2004-2005

News Release

REF NO.: 353

SUBJECT: Canada Day choral celebration to link choirs across Canada

DATE: June 28, 2005

Memorial’s new Petro-Canada Hall’s technology will be put to the test on July 1 during a two-hour broadband multipoint video-conference entitled A Canada Day Choral Celebration: Harmonizing at a Distance. Internationally renowned choral conductor Maria Guinand from Venezuelawill lead three choirs from across Canadain a workshop celebrating both Canadian and Latin American music. The event will get underway at 4 p.m.and finish at 6 p.m.Members of the public are invited to come out and take part in this technological celebration of song. Tickets are available for a cost of $20 at the Schoolof Musicor by calling the festival office at 738-6013.

Each choir will present two musical selections, one Canadian and the other Latin American in celebration of Festival 500’s sub-theme on Latin American music. Hosted by The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium V’s co-directors Dr. Andrea Rose and Ki Adams (Faculty of Education), the choirs are: Pictou District Honour Choir, Nova Scotia; Jubilate Singers, Toronto; and Calgary Girls’ Choir, Calgary. Each choir will perform their Latin American selection first, after which they will take part in a guided workshop with Maria Guinand. Each session will conclude with a performance of a Canadian choral selection in honour of Canada Day.

“This spectacular event will showcase the advanced technology available in the new Petro-Canada Hall,” said co-director Dr. Andrea Rose, a faculty member of Memorial University’s Faculty of Education. “We are thrilled to be utilizing the space to bring together choirs from across Canadain a unique interactive environment. It is going to be Canada Day celebration like no other!”

This event is part of The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium V co-sponsored by Memorial Universityand happening on Memorial’s St. John’scampus from June 30-July 3, 2005. Part of Festival 500, the symposium is a gathering of choirs and choral scholars from around the world to celebrate the phenomenon of singing through performances, presentations and workshops.

Festival 500: Sharing the Voices began in 1997 with the Cabot 500 celebrations in St. John’s. It is a unique human cultural event which connects, explores and celebrates the commonalities and differences of people through the power of singing. The non-competitive festival and symposium brings together about 2,000 participants from cultures worldwide representing the very best of the world’s musical artistry and scholarship. For more information about the festival or symposium, visit www.festival500.com or call 738-6013, or contact Dr. Andrea Rose at 754-0337.

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