nbcf newsletter october 2019 - wordpress.com · 2019. 11. 1. · nbcf newsletter october 2019 nbcf...

NBCF NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2019

NBCF NEWS ANNOUNCING JOEL TRANQUILLA, CHORAL FEST 2020 CONDUCTOR

Friday, October 16-Sunday October 18 Fredericton, NB Dr. Joel Tranquilla is a conductor, singer, and music educator noted for his versatile musi-cianship and creative programming. As the Di-rector of Choral Activities at Trinity Western University he oversees a program of six choirs and teaches various other courses within the School of the Arts, Media + Culture. In addition

to his work at TWU, Joel is the Conductor of both the Valley Festival Singers in Abbotsford and the award-winning Coastal Sound Youth Choir in Coquitlam. A proud alumnus of the National Youth Choir of Canada (2004 and 2006), Joel was the 2012 National Youth Choir apprentice conductor and the winner of the 2012 Sir Ernest MacMillan Foundation Award in choral conducting. In June 2013 he was named the Emerging Artist of the Year at the Ontario Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. He has been a member of the Canadian Chamber Choir since 2007, and in 2014 he was appointed Associate Conductor of the en-semble. A Fredericton native, Joel has developed a na-tional reputation as an adjudicator and clini-cian. Joel is a past Guest Conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Choir and the Manitoba Provincial Honour Choir and was the Assistant Conductor of the 2012 National Youth Choir. Before moving to British Columbia, Joel served as Artistic Director of the Windsor Classic Chorale, Chorus Master of the Windsor Sym-phony Orchestra, and taught as a sessional in-structor at the University of Windsor in Wind-sor, Ontario. He holds degrees from Mount Al-lison University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan State University where his doctoral research was in the area of Canadian choral-orchestral works. Choral Fest 2020 will take place Friday, Oc-tober 16-Sunday October 18 in Fredericton, NB. Stay tuned for the announcement of the work and the venue!

PO Box 714, Station A, Fredericton NB E3B 5B4 | [email protected] | nbcfsite.wordpress.com Page � of �1 11

The next NBCF Newsletter will be posted mid-November 2019. Send your news before Mon-day, November 16, 2019, to: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]




2019 NBCF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT: SPENCER BELYEA A lifelong resident of Saint John, Spencer Be-lyea has been an integral part of the Saint John choral scene for more than 40 years. Until his retirement in 2014, he was Music Specialist at Rothesay Netherwood and Kennebecasis Val-ley Schools for many years. He has been Or-ganist and Choir Master at Trinity Church since 1990, having previously served at Portland United Church. His service to the Saint John area’s choral community includes more than 40 years as a choral director for a wide variety of community groups, which he has served with legendary energy, expertise and enthusiasm for the choral art. He was artistic director of the Saint John Choral Society and continues with the Saint John Chorale. He has spent more than 30 years with the Saint John Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, first as Chorus Master for Sym-phony NB concerts, later as Artistic Director for the Symphony Chorus’s regular performances of Handel’s Messiah. Spencer has also pro-duced 25 Christmas Galas featuring the Saint John Chorale and other groups; and more than 20 annual Community Carol Services at Trinity Church, among many other school and community musical activities. He has been Assistant Director or Director of the Diocese of Fredericton Choir School since 2008, and is one of its longest-serving atten-dees. Spencer Belyea was the founding President of the New Brunswick Choral Federation in 1979. This being the 40th anniversary of the NBCF’s founding, it seems especially fitting that he be the recipient of this award this year!

REPORT ON CHORAL FEST 2019: MOZART REQUIEM More than 90 singers from all around New Brunswick and beyond gathered in Saint John to rehearse and perform the legendary Mozart Requiem, making this one of the largest Choral Fests in many years. The registrants began work on Friday after-noon, and continued all day Saturday, under the team of Dr. Douglas Dunsmore, serving as Choral Fest conductor for the fourth time, and the wonderful Michael Molloy on organ. One would have thought that this pair had been working together for years. Doug was fighting a cold, but did not let that interfere with his ca-pable and energetic leadership of the choir.


Singers at work



Choral Fest 2019 greatly benefited from sever-al Mount Allison University music students who made the journey from Sackville to sing, in-cluding several from the New Brunswick Youth Choir 2019, as well as Clare Maguire and Isaiah Yankech, New Brunswick’s alto and bass repre-sentatives to the National Youth Choir in 2018. What a treat to have these young choral music enthusiasts in the choir! There was a welcome break on Saturday evening and a lovely reception at Trinity Church, including lovely musical entertainment by the Cool Chicks and the Ugly Docklings, a group of Saint John musicians who often assist at fundraisers in the area. Thanks guys! There was a full house for the Sunday after-noon concert. The concert began with a very well received performance from the Saint John Chorale under Spencer Belyea, followed by the Saint John High School Concert Choir un-der Trish Gallagher. One would never know that the high school students had only been


Pensive conductor Douglas Dunsmore

Sounding great!




