Powell River Soloist Places Second Pamela Wadden earns honor at Festival

July 11,1996

Thrilling her hometown audience, Pamela Wadden of Powell River won the second place award for vocal solo over 25 years of age at International Choral Kathaumixw. Competing against four singers, Wadden, a soprano, sang Samuel Barber's "The Crucifixion" and Mozart's "Voi Che Sapete" from the "Marriage of Figaro" for the competition.

She was accompanied by Nancy Hollmann. "Nancy's the best accompanist for me. She follows me perfectly. When I sing, she's the one I go to. She gives me excellent information."

A singer "forever," Wadden trained her voice at a Nova Scotia university from 1979 to 1983, before moving to Powell River where she sings with the Academy of Music's Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the Academy Chamber Choir. Wadden heard the news at 2:30 pm Friday at the Evergreen Theatre. Winning the award was "one of the nicest experiences I've had," she said. In addition to a certificate and a cash award, Wadden received valuable tips from the jurors alfer the competition. "The adjudicators were professional, warm and caring."

Reacting with shrieks, smiles, tears and hugs, singers in the Kiimingin Kiurut choir from Finland, conducted by Liisa Raisanen, exhibited all the excitement warranted when they received the Choir of the World at Kathaumixw award, as the first-ever recipient. That award was announced Saturday night during the gala closing ceremonies.

Winners of the other 1996 competitions were announced last Friday preceding an evening concert where second place winners were presented with their award and first place winners performed before accepting their trophy and award.

Children's Choir: second: Bloemfontein Children's Choir, South Africa, conductor Huibrie Verster; first: Florida's Singing Sons Boy's choir, USA. conductor Jeffri Bantz. Youth Choir: second: Kiimingin Kiurut. Finland, conductor Liisa Raisanen; first: Canticum Novum, Hungary, conductor Lovrek Karoly.

Mixed Choir: second: Da Camera Singers, Canada, conductor Melvin Unger: first: University of Ottawa Choir, Canada, conductor, Laurence Ewashko.

Equal Voice Choir: second: Mama Mulberry Choir, Japan, conductor Taeko Kuwabara; first: Spevacky Zbor Slovenskych Ucitelov, Slovakia, conductor Peter Hradil.

Chamber Choir: second: Sweet Debut, Canada, conductor Michelle Chyzyk; first: Kiimingin Kiurut, Finland, conductor Liisa Raisanen.

Contemporary Music: second: Kiimingin Kiurut, Finland, conductor Liisa Raisanen: first: Piedmont Children's Choir, USA, conductor Robert Geary

Folk Music: second: Mama Mulberry. Japan, conductor Taeko Kuwabara and Kiimingin Kiurut. Finland, conductor Liisa Raisanen; first: Raduga Music School, Russia, conductor Zinaida Kuleshova Vocal solo under 16: second: Molly Haight, USA; first: Avalon Wittmaier, Canada.

Vocal solo under 25: second: Megan Latham, Canada; first: Magdalena Freino, Poland.

Vocal solo over 25: second: Pamela Wadden, Powell River. Canada; first: Mariske Fouche, South Africa