After nearly a year of fund-raising, a choir of 24 young hopefuls between the ages of nine and 18 went to Germany in early July to sing in their first huge competition. The Choralations Children's Choir of School District 46 has returned from the third annual World Choir Olympics in Bremen, Germany, bearing huge smiles and a silver diploma. "They're quite happy with their silver," said a still energetic choir director, Janice Brunson, on her first day back on the Coast. The choir won silver for their performance in the children's category of competition. The choir was also awarded the high end of bronze in the category of folk music a cappella, competing against many other choirs of children and adults alike. Brunson explained that the children went up against more than 350 other choirs from 85 countries in the first round of competition in which they were given marks by seven international judges. The result was placement, not a medal, and unfortunately, they were not chosen to go on to the second round with the gold diploma winners, which will eventually culminate in Olympic-style medals when the event closes on July 18. Choralations was the only B.C. choir to attend, though two other choirs from Ontario put up a good show. "The Canadians really did well," Brunson said, particularly the Oakville Children's Choir. Brunson is more than satisfied with their performances. Their selections included a carol, which they had learned in its native Latvian, and other songs by Canadian composers including In Flanders Fields and Chasing the Northern Lights.
For the folk music category, they chose to sing Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield's arrangement of Inuit chants. Brunson was surprised to hear a Russian choir also choose choral music from the popular Hatfield.
Bremen is a city of music, and the Glocke Halle in which the performances were held is reportedly one of the three best acoustic spaces in Europe. The children stayed in a dormitory in Bremen, giving them an opportunity to meet kids from all over the world - Russia, China, Indonesia, Turkey and South Africa - to gather in a parade of countries behind their Canadian flag and to listen to evening concerts and seminars. Future plans are clear. The season starts again in September, and Brunson said this time she hopes to add more voices to the choir. "We were the smallest of the children's choirs. I'd like to see 30 kids next year; it produces a bigger sound." In order for the choir to attend without great financial hardship, co-presidents of the association Debra Gazeley and Brenda Wilkinson began massive fund-raising efforts last year. The money allowed them to cover food and accommodation expenses while in Germany but still required a further $1,000 contribution from each child.
