Powell River Vocal Summit
This past weekend, our Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo participated in the Powell River Vocal Summit. This is the fourteenth year of the festival's existence and all our 36 choir and jazz combo members found the experience both educational and rewarding. Chaperoned by musical directors Phil Newns and Elizabeth MacIsaac, the choirs performed for a number of much esteemed educators including Frank DeMiero, Dave Cross, Rob Hyatt and Jerry Jones. After their performance, the students attended a workshop with their adjudicators where they were praised for their efforts and given some constructive suggestions on how they could improve upon their performances. In general we found the festival to be of a very high calibre, with some excellent choirs in attendance. Most of the 33 choirs were from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia.
In the evening concerts, we were treated to two outstanding professional groups – Fifth Avenue and Novel Voz. These groups demonstrated the complexity of vocal jazz harmony, showmanship and the heights which can be attained.
The choirs returned early Sunday morning arriving back at Brentwood just in time for yet another show. On the Sunday afternoon, Brentwood College played host once again to the annual fundraiser “Choirs in Concert”. Our choirs were featured along with five other choirs from Vancouver Island. Together they raised approximately $2,000 for Special Needs Kids in the Cowichan Valley. All in all, our experience was well worthwhile, and we look forward to next week’s trip to the Victoria Music Festival.
In the evening concerts, we were treated to two outstanding professional groups – Fifth Avenue and Novel Voz. These groups demonstrated the complexity of vocal jazz harmony, showmanship and the heights which can be attained.
The choirs returned early Sunday morning arriving back at Brentwood just in time for yet another show. On the Sunday afternoon, Brentwood College played host once again to the annual fundraiser “Choirs in Concert”. Our choirs were featured along with five other choirs from Vancouver Island. Together they raised approximately $2,000 for Special Needs Kids in the Cowichan Valley. All in all, our experience was well worthwhile, and we look forward to next week’s trip to the Victoria Music Festival.
Phil Newns