Adding your voice to this community will support our efforts to champion and celebrate the art of collective singing in all its forms! Find out more here!

Thank you for reading! We will send a notice soon when it’s ready to roll!

Thank you!
Heather Fraser, Executive Director
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Call for Volunteers! Sing Summer Music Folders

It’s that time of year! Sing Summer is only a few weeks away and the NSCF office is overflowing with scores that are ready to be learned and performed at our camps next month. We are looking for a few volunteers who may be able to help prepare folders.

Date: Tuesday, July 30, 2024 10:00am

Where: NSCF office, 1113 Marginal Road

The kettle will be on for tea and there may even be a sweet treat or two for our amazing volunteers.

Please email Anne at anne@nscf.ca if you are able give us a hand.

Thanks so much!

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NSYC Begins!!

This weekend, June 7-9, 2024, is the first Nova Scotia Youth Choir Rehearsal weekend since 2019. Voices from the ages of 16-25 are joining together working on incredible repertoire selected by Guest Conductor, Jamie Hillman. Under the direction of Amelia McMahon and Andrew Cranston, our Resident Conductors, and Adam Johnson, Accompanist, these 37 singers will meet in June and August, with a final weekend in September with our Guest Conductor. Mark your calendars for September 22 where this wonderful group of singers will perform in two concerts (one in the Annapolis Valley and one in Halifax). Stay tuned for details!!