Nova Voce choir members tell us about their choral history in Nova Scotia

As Ian Loeppky (A proud Manitoban and currently a prof at the University of North Alabama) said: 

“Singing in a choir is an absolutely unique experience. It is one of the most important things in the world. Where else do you have everyone doing the same thing at the same time without the use of special equipment and for a greater purpose, and no one is sitting on the bench?” 

Members of Nova Voce have taken this sentiment to heart. We don’t just like to sing.  We like to sing often, everywhere and with an amazing variety and number of choirs and groups.

Casual conversations at break time clued us in to the vocal reach of our choir members. We wondered how extensive that reach was, so we conducted a survey, asking this:

“ We all know from talking to each other that many of us spread the joy of choral music beyond our involvement in Nova Voce through our membership in other groups. List other choirs / musical groups you belong to and/or have belonged to in Nova Scotia. This includes everything from church choirs, barber-shoppers, quartets and duos, campfire singalongs, even family around the piano … whatever your claim to fame in making choral music is.” 

The choir members outdid themselves.  Here is a quick summary.

Community choirs: 41

Church choirs: 19

Special choirs and ensembles: 19

Musical theatre groups: 14

Choir Founders: 1

Choir Directors: 9

Leaders in Choral Music in Canada: 2

Composers and Arrangers: 5

Members add their voices regularly to church choirs around Nova Scotia.  Here are some of the 19 church choirs.

Choir of the Anglican Choir of St. Andrews, Cole Harbour

St. Matthews United Church Choir

St. John’s Lutheran Church Choir – Mahone Bay

First Baptist Church Choir

St. Andrews United Church

All Saints Cathedral Choir

Rockingham United Church Choir

Stairs Memorial United Church Choir (director)

Knox Presbyterian Church Choir (director)

Birch Cove Baptist Church

Lockeport Baptist Church

Many choirs in the province have had multiple Nova Voce members:

Dalhousie Collegium Cantorum (five members)

Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Adult Choir (five members)

Seton Conservatory Choir (five members)

Enchor East Singers (five members)

Dalhousie Health Professions Chorale (five members as well as the director)

Dartmouth Choral Society (three members)

Halifax Camerata Singers (three members)

Jubilate Singers (three members including the Founder)

Chebucto Community Singers (two members)

The Halifax Harmonizers  and the Atlantic Swells (three members)

Musical Theatre troupes also benefitted from our members’ talents:

Out of Lunenburg -Three members were in the sold-out production of Jim Bennett’s musical, which premiered at the Spatz in 2011.

The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Nova Scotia has also benefitted, with four members (including the Society’s Stage Director) treading the boards over the years.

Seven members have sung in the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus and five members have sung numerous times in the Nova Scotia Choral Federation Adult Choir

Then we have the small groups – duos to octets.  They include:

Double Black (duo)

Separated Brethren (octet)

Noteworthy (sextet)

Rotary Octet

Here’s some interesting comments members added regarding their wide involvement in choral music.

“I have been a church musician in the Valley for 35 years.”

“My wife had to put a stop to it at one point because I was out every night of the week singing in a different choir.”

“Along with all the other things, I have sung with one of the other Nova Voce members at a special remembrance dinner for the Lieutenant-Governor.”

“I began singing in church with my family group when I was five.”

“I am an original member of SoundTrax” (established in 1991).

“I sing to my wife.”

“I compose music as well,”

“I directed the Tartan Team Choir.” (volunteers at Stanfield International Airport)

“I conducted many choirs for the Kiwanis Festival.”

Finally, although we asked about singing, we found out that we have muti-talented people, with instrumental skills as well.

Gentle Tides (A trio consisting of guitar, cello and bass)

Bethany STRUM (guitar)

All City Band B (tuba)

All City B Orchestra (cello)

Sackville Concert Band (sax)

We had to leave out a lot of the details or this piece would have gone on til next Tuesday, but you get the picture.  Our members epitomize the sentiment of the quote from Professor Loeppky, that choral singing, however it is organized – be it two people or two hundred – is inclusive, uplifting and, frankly, good for the soul.