International
Inner Mongolia Youth Choir
Location: Inner Mongolia
Director: Yalungerile
The Inner Mongolia Youth Choir was founded in September, 2008, and is also known as the Inner Mongolia Arts University “choir base class”. It is Inner Mongolia first choir of this kind. Renowned Chinese conductor Yalungerile serves as their artistic director and choir leader, with renowned composer Se. Enkhbayar acting as the choir’s composer. The choir currently consists of about 80 members, most within the ages of 12 to 17, and all are from farming families on the plains of Inner Mongolia. Their teachers have very internationalized backgrounds, and include representatives of traditional Mongol arts and culture. The children in the choir are very talented and excel at learning new pieces, and in addition to songs in the Mongol language they can also perform those in Chinese and several foreign languages. Many of the members play musical instruments, including traditional Mongolian ones like the horse head fiddle, as well as the piano, violin, and so on. They also perform traditional Mongolian dances. In the past few years they have performed at various large-scale arts events throughout Inner Mongolia, China and the world, and have also held several dozen concerts of their own, all of which have been very well received.
The Manado State University Choir (Music Director and Conductor: Professor André de Quadros), from the province of North Sulawesi, a mixed-voice chamber choir has been acclaimed for its remarkable artistry and creativity, capacity to move an audience, and beautiful sound. The choir’s versatility is astonishing, performing a wide range of repertoire, from early music to contemporary pieces of the Western canon, from traditional Indonesian music with choreography to popular music, and Southeast Asian choral music. MSUC redefines choral and traditional music by creating cross-cultural and time-sensitive bridges. Traditional songs are transformed from simple melodies into lush, complex harmonies; traditional gestures form the basis for contemporary choreography, and Indonesian music from its many islands are collaged with Arab, African, and Western classical music. MSUC re-imagines choral music as a contemporary convergence of cultures expressed in drama, dance and song.
Recognized by the UNESCO as Artists for Peace for “putting their fame and influence to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace,” the Philippine Madrigal Singers is one of the most awarded choral groups in the world, having won all the top prizes in most of the world’s prestigious choral competitions, including the Grand Prix in the 2016 Concurso Internazionale di Guido d’ Arezzo, Arezzo, Italy. They hold the distinction of being the first choir in the world to win the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing twice (1997 and 2007) and the first Asian choir to be accorded the BrandLaureate Premiere Award by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation (2012). The group’s virtuosity across a vast repertoire range, its continuing promotion of Filipino choral works, and the rousing and deeply emotional impact that each performance has on all audiences the world over as they sing in the distinctive set-up of sitting in a semi-circle without a conductor, have established their reputation as a pioneering force in choral music and an inspirational role model for other choirs.
The World Youth Choir (WYC) is an international ensemble of the best young choral singers from all over the world. Established in 1989, it brings together up to 100 remarkable young talents, between the ages of 17 – 26, for a session and tour every year. The WYC has become a global symbol for peace, unity and harmony; being recognised as a UNESCO Artist for Peace (1996-1998), as well as performing at the Olympic Games (1992, 2008) and Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (2011). The choir is created fresh each year, through a series of competitive national and online auditions, overseen by an international jury. With the help of our patrons and a local host, each year a session of the programme is organised in a different country. While regular sessions take place over the course of three weeks, during which singers rehearse for up to ten days and then present a concert tour, this session at HarbourVOICES! will be an alumni session lasting one week with multiple performances during the Festival in St. John’s.
World Youth Choir
Location: Global
Director: Cecilia Rydinger
National
The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to the creation, performance, and preservation of Afrocentric music of all styles and genres. These 20+ classically trained, outstanding vocalists have shared the stage with internationally recognised artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy, opera star Kathleen Battle, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The Chorale had the unique privilege of being invited to Washington D. C. to perform as part of the celebrations surrounding the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama. The Chorale has also performed at events honouring world leaders Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and personalities Muhammad Ali and Oscar Peterson. The multi-faceted vocalists of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, whose talents stretch beyond the traditional expectations of a classical chamber choir, perform all styles and genres of music as appropriate to the traditions of Africa and its Diasporas. The Nathaniel Dett Chorale’s vision is to be a premier performer of Afrocentric composers, and a touchstone for the education of audiences regarding the full spectrum of Afrocentric choral music. The Chorale’s mission is to build bridges of understanding, appreciation, and acceptance between communities of people through the medium of music. Founder D. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor named The Chorale after internationally renowned African Canadian composer R. Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943), who performed at prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall and Boston Symphony Hall. Dett was dedicated to the cause of Black music, winning the Bowdoin and Frances Boott prizes in 1920 from Harvard University. Blyden-Taylor established The Nathaniel Dett Chorale to draw attention not only to Dett’s legacy but also to the wealth of Afrocentric choral music, and to be a professional choral ensemble where persons of African heritage can be well represented. Since its inception in 1998, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale has honoured the memory of its namesake, carrying audiences on a journey through the beauty and intricacies of Afrocentric music from around the world. One of Canada’s “national treasures”, The Chorale has performed its jubilant and uplifting repertoire extensively throughout Ontario and North America, delighting national audiences in critically acclaimed extended tours to the Maritimes, Quebec, Western Canada, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and the United States. The Chorale has also garnered international attention, accepting invitations to perform at Polyfollia in France, the 7th World Symposium on Choral Music in Japan, and the prestigious chamber music series at the U.S. Library of Congress, appearing there again at the National Symposium on American Choral Music. Currently in its 25th Season, The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Artist in Residence at The Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on Africa and its Diasporas at York University; and in August 2017, launched The North Star Festival in collaboration with the Harriet Tubman Institute and the Yale Alumni Chorus.
