Freds Records » Blog Archive Podium Choral Convention & Festival Hits St. John's

Podium Choral Convention & Festival Hits St. John’s

40 Choirs and 800 singers from coast to coast with 5 days of concerts and delegate presentations, the biennial gathering of Choral Canada hit St. John’s for the first time Canada Day weekend.

Fred’s was honoured to sponsor the Nordic Light Concert featuring the amazing Nordic Light Symphony of Eriks Esenvalds, globally-esteemed choral composer from Latvia, boisterous Swedish a capella trio, Solala, and a brilliantly costumed Indonesian choral/’movement’ youth group from Indonesia whose electrifying performance defies brief description.

The multi-media Nordic Light Symphony for 100-voice massed choirs (from Calgary) and Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra featured beautiful modern music based on cinematography of the northern lights/Aurora Borealis shot in Alaska, Greenland & Lapland, shown on a huge screen the size of the back of the Arts & Culture Centre stage.

It featured ethnographic overlays of natives of the regions telling their myths and stories relating to the Northern Lights. A stunning performance.

Eriks Esenvalds, one of the world’s leading choral composers signed autographs at Fred’s CD table after his Nordic Light Symphony concert.

The opening night gala at the Arts & Culture Centre was a 4 hour showcase of top Newfoundland choirs. All the famous choirs were joined by diverse groups including traditionally-attired Inuit choirs from Labrador, special guests The Ennis Sisters and an all-star instrumental combo led by Duane Andrews & NSO concertmaster Heather Kao. 700 singers provided an evening of moving and exceptionally polished performances.

Canada Day saw the launch of the newly formed National BoyChoir of Canada, founded and directed by MUN Music School professor, Jakub Martinec and Jennifer Martinec.

On Canada Day all the choirs sang in churches in the St. John’s area, including special concerts at the Basilica.

It was 5 days of marvellous choral concerts, community, sharing, joy and music. And wonderful people from coast to coast.

Thank you!