The Aeolian Singers annual wreath fundraiser is underway!
The perfect addition to any front door to celebrate the season don’t miss out on these stunning, locally made, 20″ wreaths.
Order yours before October 31st for delivery in early December, cost is $25/ea. Reach out to a local choir member or email fundraising@aeoliansingers.ca
Your support brings Choral music to the community! It helps to keep choir membership affordable, hire amazing musicians and composers, purchase beautiful music, cover venue fees, and more.
All NSCF Memberships expired on August 31, 2023. Have you renewed your individual or group membership? Do you need an invoice for your membership? We are launching a new management system which will allow members to renew their membership and review membership information online. Dues will still be able to be paid online, by phone, email money transfer or by cheque. Information will be sent out to members very soon . If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Anne at anne@nscf.ca or call 902-423-4688.
Auditions are currently underway for the 2024 National Youth Choir of Canada, led by Guest Conductor Roseline Blain. Are you or do you know a choral singer aged 19-26 who would like to participate in this one-of-a-kind professional development opportunity? Video auditions will be accepted until October 15, 2023. Information for singers, application details and audition guidelines are all available here: nycc.ca/auditions.
Choral Canada is also seeking Expressions of Interest for six (6) positions on the Choral Canada Student Chapter (CCSC) Executive Committee. These individuals are representative of the richly diverse group singing communities in which we participate and will help provide the CCSC committee with a multitude of perspectives and lived experiences. Deadline: October 20, 2023. For more information on the Student Chapter and how to submit your Expression of Interest: bit.ly/46sqf7K
Call for Applications – HarbourVOICES! International Festival of Collective Singing Traditions
Join us on June 29 – July 4, 2024 in St. John’s, NL for an exciting roster of international, Canadian, and Newfoundland & Labrador singing groups/choirs on this ancient and beautiful land, at the most easterly edge of North America.
We strongly encourage participation from diverse voices, especially groups that have not been included historically in traditional choral settings/festivals. We welcome groups that are interested in collaboration and the reciprocal sharing of collective singing traditions.
Request for Proposal (RFP): Graphic and Website Designer to Assist with the Rebranding of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir
AnticipatedTime Period – 5 months
Background: The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir is a charitable, not for profit choral organization based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir (AVHC) is a nationally recognized community organization known for its excellence in music education and capacity for community building. It has been a mainstay in the Valley’s cultural fabric for over 30 years. Artistic Director Heather Fraser, former alumni, curates a program for each of our choirs that not only teaches them the fundamentals of music but stretches their minds and fills their hearts at the same time. Currently there are 170 choristers ranging from Grades 3-12 in three choirs, representing communities from the Kempt Shore to Granville Ferry in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.
The AVHC’s goal is to provide an accessible, comprehensive, professional quality musical education for youth while providing a unique and powerful means for young people to express themselves both musically and individually. We are focused on nurturing healthy voices, strong musicianship and engaged community volunteers and leaders. The AVHC program offers the chance for choristers to work with professionally trained faculty in weekly rehearsals and workshop settings. It includes a full music literacy (theory/sight-singing) program, chorister apprenticeship leadership program, performances, community engagement, and cultural exchange travel opportunities.
Citizenship, strong community values, volunteerism and a global education are also a large part of the organization’s goals. As a truly inclusive, supportive family, the choir provides a safe space for young people to find their inner voice – to take risks, build confidence and be their true selves. Choir members learn the value and true meaning of teamwork – to feel a collective sense of responsibility, to learn what it means to be committed to something larger than individual accomplishments, and to share in a common vision and work ethic.To build on our success and begin to move the organization into the future, we are currently seeking an experienced Graphic and Website Designer to assist in creating a new, more modern brand that better represents the AVHC of today.
The Position:
The successful candidate will follow a timeline of approximately 5 months. Primary responsibilities for this position will include:
Working with the Project Manager, Artistic Director, and Board President, develop a more representative name and logo to be used on all communication materials, choir clothing, websites, etc.
Redesign the AVHC website to make it more modern and intuitive, user-friendly Assist in the development of a suite of marketing materials
The successful respondent (or respondent team) will be selected by the Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir based on the process detailed in this document.
The Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir will make the final selection of the successful respondent (or respondent team) to perform the proposed services.
The Board of Directors of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir reserves the right to cancel any and all solicitations and to accept, or reject, in whole or in part, any and all proposals when it is in the best interest of organization as determined by the organization in its sole discretion.
Proposed Project Timeline:
RFP Submission Deadline – 11:59 pm on Thursday, October 5, 2023 Clarifying Questions to be submitted to the Project Manager via email at coordinator@avhc.ca by noon on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Anticipated Start Date – October 23, 2023
Within the proposal the respondent (or respondent team) must describe: ● Past experience working with similar non-profit organizations ● Overall Experience ● Links to portfolio, including samples of similar work done for other non-profit or arts organizations, if possible ● A summary of your knowledge of the AVHC and a brief description of your vision for our design and marketing strategy ● References – provide contact information for three references – one of which must be a former client.
Submission Detail: Applicant Proposals should be submitted by 11:59 pm, Thursday, October 5, 2023 to coordinator@avhc.ca as a single pdf with no more than 10 pages
Huge thanks to everyone who made our Ancient River Pop Up Choir event such a heartwarming success. We had 35 choristers participate in the workshop, led by Cantabile Singers of Truro’s artistic director Chris Bowman. Cantabile performed a full set of Robbie Songs at the festival, which was named after one of Robbie’s songs. The finale was a group effort between the workshop participants and Cantabile for a lovely 70 person chorus singing “The Last Song” arranged by Donna Rhodenizer who was part of the chorus.
Stay tuned for more exciting news from the Robbie Songs Project as we prepare to release a full length digital recording of the best tracks from our Apr 29 and 30th concerts through Leaf Music Distribution.
Kathleen – Robbie Songs Project
Photo Credits: Heather Ingram Kaiser and Mimi Champagne.
September is here and we wish you the very best for an exciting start to the choral season. May it be enriching and rewarding for you, your choristers and audiences.
Approximately three years ago, SOCAN handed over the collection of concert performance licenses to ENTANDEM. It has been found that the process is seriously flawed. One would assume that nothing more is required after payment through the on-line portal at Entandem. However, the final step should be the submission of a digital copy of the concert program, otherwise it is impossible for SOCAN to disburse the funds appropriately to publishers, composers, and authors. The programs should be sent to: concertsetlist@entandemlicensing.com and concertsubmit@socan.com
Early in July, SOCAN and Entandem assured those affected that there would be improvements/clarifications to both websites. In the interim, it would be appreciated if you or your administrator would submit any programmes from the last three years and all future programmes to one of the above email addresses.
Wishing you the very best for the upcoming season.
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:
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
don’t miss out on these stunning, locally made, 20″ wreaths.