Inuksuk Drum Dancers
Location: Nunavut
Director: Mary Piercey-Lewis
The Inuksuk Drum Dancers, founded and directed by Dr. Mary Piercey-Lewis, is a performing arts ensemble from Inuksuk High School in Iqaluit, Nunavut. The group performs traditional Inuit music, which includes throat singing and drum dancing, and contemporary Inuit songs from across Nunavut. Throat singing—historically, a game that was played by women during the long and cold hours spent in the iglu—involves the creation of sounds deep within the throat that usually emulate the sounds of nature, such as the wind, birds, dog teams, snow crunching, polar bears, wolves, and mosquitoes. Drum dancing includes drumming, dancing, and singing songs that carry stories of personal experiences, humourous anecdotes, and traditional Inuit morals and values. At times, the group veers away from tradition to create innovative musical renditions that incorporate both traditional and contemporary musical styles.
Founded in 1996, Korora is in its twenty-eighth season in 2023-2024. As the flagship ensemble of Korora Choirs, the choir’s focus is centered on building community and creating a learning experience for young singers while providing audiences with exciting and innovative musical performances. Korora has received first and second place rankings consistently on the Canadian national festival stage. The choir also placed first in their division in the CBC/Choral Canada Competition for Amateur Canadian Choirs in 2015. Korora has received several awards for its work with youth, music education, and its African Projects Fund. Korora has been a featured ensemble at many events both nationally and internationally. These include the Rocky Mountain National Music Festival, Podium (the biennial conference of Choral Canada), the Canadian Music Educators National Conference, regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), the International Society of Music Educators (ISME) conference, and others. In addition to performances in many North American cities, the choir has toured to Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Malaysia, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, and Zambia.
Since 1969, Les Jeunes chanteurs d’Acadie choir have built an international reputation, first under the direction of its founder, Sister Lorette Gallant, and more recently under the direction of her great-niece, Nadine Hébert. Since its inception, the choir has gained national and international recognition in competitions and high-profile events throughout Canada, Cuba, the United States and Europe. Most recently, the choir performed with other distinguished Canadian choirs at the “Canada At Carnegie” event in New York City. The choir, now consisting of more than 40 singers aged 11 to 18, continues to strive for musical excellence and boasts a multilingual repertoire of classical, traditional and modernarrangements. The variety of musical genres explored is a testament to the versatility of this young choir in its 50 years of existence. Les Jeunes Chanteurs d’Acadie continue to spread the Acadian “joie de vivre” by singing songs from the traditional Acadian repertoire and can be heard on the Pommier doux and Chœurs d’ici, chansons d’ici recordings.
Founded in 1983, the award-winning Phoenix Chamber Choir is one of Canada’s finest vocal ensembles. Phoenix is renowned for its diverse and eclectic programming, from the Renaissance to the contemporary, commissions from Canadian and international composers, and North American premieres of significant new works. Part of what makes Phoenix unique is its commitment to performing modern choral music at the highest level, with exclusively amateur singers. With its long-standing history of success in national and international choral competitions, and the talent and training of its members, Phoenix Chamber Choir is enriching and extending its earned reputation as an elite-level ensemble.
