By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

GIVING TUESDAY – EVERY DONATION HELPS

 

It is #GivingTuesday this week, please consider supporting the Nova Scotia Choral Federation. Every donation helps us to build a stronger choral community here in Nova Scotia and not only provide the best possible programs and services and but also make them accessible to people of all ages and means.   Please consider making a donation to the Friends of Nova Scotia youth Choir; Louise Simons Memorial Scholarship Fund; NSYC Black Folder Purchase Campaign; Elizabeth Murray Bursary Fund for Junior and Youth Choir Camp Bursaries or a general donation to help provide more services. You can find us at Canada Helps! https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/nova-scotia-choral-federation/

By NSCFMGR Front Page • Singers Wanted 0 Comments

Canadian Cancer Society Holiday Carolling

The Canadian Cancer Society is seeking the assistance of a local community choir to lead an event outside at The Sobey Cancer Support Centre (5826 South Street, Halifax) on December 17th from 6:30-8:30pm.

We are looking to hold a community carolling event to celebrate the close of our campaign One Night Stand Against Cancer where all proceeds go to The Dr. Susan K Roberts Lodge That Gives, keeping the cost of cancer down for cancer patients across Nova Scotia. And to get us all in the holiday spirit! We will be inviting residents of The Lodge That Gives, the Halifax community, as well as campaign donors and CCS volunteers and partners.

This is sure to be a fun event and we are hoping to team up with a choir who is interested in helping make a difference in their community by bringing joy through song to cancer patients from across Nova Scotia.

For more information please contact Susan Ready – Manager, Revenue Development at 902-423-0233 or by email at susan.ready@ns.cancer.ca

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

World Choral Day – Register Your Concert Now!

World Choral Day / Dia Mundial del Canto Coral– commemorating the 100th anniversary of the ending of WWI

Join choral ensembles around the globe in celebrating World Choral Day  to show that “our choral family contributes through music to break down the artificial barriers of politics, ideologies, religions, and racial hatred that separate human beings” (Alberto Grau at the launch of IFCM’s World Choral Day, 1990). All choral ensembles are invited to register concerts/events that happen between November 11 and December 16 (Remembrance, Advent, Christmas, etc.). Choirs are encouraged to include the World Choral Day proclamation in concerts, use the logo in programs and advertising, and publicize their participation in World Choral Day through social media. Let’s have a massive Nova Scotia and Canadian presence on the World Choral Day website to demonstrate belief that “choral singing, an integral part of the Canadian cultural experience, has the power to build communities and transform lives.”

An international choral event to extol the values of solidarity, peace and understanding!
Since 1990 thousands of choirs have been joining in the celebration of World Choral Day on or around the 2nd Sunday of December.

Millions of singers across the globe have been involved in World Choral Day concerts, festivals, sing-alongs, choral seminars, days of friendship and other events.

The World Choral Day is an initiative of Alberto Grau from the Latin American Vice-Presidency of the International Federation for Choral Music, proposed and approved by the General Assembly of IFCM held in Helsinki in August, 1990, within the framework of the 2nd World Symposium on Choral Music:

“The world is living through severe and continuous crisis of self destruction. There are no possible reasons that can justify these actions. The majority of the human race wants to live in peace with dignity. It is time to show, with more power and strength, that our choral family contributes, through music to break down the artificial barriers product of politics, different ideologies, religious differences, and racial hatred that separate human beings. We must be able to show that MUSIC, the divine art, is more than the mere search of formal perfection and interpretative beauty, music should serve to extol the values of solidarity, peace, and understanding . We cannot work isolated, we have to make all possible efforts to have our voices heard and to let music work its own paths of communication.”

 

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

2019 NewWorks Choral Composition Competition

We at the DaCapo Chamber Choir are pleased to announce that the 2019 NewWorks choral composition competition is now open.

The purpose of the NewWorks competition is to foster new and engaging choral works by Canadian composers.  We are continually looking for new pieces to perform which will challenge us and our audiences – both musically and emotionally.  This November, we released our newest CD – 9 of 10 tracks on this recording come out of this NewWorks competition!

In its programming and performance, DaCapo aims to contribute to the work of building empathy, of fostering understanding, and of strengthening bonds between the entitled and the impoverished, focusing particularly on the refugee road in its present programming. With this in mind, for this year’s NewWorks competition, we are asking for compositions that are related in some way to the theme of renewal: of hope, courage, and new purpose.
The winning entry of the 2019 competition will receive a $1,500 cash award plus travel expenses to Kitchener to attend the premiere of his/her composition by the DaCapo Chamber Choir, under director Leonard Enns, in the choir’s 2017/2018 season.  We are also inviting young composers (aged 25 and younger) to submit compositions for consideration in our Young Composers Reading Sessions.
Entry deadline is Monday March 18, 2019. Full information is available on our web site:  http://www.dacapochamberchoir.ca/newworks.

