Powell River Host ChoirsThe Powell River Academy Choirs welcome choral friends from around the world during the International Choral Kathaumixw. The Powell River Academy of Music choral program is flourishing with performing choirs at all levels and encompassing all musical periods from Gregorian chant to 20th Century avant garde music, from the classics to folk to vocal jazz. The Academy vocal ensembles include: The Apprentice Choir (Susan Hoekstra, conductor), Powell River Girls’ Choir ( Ildiko Kelly, conductor), Powell River Boys’ Choir, Academy Singers (Walter Martella, conductor), Powell River Youth Choir (Paul Cummings, conductor) and Academy Chamber Choir (Don James, conductor). Beginning with a young boys choir in 1975, the Academy Choirs have reached out to the world through concert tours, recordings, radio and television broadcasts sharing their music with enthusiastic audiences. The choirs have been guests at several important music, cultural and political events including the “Celebration for Peace” as guest of the City of Hiroshima and UNESCO, the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the United Nations San Francisco, USA), Europa Cantat (Strasbourg, France 1985, Vittoria, Spain 1991, Herning, Denmark 1994, Linz, Austria 1997, Arnum, Netherlands 2000, Barcelona, Spain, 1993, Festival Internacional de Choros (Isla de Margarita, Venezuela), International Sympaatti (Espoo, Finland), Golden Gate International Children’s Choir Festival (USA and the Eisteddfod (Wales). Academy Choirs have won many prestigious awards including first and second prizes in the CBC National Amateur Choir Competition in Children’s Contemporary Music and Youth Choir categories, the Golden Gate International Children’s Choir Festival and have been finalists in the European Broadcast Corporation’s “Let the People Sing” competition. Choirs from the Academy have sung with important orchestras and conductors in Canada, Europe and Asia. Their concert tours have included eighteen countries. The Academy Choirs have been important ambassadors for Powell River.
Academy Chamber ChoirThe Academy Chamber Choir consists of thirty - six singers from a wide variety of backgrounds and professions. It is an amateur choir that, since its inception in 1994, has developed into one of Canada’s dynamic chamber choirs. The choir specializes in a cappella music from the Middle Ages to the 20th century and regularly commissions new works by Canadian composers. Under the direction of Don James, the Academy Chamber Choir has toured in Venezuela, the Czech Republic, Canada, Mexico, Spain and France. Don James
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Don James, CM is
founder and music director of the Powell River Academy of Music, the
International Choral Kathaumixw and the Symphony & Opera Academy of
the Pacific. While
completing his studies in orchestral conducting at the University of
Washington, his work in opera led to an intense interest in vocal music.
Under his direction, Academy choirs have been awarded prizes and recognition
from the Canadian and European Broadcasting Corporations and have been heard
in concert and on radio and television in the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Recently Mr. James was named Canada’s representative to the International
Choir Olympic Council. In 1990, Mr. James was appointed a Member of the
Order of Canada for his distinguished service to choral music.