The Saskatoon Children’s Choir was founded in 1996 by its present Artistic Director Phoebe Voigts and has developed an international reputation for artistic excellence, creative performances and their commitment to initiatives that promote international understanding. They have appeared on choral stages in Europe, Asia (where they participated in the IFCM sponsored Songbridge Project), the United States, South Africa, Ireland, Great Britain, and across Canada. Through an international repertoire, the choir draws attention to issues of global concern. Past performance/study projects include “For Sake of Life” (in support of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines), opera “Brundibár” (first performed in the Terezín concentration camp), “Still We Rise” and “Sing Africa!”(in support of the international fight against HIV/AIDS), “Welcome Home” refugee sponsorship and “Don’t Laugh At Me” project with an anti-bullying theme. The choir has commissioned two compositions focused on conflict and international understanding. The choir is the recipient of the City of Vienna Award from the Summa Cum Laude Vienna Music Festival, the Elmer Iseler and Choir of the World Awards from International Choral Kathaumixw, the Isabel Mills Choral Award, and the National Leslie Bell Award for Choir. Recording credits include feature performances on national and international radio and television broadcasts.
The Vancouver Youth Choir is the city’s newest choral organization for children and youth. Founded in 2013 by Carrie Tennant, the Vancouver Youth Choir provides a space for promising young singers to develop their artistry in a creative and supportive community. In ten years, the organization has grown to more than 400 members aged 5-24 in seven separate ensembles, including the brand-new “VYC Kindred” – a free choral program where newcomer and refugee youth learn about Indigenous music and culture. VYC choirs rehearse once a week, with many of these singers acting also as mentors in the younger VYC choirs. In 2023, members of VYC singers traveled to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall for a concert of all-Canadian choral music with choirs from across Canada. Also in 2023, the Senior Choir represented Canada as one of 10 choirs from around the world invited to perform at the WORLD SYMPOSIUM on CHORAL MUSIC in Istanbul, Turkey. We are incredibly proud of ALL of these amazing young artists, and very excited to meet all the participating choirs at HarbourVOICES!
Provincial
Beyond Youth Choir is a treble voiced youth choir that was developed by music director of Beyond The Overpass Theatre Company, Leslie Hewlett, as a part of Beyond’s Youth Arts Programming. Beyond The Overpass is a not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the development of the arts and young artists in the Central Newfoundland region. Beyond Youth Choir is made up of singers ages 10-18 whose goal is to encourage acappella singing, ear training and vocal technique, while helping to foster a love for choral music in the central NL community.
Holy Heart Chamber Choir from St. John’s, NL is an auditioned SATB choir consisting of students aged 15-18. Over the years, the choir has achieved many accomplishments including winning CBC’s Music Class Challenge, National Musical festival of Canada first place winner as well as being named “Canada’s Top Choir” in Feelitlive’s first virtual competition. The choir has toured Europe, the United States, within Canada and performed at Canada’s National Choral Conference – Podium. Beyond the numerous accomplishments, the choir is founded on our love of singing together, friendship, and having fun!
Founded in 2003 by Kellie Walsh, Lady Cove Women’s Choir was named after the remote community of Lady Cove on Newfoundland’s rugged yet beautiful east coast. The name Lady Cove is representative of the spirit and philosophy of the Choir: a community – a haven where woman-identified members come, not only to explore their own musicianship, but to share their lives and experiences in a sisterhood. Lady Cove Women’s Choir is a highly respected member of a vibrant and diverse arts community, both in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Canada. Lady Cove’s programming spans a wide variety of musical genres including renaissance, gospel, traditional, world, jazz, contemporary choral theatre, and classical music – and the choir strives to strike a delicate balance between performing and sharing accessible works, with creating new musical experiences that challenge both audiences and choir members alike. Lady Cove has garnered a national and international reputation for excellence, not only for its high-performance standard but also for its innovation and creativity.
Pride, musical versatility, and camaraderie best describe Newman Sound Men’s Choir. Founded in 2005, Newman Sound is named after a rugged yet scenic region in Terra Nova National Park, Newfoundland and Labrador. Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director, Jennifer Hart, the choir has realized an ever-growing loyal audience and a high local, national and international reputation having established an exciting and eclectic repertoire across the genres of classical, pop and folk, including some outstanding arrangements and original compositions by several singers within the choir. Newman Sound is more than just a group of guys who love to sing! A true community choir of more than thirty dedicated singers, choir members come from every age and walk of life, bringing with them a wealth of experiences and perspectives but most importantly, a love of making music together. In 2006, the choir was awarded the Galaxie Rising Star Award for Most Promising New Choir inCanada at the National CBC Choral Competition. Living up to its rising star status, the choir made it to the final round of competition in 2008. Now hosted by Choral Canada, and known as the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, Newman Sound has placed 2nd in the Equal-Voice Men’s category in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In 2011, Newman Sound’s debut CD “The Green and Salty Days”, a collection of traditional music from Newfoundland and Labrador, was named Classical Album of the Year by MusicNL and was subsequently nominated for an East Coast Music Award in 2012. That same year, Newman Sound was named Champion Male Chamber Choir at the 7 at the World Choir Games, held in Cincinnati, USA. In 2016, the choir travelled to the Basque Country in Spain to partner with one of Europe’s leading men’s choruses in a project exploring the historical and cultural ties between the Basque Country and Newfoundland.
