MUN Festival Choir
As part of the University's Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1975, the Memorial University Student Glee Club and the St. John's Extension Choir combined to form a Festival Choir under the direction of D. F. Cook, for a performance of Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass. This new choir was so successful that it was decided to keep this happy combination of student and community singers as a University choral society, under the name of The Festival Choir. The Choir is dedicated to the performance of major works for choir and orchestra, and since 1975 its repertoire has included major oratorios from all eras, shorter contemporary works and a variety of choral gems from all styles including world music.
The choir has collaborated with community groups including the Newfoundland Symphony orchestra, and also featured winds and strings of the SOM to present major Choral/Orchestral works. Recently, under its present conductor, Douglas Dunsmore, the 100 voice choir has moved its regular rehearsals to Monday, Wednesday and Friday from noon to one p.m.
While most of the membership consists of music students, there is a healthy sprinkling of students from various other faculties as well as some university staff and faculty. New singers are always welcome!
The choir does not require an audition, but rather looks for people who have sung previously in school or other community groups and who would like to perform choral music in a positive atmosphere and at a high level of musicianship. Regular concerts are scheduled at the end of each semester and are enjoyed by many people in the St. John’s locale. If you are interested in singing in the Festival Choir, please contact Dr. Dunsmore at dunsmore@mun.ca.
