This past April, the NSCF partnered with the Robbie Songs Project and the Canadian Chamber Choir to bring you a new set of workshops, Tune Up & Sing Out. This program brought together choristers from across the country to freshen up their vocal technique and to participate in a virtual choir performance. The workshop culminated with a virtual choir performance of “Why Can’t We” by the Tune Up & Sing Out Virtual Chorus and members of the Canadian Chamber Choir.
“Why Can’t We” was written and originally performed by Naming the Twins, a folk duo consisting of Kathleen Glauser and the late Robbie Smith. Since his passing, Kathleen has spearheaded the Robbie Songs Project, an effort to memorialize Robbie Smith’s music through the creation of new choral arrangements of his work. This led to the creation of Donna Rhodenizer’s arrangement of “Why Can’t We”. Donna’s arrangement can be loaned from the NSCF lending library or purchased through Cypress Choral:
Message from Department of Communities, Culture, and Heritage:
The Cultural and Youth Activities Program will be accepting applications to the June 15, 2021 deadline, for project activity starting on or after that date.
**Please note the program guidelines and application form have been revised for 2021-22** Due to circumstances beyond our control, these documents won’t be immediately available on the website but they are attached here. We are working on a fillable PDF for the application form and it should be available early next week.
Given the tight timeframe, we will be allowing for some flexibility around the deadline – if you are unable to make a completed application by June 15th, please let me know as soon as possible so I can advice as to how to proceed.
Please feel free to forward this message to anyone you think might be interested in the program. And let me know if you have any questions about the attached information. I will be offering “virtual office hours” in the coming weeks: open online meetings where anyone can join to ask questions regarding the program. Or we can set up a time to speak individually via phone/video call.
The preliminary results from the Singing in Canadian Schools: COVID-19 Impact Survey have been released! The Nova Scotia Choral Federation is proud to know that Nova Scotia had the highest response rate across Canada- this highlights how vital singing is to our provincial community and is a testament to the commitment of our teachers.
Within the constraints of COVID-19 health and safety restrictions, school closures, and alternate forms of
education delivery, fewer students are singing in Canadian schools. Singing is embedded in Canadian music
curricula for its value not only as a tool for learning and instruction, but because it is an essential means of self-
expression. Currently, 71% of survey music teacher respondents’ students are unable to engage in music learning through singing at school. Considering both the constraints and possibilities that may exist moving
forward, we want to look towards solutions that engage students in safe singing practices in Canadian schools,
helping them to receive the myriad of benefits we know accompany group singing.
Looking back on this past year, music education leaders have learned a great deal. When it comes to singing in
schools, we have learned that:
91% of music teacher respondents’ students are no longer able to sing in extra and co-curricular
programs such as choirs and singing ensembles
Fewer than 30% of music teacher respondents are teaching music from their music classrooms,
spaces designed for music teaching and learning
This evidence-based study paints an authentic picture of our experiences as Canadian music educators. The
survey sample pool was highly representative, with almost 1000 respondents from across the country. Survey data
are very comprehensive and include both quantitative and qualitative data. These data hold much potential to
guide policy and practice related to singing in schools in the upcoming year, while always keeping students safe
and engaged in a comprehensive music education: one that includes singing.
For more information on the preliminary survey results, click here.
The Nova Scotia Choral Federation asks that our membership takes the time to share this information with their communities and parent groups. School-based singing and choral programs contribute to and help maintain our thriving provincial choral community. Please keep your eyes peeled for more detailed survey results as they are made available.
The Cape Breton Chorale (CB Chorale) has had a successful year of music making despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic. CB Chorale has kindly provided some photos from their season and testimonials from their President and choristers. Through a combination of outdoor rehearsals, virtual strategies, social distancing, and mask wearing, the CB Chorale was able to offer a Christmas Card video to their community this past December. More details on their website, linked here:
Cape Breton Chorale singing in the outdoor amphitheatre at Open Hearth Park in Sydney (early October 2020)
Ruth Ann Morrison President, Cape Breton Chorale
Covid 19 certainly brought some unique challenges to our Cape Breton Chorale family. In spite of restrictions and losing our regular rehearsal space we managed to regroup and find a way to continue. We soon realized that even with masks and physical distancing the camaraderie and joy of singing together was very much alive. In person rehearsals with a Zoom connection for those at home provided a way to strengthen our skills, learn new repertoire and stay connected. Mini recording sessions provided a goal and incentive to keep going. Many thanks to our director Ryan Billington for his innovative planning and commitment .
December 2020 taping with CB Chorale at Calvin United Church, New Waterford
J. Allan McIntosh
“The science is in. Singing is really, really good for you and the most recent research suggests that group singing is the most exhilarating and transformative of all. The good feelings we get from singing in a group are a kind of evolutionary reward for coming together cooperatively.” (The Neuroscience of Singing by Cassandra Sheppard) The Cape Breton Chorale has been meeting according to the proper protocols and even with the masks and distancing we have experienced the joy of being together in song, a taste of what is to come as restrictions relax, we hope, in the weeks and months ahead.
