Harmonia Girls’ Choir is seeking new singers for the 2018-19 season!

Now entering its fourth season, Harmonia is Sirens’ premiere educational program for girls between the ages of 11-18! Have fun, make new friends, and discover the joys of singing in a group – Harmonia is a community where girls can feel safe to find their voices through music. Focus is placed on strong vocal technique, musicianship, and music theory, all while having fun, of course! Harmonia is under the direction of Kelsea McLean, with pianist Andrea Ellis, both experienced educators and private music instructors.

“Harmonia is my favourite activity any of my kids have ever taken. My daughter is always singing! She loves the girls in the choir. She loves Kelsea and Andrea. She is learning so much. The concerts are wonderful. My wife and I thank our stars every day that the Sirens have developed this educational service aspect to their choir. She will return, 100%. Her little sister can’t wait to be a Harmonia girl, too.” – Harmonia parent, 2017-present

 

Ensemble Information

• Location – Park Royal United Church, Charlottetown (11 Christie Drive);
• Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings, 6:15-8:15pm, from September 11, 2018 to May 7th, 2019;
• Harmonia performs two concert programs each season: a Christmas performance on December 8 & 9 (with Sirens) and a Spring performance on May 11;
• Harmonia contributes music to Sunday morning services at Park Royal twice per school year
• Harmonia will perform with the PEI Symphony Orchestra on April 14 alongside Sirens and community singers; extra rehearsals to be scheduled between April 11-13
• The choir will participate in the Queens County Music Festival in May 2019
• Additional performances may be included in the schedule pending availability and value of experience for singers
• As part of the Sirens family, singers have the opportunity to attend Sirens concerts (for free!) and perform alongside the group;
• Singers will receive specialized vocal training within a gendered choir context, specializing in specific training for the girl’s developing voice
• Girls aged 11-18 are welcome to join;
• Registration for the entire year is $125
  • No child will be excluded from participation due to financial reasons; please reach out to us directly with any questions you may have
• NEW! Community Service Bursary hours now awarded to participating high school students!

“When I know we have a practice, I am very happy. I love singing with as the girls I have met have become good friends, and you are always made to feel that you are a special part of the group!” – Harmonia member, 2015-present

We are currently accepting new singers. All interested singers should contact Artistic Director, Kelsea McLean at kelsea@sirenschoir.com

Sirens is thrilled to have been invited to collaborate with the award-winning Halifax Camerata Singers (HCS)  in Let our Spirits Soar:  The Voices of our Past, on Saturday, May 27 in Charlottetown at Park Royal United Church at 3:00 p.m. and in Halifax on Sunday, May 28 at 4:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church.

Camerata Artistic Director Jeff Joudrey commented “I’m so looking forward to these concerts with Sirens. We worked together over the past year, and this program is inspiring and eclectic, with repertoire reflecting where we’ve come from as Canadians in our founding cultures, to music of several faith communities, ranging from Muslim (Ai’Yu) to Christianity (spirituals/Gospel traditions).”

The two ensembles will combine for some repertoire including a joyous Gospel-infused finale, and also perform on their own. Halifax Camerata Singers will present the world premiere of its new work, I Lost My Talk, with text by the late Mi’kmaq poet, Rita Joe, commissioned from Canadian choral composer, Jeff Enns. Camerata will include the work in their upcoming June tour to Edmonton, as guests of the first Edmonton International Choral Festival, presented by Pro Coro Canada. Sirens will explore folksongs of French, Gaelic and English traditions. One of the featured works to be performed by the ensemble is Ya Faraoule by Stephen Hatfield; featuring driving percussion, sensous harmonies and Arabic text, this work will transport the audience to another land.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticket Halifax, at $25 Adult, $20 for seniors and $10 for students/under-waged and at sirenschoir.com. Halifax Camerata Singers gratefully acknowledges funding for these concerts from the Province of Nova Scotia.

 

More about Halifax Camerata Singers:

Now in their 30^th anniversary season, and founded in 1986 by Artistic Director Jeff Joudrey, Halifax Camerata Singers has become one of Canada’s leading chamber choirs, winning the Healy Willan Grand Prize for Canadian choirs in 2010. Last season the choir released its fifth recording, A Time for All Things, which won Best Classical Recording from Music Nova Scotia in 2016, and is currently nominated for an East Coast Music Award for 2017. Lynette Wahlstrom accompanies the choir, and Assistant Director is PEI native Michael James.  The choir includes performers from many parts of Nova Scotia and one from PEI, and is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, the Province of Nova Scotia/Arts Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality and individual donors and corporate supporters. The choir has distinguished itself by performing exciting choral repertoire from many periods and styles, with special attention to Canadian music. Camerata often collaborates with chamber ensembles, Symphony Nova Scotia and other musicians. Camerata’s five recordings are for sale at the Symphony Nova Scotia Boutique, Taz Records, online and through iTunes, and are distributed worldwide through Naxos of America, Inc. in partnership with Halifax’s Leaf Music.