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International Choral Kathaumixw brings billets and residents together

qathet region residents invite performers into their homes during music festival
Tanya Hill

Over three decades ago, International Choral Kathaumixw began, thanks to Don James, then music director of Powell River Music Academy. Volunteers and support from the local community has been key to continuing success of the festival and people such as the Hawrys, who take in singers as billets.

The experience for those who take in choral festival participants, and the performers themselves, have created reciprocal learning opportunities and lasting friendships.

“I started taking choral singers into my home as a way to allow my kids to meet someone from the outside world,” said Hawrys.

The five-day choral festival includes concerts, song singing, choral and vocal solo competitions and seminars, inviting singers and choirs from around the world from July 4 to 8.

When Hawrys invited their first guests from Taiwan, the language barrier was a bit tough, but they were still able to connect and learn about each others’ countries.

“We always have a lot of questions; when we first started we didn’t have translators available so we tried to figure it out,” said Hawrys. “By the time we had Russians stay with us they had translators on their phones.”

The Hawrys family has had billets from all around the world, including Brazil, Poland, Denmark and Australia.

“We would feed them breakfast and dinner and pack them a bagged lunch,” said Hawrys. “We made some nice connections. It’s great to learn about their families, what’s going on in their country, like wildfires or flooding.”

The family eventually travelled and stayed with folks they had billeted in Australia and Denmark.

“We stayed in Adelaide and a town near Brisbane, both in Australia,” said Hawrys.

One purpose of the festival is to bring people together from around the world and learn about each other.

“The festival gives the town some energy: the volunteers, the choir singers, visitors coming to hear the choirs,” added Hawrys. “It [Kathaumixw] brings the community together.”

The family is planning once again to invite singers into their homes for this year’s festival.

For more information, go to kathaumixw.org.