Sara Martin, manager
DaCapo Chamber Choir
www.dacapochamberchoir.ca
@DaCapoChoir  #NewWorks
519-725-7549

 

By NSCFMGR e-notes • Front Page • Job Postings • Member Blog 0 Comments

NSCF Employment Opportunity – Program Coordinator

Employment Opportunity
Program Coordinator

Now Accepting Applications: Deadline November 5, 2018

Permanent Part time Position Please submit resume and references to tim@nscf.ca For more information call 902-423-4688
Start Date: November, 2018

Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Program Coordinator will be responsible for administrative tasks required for the smooth operation of the Federation’s programs.  The Federation currently present two weekend programs for children and youth, 3 weeklong summer choir camps, an auditioned provincial youth choir, and other projects.  S/he will assist with the program management, presentation and promotion, including tracking registrations; receipting and database maintenance; updating, creation, and distribution of information packages for program participants and program staff, as well as  promotion and evaluation of programs.

JOB DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
• This is a salaried position hired by and responsible to the Executive Director.  It is expected that the Program Coordinator is capable of working with minimal supervision.
• This is a permanent part-time position which requires 14-21 hours per week.  The selected candidate will set regular office hours in consultation with the Executive Director.  It is preferred that the selected candidate be present in the office at least two days per week.
• The position will include sick leave and vacation time commensurate with the Personnel Policies of the Nova Scotia Choral Federation.

PROGRAMS

Sing Summer Programs – Junior, Youth, Adult and Conducting Choir Camps
Bursary Programs
Nova Scotia Youth choir
Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia
Juventata
National Youth Choir
Other Programs and Workshops as developed/required
• Create, maintain, and implement a critical path for all office work associated with NSCF the programs
• Assist the Executive Director in the development of program budgets and work within those budgets
• Seek external funding for programs through grant, donations, and advertising
• Provide required documentation for program expenses and revenue
• Create and implement, in cooperation with the Executive Director, a promotional plan
• Create, in cooperation with the Executive Director, all promotional materials
• Create and maintain database for registration
• Create and/or adapt program information packages
• Create and maintain a database for program staff
• Solicit and contract all program staff in compliance with hiring policy
• Act as artistic liaison with guest clinicians
• Develop and implement staff training procedures
• Ensure the smooth running of programs
• Oversee program evaluation and development in conjunction with program committees
• Coordinate administrative follow-up including thank you letters and archival work
• Assist with music acquisitions for all programs
• Assist to catalogue new music
• Order and/or borrow music for programs within specified budgets
• Prepare music packages for programs – numbered and assigned
• Keep records of music on loan for programs
• Record music returned
• Invoice for lost music
• Assist, in consultation with the Executive Director, with administrative work for other programs

GENERAL

Other Programs and Services
Duties set out are representative of the principle responsibilities of the position and are not to be construed as all-inclusive.

Telephone/Reception
• Receive telephone calls courteously and transfer and/or deal with them as required
• Deal with visitors/customers in a courteous, efficient manner

Library General Operations
• Responsible to assist with smooth operation of the music library
• Asist with/prepare music loans for customers
• Mail out phone orders from out-of-town members
• Maintain and update library database

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education Requirements
• University undergraduate degree with music, marketing, public administration and/or library training, or equivalent experience
• Experience in education and/or event and programs presentation and development, or equivalent experience

Special Knowledge and Skills Required
• Ability to read music is an asset.  An appreciation of choral music, a willingness to learn and understand technical and practical choral terminology is essential.
• Good writing and communications skills are required.  Ability to work with and develop volunteers is essential.
• Knowledge and experience with computers is required.  A working knowledge of Microsoft Office including database, spreadsheet, word processing, Google apps and scheduling and email software is recommended.  Must be comfortable with web based social media and have a willingness to adapt to that changing environment. A working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite is an asset.

By JBennet e-notes • Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

Choirs for Change – Nocturne!

On Saturday, October 13th, Polaris performed for Nocturne Halifax: Art at Night festival. Performing in Halifax’s oldest building, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Polaris sang Jason Noble’s “Furiouser and Spuriouser” six times between 6pm and midnight. The performances were a huge success, drawing an estimated 1,500 people (which led to a Nocturne photographer stating that it was the most well-attended event of the night!).

Don’t worry if you missed the evening’s performances, because Polaris will be reprising “Furiouser and Spuriouser” at Choirs for Change’s fundraiser concert on November 2nd. The concert will also include performances by Spira and individual members of our choirs. The event will begin at 7:30pm (door opening at 7:00pm) at St. Andrew’s United Church community hall. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can with a suggested donation of $20, and are available online through eventbrite or at the door. This is not a night to miss!

For more information, contact us at choirsforchange@gmail.com

By NSCFMGR Front Page • Member Blog 0 Comments

Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus – Inaugural Meeting

There will be an information session on the upcoming Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus, on November 1st, from 6pm-8:30pm at the Halifax Central Library (5440 Spring Garden Road) at the Lindsay Children’s Room.

The session will include information about joining the chorus, refreshments, and a screening of “We Are the Vancouver Men’s Chorus” from the Vancouver Queer Film Festival.