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!
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).
The Faithful Friends quartet is looking for a bass singer to join our quartet. We sing a variety of popular and spiritual music at various nursing homes and other venues in Halifax/Dartmouth area. For further information contact Doug at dhendsbee@eastlink.ca or 902-435-6111.
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:
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:
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.
If you love choral singing and are looking for a new and exciting choral experience, Dalhousie Collegium Cantorum (directed by Gary Ewer) is accepting new members for the upcoming season. For more information, or to request an audition, please contact Laurie Ewer at ewer.laurie@gmail.com
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
The Cape Breton Chorale is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Year! As part of the 2023-2024 season, we are inviting submissions for our first competition for young composers. The deadline for submissions is October 16, 2023. The winning submission will be performed in December of the 2023-2024 season at our concert, Christmas with the Cape Breton Chorale.\
Prize Amount: $1500
About the Cape Breton Chorale The Cape Breton Chorale has been an important choral ensemble in Nova Scotia since 1973, when Sr. Rita Clare (1933-2017) founded the choir. The choir has championed and premiered well-known SATB choral arrangements of Cape Breton songs including Song for the Mira, We Rise Again and others. For more information on our choir history and to hear our recordings: www.capebretonchorale.com
Eligibility and Guidelines for Submission This competition is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and landed immigrants who are 35 years of age or younger. Submissions must not be previously commissioned, performed, or published.
General The work must be original, not an arrangement of an existing work. We encourage an individual creative approach to choral writing that suits our ensemble well. The submissions will be adjudicated by a panel from the Cape Breton Chorale organization.
Text Composers should choose their own text, either a sacred text based on an aspect of the Christmas tradition or one that expresses universal, seasonal, and/or holiday themes. Texts must be approved for public performance and recording or be in the public domain. Composers are responsible for securing permission from text copyright holders.
Length, Instrumentation, and Voicing
Submissions should be 3-6 minutes in length.
While there may be some a cappella sections, a piano accompaniment should be included.
Solo(s) for soprano, alto and/or tenor may be included.
SATB choir of approximately 40 singers. Soprano and Alto parts may include divisi.
An additional instrument part may be included.
Score Preparation Scores must be clearly legible and may be handwritten or formatted with notation software. Submissions should be presented in open score format, with accompaniment set below the vocal parts. Closed score should only be used for sections with purely homophonic textures. Instrument part(s), if applicable, should be included in the score above the vocal parts in concert key. A separate instrument part in the correct instrument transposition must also be included.
Submission Instructions There is no entry fee for this competition. Include the composer’s name, contact information, and title of work in the body of the email. Only the title of the work and text author (if different from composer) should be included as part of any attached file. Example: Christmas in Cape Breton.2023.pdf The adjudication panel will see the anonymous scores. Composer identity will remain hidden from the panel until after the selection has been made. Submit the score, any applicable instrument part, and/or text sheet (translations are appreciated, if applicable) of the completed work in PDF file format via email to the address included below. Include a letter of permission for use of the text, if applicable. The inclusion of a notation software demo recording (mp3 or wav format) is appreciated but not required.
Please submit files to: info@capebretonchorale.com Selection, Awards, Performance The organization will identify the winning composer and notify them by phone and/or email on or before November 1, 2023.
An honourable mention may be declared. In this case, we may ask the composer’s consent to perform their piece in December 2023 along with the winning composition. A live performance of the winning composition will take place on December 17, 2023. The composer will receive a live recording of the piece within 60 days of the performance.
Looking for a summer job in a relaxed camp environment? Do you love to sing and mentor children who also love to sing? Consider joining us for our Sing Summer Camps held in Berwick, Nova Scotia! There is still a female Camp Counsellor position available for this summer.
You are at least 18 years old and will be in charge of 6-7 campers (mostly age 10-12 years old)
You are available to join us for training and team building the afternoon of August 12 as we get excited for campers to arrive!
Camp Counsellors ensure choristers get to events, rehearsals and meals on time. You also participate in daily activities to provide support and add to the fun. You will report to the Camp Director who will also be staying on site. There’s Art! There’s Drama! And who can forget the SINGING!?!
There will be a daily staff meeting to discuss daily schedules and activities. This is a residential camp so counsellors stay on site with their campers (meals and accommodations are included).
Counsellors are paid an honorarium at the end of the week ($200). Come join the magic of singing among the hemlocks at Berwick Camp!
If you are interested in learning more, contact Anne at NSCF – anne@nscf.ca
Capella Regalis offers FREE music programs to children of all backgrounds and circumstances. To learn more about our Boys and Girls Choirs, or book a quick and friendly audition for your child (ages 6-12), please email us at vhalley@capellaregalis.com or visit our website: http://capellaregalis.com/. No prior musical experience required, only focus and a willingness to learn!