Brilliant accompaniment from Michael Molloy

More fun at the reception

Enjoying the reception

Douglas Dunsmore and Spencer Belyea




Mary Louise Belyea, Shane Scott and Joseph Goodwin Sarah MacLoon and Mary Louise Belyea

Concert-ready!



rehearsing for a few weeks, and that several were new to the choir. They made a very pro-fessional impression as well as making a truly wonderful sound. The 2019 NBCF Distinguished Service Award was presented to Spencer Belyea at the clos-ing concert of Choral Fest 2019 as well, in front of a “home-town crowd” at his church, and with his choir and many friends there to applaud. Our quartet of four young soloists — Soprano Mary Louise Belyea, alto Sarah MacLoon, tenor Shane Scott, and baritone Joseph Goodwin — earned spontaneous applause with their beau-tiful work. All are New Brunswick natives, Mary Louise and Shane being Saint Johners as well. All but Shane are alumni of the New Brunswick Youth Choir, and Joseph has represented New Brunswick in the National Youth Choir several times. What a joy to be able to share such great New Brunswick talent with an apprecia-tive local audience. Credit is due to Robert Taylor and Spencer Be-lyea, our Saint John committee, for making this one of the best Choral Fests ever!

MEMBER NEWS INVITATION TO SING MESSIAH IN SAINT JOHN Spencer Belyea with an invitation to sing Mes-siah. This is intended to reach former Symphony Chorus members, some of our faithful follow-ers, and potential singers. The Symphony Chorus and Orchestra will per-form Handel’s Messiah Friday, December 20. Soloists Jessica McCormack , Heather Flem-ming, Colin Frotten and Paul Bustin are return-ing to thrill us once again. Concertmaster and awesome solo violin, Geoff McCausland will also be back, to work with other great Saint

John musicians, like Dani Sametz, Rob Dutton, and Stephen Mott. A stellar cast again, led and supported by our excellent Chorus, of course! Cost to singers will be $25, to go towards our rehearsal accompanist and soloists. We will again have some scores to loan out. Rehearsals are Sundays through November and December. All those interested should contact Spencer Belyea for exact rehearsal dates and times, and other details and expec-tations, at [email protected] Please pass the word along!

RIVERSONG 10TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Sunday, November 3, 3:30 pm Mount Royal United Church, Moncton, NB Riversong, Moncton’s a cappella women’s en-semble, presents their 10th Anniversary con-cert, Moments to Remember. They'll look back over the past ten years and perform some of their favourite pieces as well as some new songs. Join them as they celebrate their past and look to the future. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 seniors and stu-dents and are available at Cover to Cover Books in Riverview, Staples Drugs in Moncton, from members, or at the door. Free admission for children under 12. https://www.facebook.com/RiversongNB/



https://www.facebook.com/RiversongNB/



FREDERICTON CHORAL SOCIETY CONCERTS Joint Concert with the Fredericton Concert and Marching Band Sunday, November 24, 2019 This concert will feature an exciting set of red-blooded Verdi choruses (including the Dies irae from his Requiem), Gounod's charming Messe brève "aux chapelles," and a set of light-hearted holiday music. Guest Performance with the Fredericton Symphony Orchestra Friday, December 6, 2019 Fredericton Playhouse The Fredericton Choral Society will perform choruses from Handel's Messiah and lead a holiday sing-along at this Fredericton Sym-phony Orchestra concert. https://frederictonchoralsociety.blogspot.com

CHOEUR BEAUSÉJOUR PRÉSENTE PRÉLUDE À NOËL Le 24 Novembre à 14 h 00 | November 24, 2:00 pm Église Central United Church Billets | Tickets 20 $ adultes | adults, 15 $ étu-diants | students https://www.facebook.com/ChoeurBeause-jourEnAcadie/

CARLETON CHORISTERS CHRISTMAS CON-CERT Tuesday, December 3 Grace Church, Coburg St., Saint John Director Christopher Lane https://www.facebook.com/Carleton-Choris-ters

26TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GALA Saturday December 7, 7:00 pm St. Mark’s Church, West Saint John The Saint John Chorale, director Spencer Be-lyea, with the Military Band, SJHS Concert and Jazz Choirs, an elementary school choir, and others.