The Philharmonic Choir of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (PCNSO) is an auditioned community choir based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Founded in 1987 as an oratorio choir specifically to perform Handel’s Messiah with the NSO, the PCNSO has broadened itself substantially and now performs several concerts each season with a wide variety of repertoire. The PCNSO continues to be dedicated to working cooperatively with the NSO to foster and perform symphonic choral music. The choir has attended “Unisong” in Ottawa; toured Ireland; and participated in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Festival 500 biennial choral festival from 1997 to 2015.
Projēkt Chamber Voices is a mixed-voice adult choral group based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, dedicated to performances of a capella contemporary choral music. Our singers are drawn from numerous backgrounds: we are music teachers and educators, researchers, professional musicians, and choir directors in their own right, with experience in musical theatre to church music, as well as instrumental and solo musical careers. Projēkt aims to offer experienced choral musicians a venue to hone and explore their creativity and craft in a flexible yet challenging music-making environment. Led by their founding director, Amy Henderson, since 2018, they now comprise a group of 24 or so regular members, who work together in a project-based fashion, rather than in a traditional choral season.
Celebrating its 30th season, the Quintessential Vocal Ensemble (QVE) has become recognized as one of Canada’s most accomplished amateur choirs, bringing together singers from the thriving musical community of St. John’s, NL. Founded in 1993, its members encompass a range of experienced singers, instrumentalists, music teachers, students, and professionals of diverse backgrounds, with a love for eclectic and engaging repertoire and an exceptional standard of performance. QVE is known especially for its a cappella repertoire of many styles and periods and has also taken on major classical works and collaborated in large-scale productions for symphony and stage. QVE has amassed more than 20 awards in competitions, including the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales, the Florilège Vocal de Tours in France, the Cork International Choral Festival in Ireland, the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, and the National Music Festival of Canada. Notable performances include Podium, Canada’s national choral convention; MusicFest Canada’s national choral showcase; and Carnegie Hall in New York City featuring “As On Wings” by Canadian composer Leonard Enns, commissioned by QVE to commemorate the response of the people of NL to the thousands of airline travellers diverted to the province after the attacks of 9/11. The choir has recorded three albums. Among recent projects, QVE has recorded works by NL songwriters Dolores Hynes and the late Ron Hynes and produced the video documentary “Mercy” with filmmaker Roger Maunder which recounts the profound legacy of the Sisters of Mercy in Newfoundland.
Led by Artistic Director Kellie Walsh, the Shallaway family is comprised of over 400 choristers, ranging from ages 4 to 22 years, in seven developmentally-sequenced ensembles and a team of over 15 music educators. From pre-school, where choristers first begin to express themselves through music, start to develop healthy vocal production, and commence learning the musical basics, through to high school, where they have the opportunity to apply their advanced musical skills to demanding repertoire and engage in the transformative power of world-class music-making. Founded in 1992 by Susan Knight, Shallaway Youth Choir, formally know as SHALLAWAY – Newfoundland and Labrador Youth in Chorus, is a cultural and educational agency that expresses itself through choral music. Its focus is on growing the capacity for commitment, initiative, innovation and contribution amongst its members and alumni.
Ullugiagâtsuk Youth Choir
Location: Newfoundland and Labrador
Directors: Janet Wiseman, Rosie Piercy, and Kellie Walsh
Ullugiagâtsuk Choir is an auditioned choir with choristers from grades 7-12, from the four Nunatsiavut communities: Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, and Rigolet. The students practice in their own communities, in addition to group workshops, prior to performances. Their performances are in both Inuktitut and English and are highlighted by drum dancing and throat singing. Ullugiagâtsuk Choir members were proud to participate in The Unisong Festival 2017, to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in Ottawa. Our commissioned piece, “Music of the Land”, created from the poetic words of Gary and Barbara Mitchell and Kathleen Allen’s musical composition was sung by over 600 singers, accompanied by the National Arts Centre Orchestra. It was with great pride that the Ullugiagâtsuk Choir performed during The Residential School Survivors’ Official Apology Ceremony, November 24, 2017. Previous in person performances included Come and I Will Sing You! Opening Gala, Podium 2018, St. John’s and float on Canada Day 2018. Our performance was highlighted with Song of the River by Deantha Edmunds-Ramsey. Our first covid pandemic virtual performance was The Arctic Inspiration Awards 2020 followed by a virtual and video collaboration with choristers across NL. The Ullugiagâtsuk Choir was honored to participate and share in personal reflection through the choral experience of Nagamo March 2023.