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Government of Nova Scotia: COVID-19 Guidance for Vocalists and Instrumentalists & Other Resources

On July 3rd, The Government of Nova Scotia shared new guidelines for musicians, providing guidance for organizations as they plan for their upcoming 2020/21 seasons.  The Nova Scotia Choral Federation has been meeting with Dr. Strang’s office to ensure the guidelines address the needs of our choral community. Full guidelines, as well as other COVID-19 related resources can be found here:

COVID-19: Factsheets and Posters 
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/resources/

COVID-19 Guidance for Vocalists and Instrumentalists
https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/COVID-19-Guidance-for-Vocalists-and-Instrumentalists.pdf

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British Columbia Choral Federation Virtual Town Hall – Session #2: We’ll Sing Again – Don’t Know Where, Don’t Know When

Join  BCCF Executive Director Willi Zwozdesky and conductor/clinician Sandra Meister  in discussion with Rick Bergh (bereavement counsellor) and Erica Phare-Bergh (conductor/composer) as they  look for ways to rebuild a grieving choral community.

Recorded live on June 2, this was the second in a series of Virtual Town Hall sessions designed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC’s choral community in various ways. While this information is at times specific to BC, this Virtual Town Hall also provides some insights on the uncertainties of singing at this time.  

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Communities, Culture and Heritage COVID-19 Prevention Guide for event organizers, theatres and performance venues

Later this week our Executive Director, CCH (Communities, Culture and Heritage, and a couple other stake holders will be meeting with Dr. Strang’s office to discuss the guidelines and expand on them.  The guidelines below deal specifically with performance.  We would also like guidelines around rehearsals and we hope expand on what was released last week and is currently available – see below.  We will keep you informed and send out information as it becomes available

The following is an except from the document Communities, Culture and Heritage COVID-19 Prevention Guide for event organizers, theatres and performance venues:

Vocalists, singers, public speakers and instrumentalists Singing, use of wind instruments, speaking loudly and cheering may pose a higher risk of spreading the virus. Gatherings and events should limit the risk by implementing the following:
• Consider adapting activities which would normally require individuals to be in close proximity (i.e. music, dance and theatre) to maintain physical distancing • Individuals who are heavily exerting themselves while engaging in activities at the event (i.e. playing music, singing) should maintain a distance of 4 metres/12 feet from all others while performing, including vocalists and musicians • Consider having vocalists/musicians face away from others while singing or playing wind instruments • Increase physical distance between performers and the audience to 4 metres/12 feet
novascotia.ca/coronavirus
• The number of performers should be limited to soloists or small groups • Members of a performing group should not mingle with audience members, patrons, venue staff, or volunteers during or after performances

You can find the whole document here .

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Quarantunes #3: A Biweekly Choral Playlist

Welcome to the third installment of QuaranTunes, the NSCF’s biweekly playlist of choral music. This week’s playlist celebrates Canadian choirs singing music by Canadian composers! You may even see a local choir or two!

Have any song suggestions?  Suggest a song for a future playlist by completing this form,  QuaranTunes: Song Suggestion Form.  As this is a curated playlist, your suggestion may not appear in the subsequent E-notes; though we will try our best to make sure that all suggestions are used at some point. We look forward to hearing what choral music you have been listening to during this time!

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Audition Virtually for the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir

The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir will be welcoming new choir members for the next school year. Any students in Grades 3-12 during the 2020-21 school year are encouraged to join the choir family.

Auditions for Junior Choir (Grades 3-6), Intermediate Choir (Grades 5-9) and Senior Choir (Grades 8-12) will be taking place online through June. Students can choose to use a live ZOOM audition, or send a pre-recorded video.

With three choirs and over 150 students from throughout the Annapolis Valley, the AVHC is recognized nationally as a leading program for music education. Their online “Virtual Spring Concert” was just a huge success – lifting spirits across the country! Singers are welcomed into a supportive and close knit family, given a safe space to be themselves, build their confidence and find their voices. Fun and engaging vocal instruction, musical literacy and leadership programs together offer a high quality music training and steers the choristers towards musical excellence as well as building thoughtful and community minded citizens.