FREDERICTON LADIES CHOIR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sunday, December 8 at 3:00 pm St. Dunstan’s Church Save the Date! Directed by Sally Dibblee with accompanist Carolyn Wagner, the Fredericton Ladies Choir will present its annual Christmas concert. Program and ticket details available in the next NBCF Newsletter. https://www.facebook.com/pg/Fredericton-LadiesChoir

SAINT JOHN MEN’S CHORUS Tuesday December 10 Portland United Church, Saint John The Saint John Men’s Chorus, under director Ari Snyder, present seasonal music in four lan-guages. https://www.facebook.com/sjmenschorus/

ANNUAL COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE Saturday, December14 Trinity Church, Saint John With brass quartet, organ, combined choirs plus community leaders reading Lessons. Mu-sic leaders are Spencer Belyea, Kevin Langford, Stephen Alexander, and Michael Molloy. Free-will Offering for Charity


https://frederictonchoralsociety.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/ChoeurBeausejourEnAcadie/

https://www.facebook.com/ChoeurBeausejourEnAcadie/

https://www.facebook.com/Carleton-Choristers

https://www.facebook.com/Carleton-Choristers

https://www.facebook.com/pg/FrederictonLadiesChoir

https://www.facebook.com/pg/FrederictonLadiesChoir

https://www.facebook.com/sjmenschorus/



SUSSEX CHORAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sunday, December 15, 7:30 pm St. Francis Xavier Church, Sussex The Sussex Choral Society will present it's Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 15, at 7:30 pm. Our conductor, Christopher Lane, has picked out a wonderful program of old favourites and new hits, and has even included something to tickle your funny bone. Come help us enjoy the Season and sing those winter blues away! Tickets are $15, at Winterwood Natural Foods, from any chorister, or take your chances at the door. A Holiday highlight for sure! https://www.facebook.com/Sussex-Choral-So-ciety-193591767335951/

GREATER MONCTON CHORALE PRESENTS AMID THE WINTER'S SNOW Sunday, December 22, 2019 at 3:00 pm Community Peace Centre Forum, 22 Church Street, Moncton The Greater Moncton Chorale and Tutta Musi-ca orchestra present inspirational Christmas favourites to warm our hearts and lift our spirits during the cold winter season. Featuring excit-ing contemporary choral composers such as

Dan Forrest and Karl Jenkins, the program in-

cludes majestic calls to worship, tender lulla-bies, driving medieval rhythms, exotic har-monies and giddy celebration! http://www.greatermonctonchorale.com/con-certs.php

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Friday, December 20, 7:00 pm Trinity Church, Saint John Handel’s Messiah will be presented once again by the Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, under the direction of Spencer Belyea. With soloists Jessica McCormack, Heather Flemming, Collin Frotten and Paul Bustin, Concertmaster Geof-frey McCausland and trumpeter, Rob Dutton. Tickets available soon through the Imperial Box Office.

REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS PODIUM 2020 — SINGING TOWARDS THE FUTURE PODIUM 2020 — CHANTER VERS L’AVENIR NATIONAL CHORAL CONFERENCE AND FES-TIVAL May 14-17, 2020 Montreal, QC Registration Opens November 1, 2019 Podium Early Bird Rate (November 1 – De-cember 1, 2019) www.podium2020.ca We are excited that Montreal – home of the bagel, smoked meat and other culinary de-lights — will be hosting Podium for the first time, after having gone to many other cities across the country since 1982. It is Canada’s major rendez-vous for professional develop-ment, offering masterclasses, workshops, in-terest sessions for conductors, choristers and



https://www.facebook.com/Sussex-Choral-Society-193591767335951/

https://www.facebook.com/Sussex-Choral-Society-193591767335951/

http://www.greatermonctonchorale.com/concerts.php

http://www.greatermonctonchorale.com/concerts.php

http://www.podium2020.ca


administrators, as well as exceptional concerts. It is a time to share, network, renew repertoire and celebrate our creative choral milieu. Venues The conference will be held at the Hôtel Omni Mont-Royal, at the corner of Sherbrooke St. West and Peel in downtown Montreal. Most of the interest sessions, workshops and keynote speeches will take place there, as well as the National Choral Awards Banquet. Concert venues will include McGill’s Pollack Hall, the Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul and the Maison symphonique. The hotel is very well situated at the heart of the Golden Square Mile district, near McGill’s Schulich School of Music and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, from where you can see the magnificent mural in tribute to Leonard Cohen. Performances We are thrilled to announce our performers for the conference. The Highlight Concerts (Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sun-day afternoon) will feature: • Bienvenue au Québec! (Opening Highlight Concert): The Choir of the Church of St. An-drew & St. Paul, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, dir. • Sainte-Anne Singers, Margo Keenan, dir. • Choeur de chambre du Québec, Robert Ingari, dir. • Choeur du Plateau, Roseline Blain, dir. (Venue: Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul) • The National Youth Choir of Canada, Jean-Sébastien Vallée, dir. (Venue: Maison sym-phonique) • Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s Chamber Choir, Andrew Megill, dir. (Venue: Maison symphonique) • A pre-concert performance will feature several Montreal-area children’s choirs under the direction of Catherine Fender (France)

