Every second year Powell River rings to the music of many choirs during the International Choral Kathaumixw running July 3 to 7. More than 1,200 singers from around the world gather at each festival to share their music, culture and friendship (www.kathaumixw.org). This year two visiting Australian choral groups are among them, and Sunshine Coast residents can enjoy their music when the choirs perform in Pender Harbour and Roberts Creek.
In Pender Harbour, Joanne Mauro is looking forward to bringing Echology, University of Newcastle (Australia’s) multi-award winning chamber choir. With numerous wins in national and international competitions, performances in the world’s great cities and venues, along with the release of eight CDs, Echology should be impressive. It was established in 1995 under the direction of Philip Matthias who has achieved many awards as choral conductor, composer, organist, teacher and researcher. Chamber choirs are small or medium-sized groups that specialize in classical/folk/popular repertoire, with wide appeal to audiences.
“It’s a positive that the choir is a similar size to ours [the Pender Harbour Choir],” said Mauro, “with 26 singers, giving us a good opportunity to make connections when we socialize over dinner after the concert.” (PH Choir is providing a potluck supper before the Aussies start a tour of Vancouver Island.)
“We hope that, being young people,” Mauro said, “some of them might return to visit our Sunshine Coast in their futures. We are sending them away with tourist guides, local magazines and lots of information about the area!”
Echology will perform on Sunday, July 8 at 4:30 p.m. at the School of Music (12956 Madeira Park Road, Madeira Park) under the sponsorship of the Pender Harbour Choir. Tickets ($15) are available at EarthFair in Madeira Park (604-883-9006); Sechelt Visitor Information Centre, (604-885-1036); and Laedeli in Gibsons (604-886-0958). See more information at www.facebook.com/Echology.
Australia’s Hunter Singers, a teen choir, will perform at Highland Centre in Roberts Creek (657 Highland Road at Lower Road and Highway 101) with the sponsorship of the Sunshine Coast Music Society, on Sunday, July 8 at 2:30 p.m.
Hunter Singers is a highly acclaimed choir for high school students in Newcastle, Australia. Formed in 1989, the choir performs significant contemporary and traditional works from the choral repertoire, and promotes the Australian choral sound and stories through successful tours. There are currently around 30 singers, representing nine government high schools in the Newcastle and Hunter area. Hunter Singers has commissioned many new works by Australian composers, resulting in more than 20 original works by some of Australia’s leading choral composers.
Kim Sutherland is the founding music director of Hunter Singers. She has conducted at Gondwana National Choral School and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2013, recognizing her service to the arts.
Tickets for Hunter Singers ($20 adult/$10 student) are available at Laedeli in Sunnycrest Mall and Strait Music in Sechelt.
– With files from Ruth Rodgers
