Kamala Youth Choir represented Saskatchewan at two events this year - a Voices West festival and Unisong in Ottawa.
Remembrance Day weekend, Kamala travelled to Edmonton to participate in the inaugural Voices West in Edmonton, which included 200 young singers from western Canada.
The choirs were chosen for their innovative and heartfelt approach to the choral art. The wide range of music heard included everything from classical repertoire to a creative presentation of "the Count" from Sesame Street.
The mass choir prepared two songs for the City of Edmonton's official Remembrance Day service, After the War arranged by Joel Firth and Eternity by Michael Bojesen. These selections were a moving addition to the event.
The Voices West festival was organized by Scott Leithead, who is the director of the Kokopelli Choir in Edmonton. Leithead is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has a passion for innovative and unique choral experiences that transport and captivate audiences.
The group was invited to be the 2011 ambassador for the province at the annual Unisong festival in Ottawa. Unisong was founded with the intention of promoting national unity and understanding among all Canadians. It involves choirs from across Canada coming together to perform at Canada Day celebrations in the capital.
The highlight of the festival is the collaboration with the National Arts Center Orchestra in two free concerts on July 1. This year, the concerts featured renowned Canadian musician Tommy Banks and jazz singer Ranee Lee as well as the 350 voice mass choir under the direction of Edmonton's Leithead.
The mass choir sang Canadian repertoire from each region of the country, ending with United in Song by Paul Halley, which was commissioned for UNISONG.
The Kamala choristers performed on their own in several other concerts in the city during their stay in Ottawa. Their repertoire included works by Saskatchewan composer Audrey Janzen Falk and Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield. The young singers had opportunities to explore the city, and learn about parliament while in Ottawa.
Kamala is the senior group in the Battlefords Children's Choir program, which involves about 70 children in three choirs. Kamala travels in part to represent the community, but also to gain inspiration and knowledge about the art of choral singing. Through varied repertoire, the singers learn about history and culture, values and human compassion.
The Battlefords Children's Choirs will be presenting A Choral Christmas Card Sunday, Dec.11 at 7 p.m. at Battleford United Church. The program will conclude with the annual sing-along of John Lennon's Happy Christmas.