March 2021 recording session at Calvin Presbyterian Church, New Waterford
Mary Jane Ross
Social distancing, unfortunately necessary since last March, is the antithesis of choral singing. In a choir we seek to come together intellectually, artistically, and physically; the restrictions of tthe past months have made this much more difficult. So thank you to everyone in the Cape Breton Chorale and especially to our director, Ryan Billington; our accompanist, Paula Jane Francis; and our president, Ruth Ann Morrison for making our rehearsals and recorded performances possible in these challenging times. May we all be vaccinated soon!
Linda Dieltgens
I miss practicing together. Zooming has been a godsend, but nothing is the same as singing together. I long for that thrill we feel when we are singing in many parts and create that “Wall of Sound”. It is difficult to determine balance when your own voice seems to boom in your mask. I think it is making us better musicians working independently, but I will be glad when we can perform normally again.
Seton Cantata Choir, under the direction of Garth MacPhee with accompanist Dean Bradshaw, is very pleased to announce that on Saturday March 27th, 2021 at 3:00 pm ADT we launched our first virtual concert on YouTube. This COVID-19 pandemic has created some unique challenges for performers, but it has also led to our taking greater advantage of technology in order to promote and share our music. The link can be found on the landing page of our website:
For the past several months the choir has been hard at work in our temporary rehearsal space at St. George’s Round Church in Halifax. This lovely church has allowed us to sing together and record while maintaining the appropriate social distancing and masking requirements as set out by Nova Scotia’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Robert Strang.
We are offering a short repertoire that is both inspiring and pleasing to the ear. All are songs of hope, strength, resilience, and the power of love as a force to unite. A few of these selections will be familiar to Seton audiences as we have performed them in past concerts.
Previous to March 2020, we have always been able to perform with the exhilarating presence of a live audience. We invite you to imagine that this is a live performance and ask that you might consider donating the cost of a ticket. Your donations will sustain us! Please visit our website for further concert information and for ways to donate. Feel free to share this announcement with your friends and family.
This 4-week course is built upon current and best practices and will be delivered live by digital marketing expert, Annelise Larson. It will:
Help you improve online visibility through paid and free online opportunities
Strengthen and grow your choir’s relationships with singers, audiences and other supporters
Show how to have a better understanding of your online data
All sessions will be on Saturdays from 1:30 ET (2-3 hours)
Saturday, April 10 – Introduction to thinking strategically about your choir’s online presence (2 hours)
Saturday, April 17 – Getting your choir found & increasing engagement online (3 hours)
Saturday, April 24 – Online performance & measuring the success of your choir (3 hours)
Saturday, May 1 – Case studies & putting it all together (3 hours)
Due to generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund, the entire course is available to Choral Canada members for $10 each ($15 for non-members).
The 2021 Connections Silent Auction is Choral Canada’s only fundraiser for this year, and we are excited to offer several social events and opportunities to connect through this project.
March 2, 2021 @ 7pm ET – Connections Launch Party
Featuring a performance by John Tessier, tenor; exciting announcements from Choral Canada (Podium 2022 and NYCC 2022!), breakout rooms to connect with colleagues and tips and tricks for bidding!
March 12, 2021 @ 7pm ET – Countdown Party
Featuring special guest Kellie Walsh and Shallaway Youth Choir leading us in song and connection, breakout rooms to connect with friends and colleagues and the excitement of last-minute bidding!
Join the Vancouver Bach Choir for a free panel discussion on Decolonizing Choirs. Led by experienced choral leaders who live and work across Canada: Andrew Balfour, Dr. Elaine Choi, Hussein Janmohamed and Dr. Melissa Morgan. We will explore meaning, action, and strategies you can use with your choir to engage in the process of decolonizing organizational thought, musical programming, and redefining mandates in 2021 and beyond. This will be a safe environment for all levels of experience to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn from colleagues and leaders in the field. The presentation will be recorded and available for viewing after the event date.
“It is now undeniable that there will be a ‘new normal’ in the post-pandemic choral world. For many, the pre-Covid choral tradition was familiar, comfortable and secure, but, as time may show, it may have been limited in its vision and purpose. The pandemic has provided us an interlude with extraordinary possibilities if we are willing to embrace change and find new ways of and reasons for singing together. This article will highlight several innovations and experiments undertaken by Canadian choirs and composers as, together, they have engaged in creative and imaginative projects which never would have been thought up without Covid-19.”
Ki Adams, IFCM Vice-President
The Nova Scotia Choral Federation would like to extend thanks to Ki Adams, IFCM Vice-President, for his wonderful article highlighting the resiliency of the choral community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most notably, the article highlights the work of local choir, The Aeolian Singers, led by Heather Fraser for their Veritas project. Veritas also featured local conductor and composer, Fran Farrell. In addition, the NSCF Program Coordinator, Ryan Henwood, was also featured for his involvement with The Sonic Timelapse Project. It is so wonderful to see our provincial choral musicians featured on an international scale!
The Nova Scotia Choral Federation will be hosting a discussion on updates to the COVID-19 guidelines on Saturday, February 13, at 1:00 pm. Choral Leaders present and discuss the most recent NSCF guidelines for in-person group singing.
Please register by Friday February 12 as the link will be sent out on Saturday morning. The guidelines, which were developed by the Nova Scotia Choral Federation and reviewed by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, can be found by clicking here.
Allegro Digital Training
