International Choral Kathaumixw 2012 is in the works and Powell River Academy of Music has released the official list of participating choirs which will represent nations from around the world.
On July 3, 30 choirs representing 10 countries will converge in Powell River for a week of workshops, inspiring concerts and cross-cultural experiences. For all but four visiting choirs this will be their first year to take part in the festival. Choirs from Puerto Rico and Kenya will mark the first time that those nations have been represented at Kathaumixw.
Don James, director of the festival, said he is particularly excited about a number of the choirs that are coming, including the Hangzhou Aiyue Tianshi Choir from the People’s Republic of China, the Manila Chamber Singers from the Philippines and the Kenya Boys Choir, which he described as “stunning.” James said he is also looking forward to hearing the Collegium Symphonic Chorus and the all male Birralee Blokes, both from Australia.
“They apply and then they send in their audition tape,” said James. “The committee selects so that we have a balance between various countries and different kinds of choirs and also the quality is good enough. So that’s how we choose.”
A number of Powell River choirs will also be taking part again, including Powell River Youth Choir. Powell River-raised composer Tobin Stokes will once again be writing music for the festival, this time composing two pieces for the closing concert. Stokes said it is too early for him to be able to announce any details on the pieces. Kathaumixw anthem, The Spacious Firmament, written by Stokes, will also be featured in both the opening and closing concerts.
Regulars to the festival know to expect a big start and a big finale, both featuring mass choirs and offering spectacular nights of music. Fred and Gunner Sjöberg will be back from Sweden to perform and conduct and the event will finish as it did in 2010 with a Thousand Voice Choir filling Hap Parker Arena.
The schedule is not being released until April, but James said he could reveal two of the main works that will be featured on the first and second nights of performances. Dvorak’s Te Deum will help ring in the festival, with Powell River Academy of Music instructor Megan Skidmore and returning guest Chad Louwerse as soloists. On the next night Swedish composer Lars Erik Larsson’s A God in Disguise will be conducted by Fred Sjöberg and feature Gunnel Sjöberg and Louwerse as soloists.
Tickets for the performances will be available in early spring and, in another first, will be available online.