Find out about the AVHC and their programs, and how to join at www.avhc.ca

SING AND LEARN WITH AVHC!

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QuaranTunes #2: A Biweekly Choral Playlist

 

The Nova Scotia Choral Federation will be releasing a biweekly playlist of choral music as a way to keep our community connected through song. This week’s playlist  provides a survey of the phenomenon of the “Virtual Choir”.  Beginning with Eric Whitacre’s “Lux Aurumque”,  this project launched the idea of the Virtual Choir  onto a global scale.  This playlist features performances of the great works of Bach and Mozart, as well as some upbeat pop arrangements that embrace the importance of community between singers! We hope you enjoy!

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for any Virtual Choir opportunities that the NSCF shares in our E-Notes!

Have any song suggestions?  Suggest a song for a future playlist by completing this form,  QuaranTunes: Song Suggestion Form.  As this is a curated playlist, your suggestion may not appear in the subsequent E-notes; though we will try our best to make sure that all suggestions are used at some point. We look forward to hearing what choral music you have been listening to during this time!

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British Columbia Choral Federation Virtual Town Hall – Session #1 (Safe Singing)

BC Choral Federation (BCCF) Executive Director Willi Zwozdesky (Vancouver Men’s Chorus) and Morna Edmundson (Elektra Women’s Choir/Enchor) are joined in conversation by Dr. Michael Schwandt (Medical Health Officer – Vancouver Coastal Health, and formerly with BC Centre for Disease Control).

Recorded live on May 21, this was the first in a series of Virtual Town Hall sessions designed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on BC’s choral community in various ways. Session #1 provided much-needed insight into the current uncertainties surrounding the safety of group singing here in BC.

While this information is at times specific to BC, this Virtual Town Hall also provides some insights on the uncertainties of singing at this time.  

 

 

 

 

 

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Announcing the Results of the 4th NSCF Young Composer’s Competition

Halifax-based composer Peter Fillman has been selected by the jury as the winner of  the Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s  4th Young Composer’s Competition for his composition See How Low the Moon Hangs.  In addition, the NSCF is  pleased to share that the jury also selected an honourable mention for the competition; Peregrina by composer Cameron Slipp. Both pieces will be premiered by the Nova Scotia Youth Choir, conducted by Christina Murray, as part of  the NSYC’s  30th Anniversary Celebration.

For more details on the competition, click here.

 

Peter Fillman is a Halifax-based composer and guitarist entering his fourth year of a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition. Peter began his music degree studying guitar under Douglas Reach, and this past year began studying composition under Dr. Jerome Blais. Originally from New Brunswick, Peter was actively involved in arts programming at Rothesay Netherwood School and has performed as a part of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and as a chorister with the Dalhousie University Chorus. He hopes to study a Masters of Composition following his undergrad and is interested in pursuing a career in film composition.

 

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HIGH HOPES FOR HIGH NOTES

A Soaring Experience…

In this interactive online session, we will explore one of the most common issues folks face when singing in a choir: finding freedom in the upper range. Designed for choristers and choral conductors alike, this introductory session offers fresh thinking about

o   co-operating with the body’s natural design

o   constructive conscious kindness

o   the value of curiosity

High Hopes for this Session…

o   This is an opportunity for you to develop your singing skills in a safe and playful environment.

o   This event is part of my ongoing teacher training with Total Vocal Freedom, a thriving singing community that celebrates singing in all its forms: https://www.totalvocalfreedom.com

o   All proceeds from this event ($10 is the suggested fee) will be donated to the Nova Scotia Choral Federation.

Please join me, Frances Farrell, on Monday, June 1st at 7:30 p.m. (AST) for an hour of vocal exploration. For more information and to reserve a spot, please contact me at highhopesforhighnotes@gmail.com

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Canadian Opera Company: Join our Virtual Choir performance of Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus”

In this time of physical distancing, music can help fulfill our need for human connection.

This May, we invite music lovers of all ages and backgrounds to join our community Virtual Choir for a performance of one of the most rousing pieces in the history of opera, Verdi’s “Anvil Chorus” from Il Trovatore.

Another opportunity to join a large scale virtual choir! Register here on the COC’s webpage: The Music Continues: Virtual Choir.

Submissions are due June 8th.