Canadian Chamber Choir

The Canadian Chamber Choir (Choeur de chambre du Canada) is a Canadian national choral ensemble that provides a professional choral environment for Canadian singers, conductors and composers. The CCC has a mandate to perform new and existing Canadian choral works, apprentice choral conductors, and facilitate workshops in all sizes of Canadian communities. Under the artistic direction of Julia Davids, the CCC continues its commitment to promote choral excellence in Canada.

Projects

The CCC puts on two or three projects each year. Each project must bridge the challenge of bringing together 17 singers, an artistic director, and an accompanist from all across Canada. Projects are usually 7-10 days in length. They are put on in different locations around Canada. Singers will have received their music in the mail and learned it prior to arrival at the project. Once everyone arrives in the host city, they spend 3-4 days in rehearsal. During the rehearsal period, a local school, choir, or community group will host the CCC's residency, and in turn the CCC gives workshops to local choirs in the community. The CCC then travels to a few nearby towns on a mini-tour, giving a combination of concerts and workshops throughout the province.

Projects could not be carried out if not for the generous support of sponsors. The Canadian Chamber Choir is a registered charity.

History

The CCC was formed in July 1999 by a group of Canadian musicians. The purpose of the choir was to provide professional choral opportunities to young musicians that lived in areas of Canada that were unable to support professional choirs. Their mandate was to organize and perform short intensive 'projects' two or three times each year.

The original artistic director was Montreal conductor, Iwan Edwards. In 2004, Julia Davids took over artistic responsibilities.

Past Projects

2010

• May 18: The choir released their first studio CD, In Good Company. It is an all-Canadian CD featuring special guests, mezzo-soprano Christianne Rushton of Nova Scotia and talented cellist, Se Hee Kim. The recording has pieces by Canadian composers including Allan Rae, Jocelyn Morlock, Lionel Daunais, and Jeffrey Ryan. Additionally it contains the commissioned piece At Sunset by Jeff Enns of Elmira, Ontario.^[1]

• May 20 - 23: The choir performed a sold out concert at Podium 2010 hosted by the Association of Canadian Choral Communities (ACCC) and the Saskatchewan Choral Federation (SCF).^[2]

2009

• August: While in residence at Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Manitoba the choir recorded their first studio CD, In Good Company.^[1]

2007

Singers from Ontario 2005 Project

• March 3 - 10: Alberta (residency at Rosebud School of Arts, Rosebud). Guest Conductor Kathleen Skinner from Edmonton. Joint concert with Kokopelli & Oran in Edmonton. Joint concert with Ambassador Choir, C(h)oeur des femmes, and Red Deer College Chamber Choir in Three Hills, Joint concert with Rosa Cantorum in Rosebud, Joint concert with Spiritus Chamber Choir in Calgary. Workshops with six local schools in the province.

• October 13 - 20: Ontario. Conducting Fellow Sonja van de Hoef. Concerts in Hamilton, London, and Elmira. Workshops with Appleby College, Oakville Children's Choir, University of Western Ontario conducting students, Royal Canadian College of Organists and a few local schools.

2006

• February 12 - 18: Ontario (residency at Appleby College, Oakville). Guest performance with the Guelph Chamber Choir. Three Choral Collaboration workshops in Oakville, Toronto, London. Two fundraising events in Toronto & London, titled "The CCC Unchambered"
• October 13 - 20: Manitoba (residency at Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba. Performances in Gretna, Brandon, Steinbach and Winnipeg (joint performance with Prairie Voices). Four Collaboration Workshops at Mennonite Collegiate Institute (Gretna), Brandon University, Brandon High School and Steinbach Regional Secondary School

2005

• February 16-22: Ontario (residency at Appleby College, Oakville). Debut of new Artistic Director, Julia Davids. Launch of new education initiatives with Choral Collaboration workshop at Appleby. Benefit concert in Toronto supporting The Stephen Lewis Foundation.
• September 18 - 24: Saskatchewan (residency at North Battleford Comprehensive High School). Concerts in North Battleford, Regina, Rosthern and Saskatoon. Four workshops in North Battleford, Regina and Rosthern

2003

• January 19-26: Manitoba (residency at Brandon University). Performance at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra Centara New Music Festival. First apprentice conductor position held by Rachel Grantham of Whitehorse, Yukon. Workshops at Brandon University School of Music.

• March 22-29: Quebec (residency at McGill University, Montreal). Commissioned Love Songs, by Stewart Grant. Full-length concert recorded by CBC Radio Two for Québec in Concert

• May 14-21: Nova Scotia. Guest artists at International Choral Festival Suas e!, Cape Breton. Mentors of the festival’s mixed-voice youth choir.

2002

• April 20-27: British Columbia (residency at Ryerson United Church, Vancouver). First workshops with secondary school and community children’s choirs.

• August 1-14: Nova Scotia / New Brunswick (residency at Berwick United Church, NS). Artists in residence at the Nova Scotia Choral Federation’s Adult Summer Camp Concert in Musique Saint-Bernard performance series

2001

• January 25-29: Manitoba (residency at Brandon University])
• August 17-25: Ontario (residency at Appleby College, Oakville)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} [http://www.musiccentre.ca/apps/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspItemDetails&buyItemsID=1978
2. ^ Canadian Chamber Choir Website

• Manitoba Sings article. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
• Mount Allison University article. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
• Brandon University events page. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
• Prairie Bible Institute. Retrieved October 16, 2007.

External links

• Canadian Chamber Choir Website
• Iwan Edwards' Bio
• Make Donation