• Grammy-award winning ensemble Roomful of Teeth (Venue: Church of St. Andrew & St. Paul) In addition, 11 outstanding Canadian choirs chosen by a blind jury from more than 90 can-didates will perform in the daytime Spotlight Concerts to be held in Pollack Hall (McGill Uni-versity’s Schulich School of Music): Canadian Men’s Chorus (ON) Choeur Adleisia (QC) Choeur des jeunes de Laval (QC) Elora Singers (ON) Exultate Chamber Singers (ON) Luminous Voices (AB) Pembina Trails Voices (PTV) Singers/Cantemus (MB) Prairie Voices (MB) Schulich Singers (QC) Shallaway Youth Choir - Exultate Ensemble (NL) Winnipeg Boys’ Choir (MB) Masterclasses and Interest Sessions The conference will offer a full roster of interest sessions addressing choral and vocal tech-nique, social justice and community, repertoire and performance practice, gesture and re-hearsal techniques, music education, adminis-tration, commissioning works and reading ses-sions. In addition, there will be masterclasses given by Andrew Megill, Hilary Apfelstadt and Jean-Sébastien Vallée. For more information on the masterclasses, visit the Choral Canada website (www.choralcanada.org) and go to Membership, under Student Chapter. Applica-tion deadline: December 15, 2019.




It’s a Date! We hope you are already making plans to be in Montreal next May. Registration rates are al-ready posted on the Podium 2020 website (www.podium2020.ca). Online registration will be open as of November 1 and the early bird rate will be in effect from November 1 to De-cember 1. Check out the special rates for stu-dents, retirees, as well as the group rates for choir members and university students. With the start of this new choral season, the countdown has started towards the 20th edition of Podium and the National Steering Committee can’t wait to welcome you to Mont-real! On behalf of the National Steering Committee for Podium 2020th/e, Patricia Abbott Co-chair, Podium 2020 [email protected] www.podium2020.ca Ruth Watson Henderson Composition Compe-tition Call for Submissions Application deadline November 1, 2019 Choirs Ontario is now accepting applications for the 2019 Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition. This year's competi-tion is for SATB work. The winning entry re-ceives a premiere performance with one of the Ontario choirs and a cash award of $2,000.00. The Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composi-tion Competition is a biennial contest for new choral works with categories alternating be-tween pieces for treble voice choirs and pieces for mixed voice adult choirs. The competition exists to provide Canadian composers with an opportunity of contributing to Canada’s rich

choral tradition through the writing of original choral works. Visit: https://choirsontario.org/programs-awards/

CHRONOS VOCAL ENSEMBLE THIRD ANNU-AL CHORAL COMPOSITION COMPETITION Deadline: December 15, 2019 Chronos Vocal Ensemble has championed Canadian music and supported the creation of new works, through premieres, recordings, commissions, and our annual composition competition. Following successful editions of the competition in 2017 (winner: Nicholas Ryan Kelly) and 2018 (Paul Aitken), we are pleased to launch the 2019 edition of the Chronos Vocal Ensemble Choral Composition Competition. This year, for the first time, we are providing a defining parameter for the competition: all en-tries must set poetry of Sara Teasdale, and the winning entry will be performed on an April 2020 program exclusively featuring settings of this poet. American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) cre-ated a wealth of texts that have since been treated by composers from all over the world, and her lyricism and vivid descriptions of na-ture and inner life are a treasure trove for those who set words to music. Read the Guidelines on their website: http://chronosvocalensemble.com/competi-tion/



http://www.podium2020.ca

http://chronosvocalensemble.com/competition/

http://chronosvocalensemble.com/competition/



The New Brunswick Choral Federation La Fédération des chorales du Nouveau-Brunswick PO Box 714, Station A, Fredericton NB E3B 5B4 (506) 478-2875 [email protected] nbcfsite.wordpress.com Funding for the New Brunswick Choral Federa-tion comes from membership fees, private do-nations, and grants. Programs are funded from the NBCF operating budget and from program registration fees, as well from as grants and donations whenever possible. To donate to the NBCF, visit: http://nbcfsite.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/donations-and-fundraising/ or: http://www.canadahelps.org/dn/10420 The New Brunswick Choral Federation is grate-ful to receive an operating grant from the Arts and Cultural Industries Branch of Tourism, Her-itage and Culture, Province of New Brunswick.


http://nbcfsite.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/donations-and-fundraising/

http://nbcfsite.wordpress.com/2015/09/29/donations-and-fundraising/

http://www.canadahelps.org/dn/10420


nbcf newsletter october 2019 - wordpress.com · 2019. 11. 1. · nbcf newsletter october 2019 nbcf...

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