2013 Festival Line-Up

Festival 500

Announces 2013 Line Up

January 26, 2012, St. John's, NL. Today at a Ceremony hosted by His Honour the Honourable John C. Crosbie, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Her Honour Jane Furneaux Crosbie at Government House, Festival 500 Sharing the Voices' officials announced to an audience that included international diplomatic representatives and invited guests the line-up for the 2013 Festival.

 

In addition, details on the Labrador Regional Festival 500 Event, which will take place this February 23 - 26, 2012 in Happy Valley Goose Bay, were also released.  Participants from across Labrador will come together for workshops, massed rehearsals and a spellbinding gala concert on February 25, 2012 at the Lawrence Arts centre.  Audiences will enjoy the sound of Pieces of Eight, a massed adult Choir under the direction of Douglas Dunsmore, and a massed Youth Choir under the direction of Kellie Walsh.

 

The 9th Festival 500 Sharing the Voices will be held in the Summer of 2013, from July 3 - 10 and will feature the Belgium a'capella sensation Witloof Bay (www.witloofbay.be/), showcasing musical styles ranging from pop to jazz to beatbox.  In addition world class Newfoundland tenor David Pomeroy will lead workshops and perfrom at the 2013 festival.  Festival 500 is a celebrated international biennial festival of choral music.  While it is a non-competitive festival, choirs are required to go through an audition process and must be invited to participate in this Festival. Choirs are given the opportunity to perform and participate in various concerts, workshops, clinics and masterclasses - all delivered by world leaders in their respective fields.

 


 

Festival 500 - 2013 Programs

SMALL VOCAL ENSEMBLE - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

A unique and exceptional opportunity for small (8 max per group) a cappella vocal ensembles. Work with Bob Chilcott (former member of The Kings Singers) and Jussi Chydenius (Rajaton). You will work in masterclasses, individual coaching sessions and a special small vocal ensemble concert series during the festival. Additional acoustic performance opportunities are available throughout the week.

 

PHENOMENON OF SINGING - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM IX

Festival 500, in cooperation with Memorial University of Newfoundland, invites you to attend The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium IX, an integral academic component of this international choral festival. The Symposium offers something for everyone! Teachers, researchers, performers, students and indeed anyone interested in singing and the power of song... come and attend this wonderful gathering of people and experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador... a place filled with singing and song.

 

MASTERCLASSES

Festival 500's Vocal Development program with David Pomeroy, one of the world's finest operatic tenors. David is just coming off the high of performing the lead at the Metropolitan Opera in NewYork. The development program runs throughout the Festival, leading to a concert recital. The program has a limited capacity.

 

Festival 500's Choral Conducting Masterclass with Sandra Snow.  Sandra is the Associate Professor of Choral Conducting and Music Education at Michigan State University. A headline clinician and world renowned author, she will work with 4 candidates throughout the festival leading them to a conducting performance.

 

GRAND FINALE

This is the most exciting opportunity! Would you like to perform with the full Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Witloof Bay and David Pomeroy? As part of the Grande Finale, there will be both a massed adult choir (conducted by Bob Chilcott) a massed youth choir (conducted by Francisco Nunez) performing to a audience of thousands!

 

NOT IN A CHOIR? - COME SOLO!

Festival 500 welcomes individuals to come and share their voices in this incredible choral experience. Come and attend workshops, hear world class performances, and share the spirit and excitement of singing in the Come Solo Festival Choir under the direction of the fabulous Sandra Snow and at the Grande Finale under the direction of Bob Chilcott.

 

CHOIR PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Evening Concerts

At the heart of Festival 500 are the Evening Concerts, which feature three choirs each over four nights.  Each choir presents their own program (20 minutes) and then shares one work with the other two performing the same song, celebrating the power of song.

 

Afternoon Concerts

Festival 500 presents a series of afternoon concerts in historic downtown St. John's. Interested choirs and small vocal ensembles are invited to perform a 20 minute program as a part of these full afternoon concerts.

 

Church Services

Choirs are invited to perform in services at local churches and worship centres on Sunday July 7th, 2013. All choirs and small vocal ensembles are encouraged to bring their own form of worship to the service. The demand is high and the congregations are enthusiastic.

 

Labrador Region Event - Happy Valley Goose Bay

February 23 - 26, 2012

 

Guest Group Pieces of Eight                           Canada

Massed Choir Conductors

Adult                                             Douglas Dunsmore                    Canada

Youth                                             Kellie Walsh                                Canada

 

FESTIVAL 500 Sharing the Voices - International Choral Festival

St. John's

July 3 - 10, 2013

Guest Group

Witloof Bay                                 Belgium

Massed Choir Conductors

Adult                                             Bob Chilcott                               United Kingdom

Youth                                             Francisco Nunez                        USA

Come Solo Festival Choir            Sandra Snow                               USA

NSO Orchestra                            Marc David                                 Canada

Grand Finale Soloist

Tenor                                             David Pomeroy                           Canada

Clinicians

Francisco Nunez                        USA

David Moss                                Belgium

Mia Makaroff                               Finland

Masterclasses

Conducting                                   Sandra Snow                               USA

Voice                                             David Pomeroy                           Canada

Professional Development Program for Small Vocal Ensembles

Bob Chilcott                               United Kingdom

Jussi Chydenius                         Finland

Witloof Bay                                 Belgium

The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium

Keynote Presenters                     David Moss                                Belgium

Francisco Nunez                        USA                                          Mia Makaroff   Finland

Panel Presentation - Growing Choral Communities

Moderator                                     Marian Dolan                              USA

Grand Finale Concert (July 10, 2013)

Guest Group                                 Witloof Bay                                 Belgium

Massed Youth Choir                     Conductor, Francisco Nunez     USA

Massed Adult Choir                     Conductor, Bob Chilcott            United Kingdom

Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra Conductor, Marc David        Canada

 

Background Information

FESTIVAL 500 Sharing the Voices

Economic Update and Tourism background (ACOA based data)

January 18, 2012

1. Brief Background - Since 1997

  • Attracted 261 choirs to St. John's
  • 56 countries, 24 US states and 11 Canadian provinces and territories represented
  • More than 16,000 attendees
  • Important in the exponential development of local choirs, particularly those representing St. John's by building strong international connections through associations with internationally recognized clinicians and conductors brought by the festival to St. John's.  E.g. Shallaway, Lady Cove, QVE etc.
  • Developed a solid and strong reputation around the world for excellence and service
  • As an important choral convention developed a high global recognition factor for St.John's as a destination of choice.
  • This is a biennial event not a one time conference

 

2. Economic Benefits - Financial statistics carried out by ACOA (2011 data)

  • $1,661967 incremental tourism spending ($1,178,605 participant + $483,362 audience)
  • $1,045,470 total GDP contribution ($735,495 participant + $309,974 audience).
  • 28.4 person years of employment created.
  • $636,691 - personal income generated.
  • $160,622 - provincial tax revenue generated.
  • $1.00 in investment returned $2.51 in incremental tourism-related expenditures
  • $675,000+ paid to St. John's businesses (Stage 11, Metrobus, Delta Hotel, Mile One Centre, Arts & Culture Centre and Red Oak Catering).
  • 1672 visitors from outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, including 10 countries and 4 Canadian provinces
  • Non-resident tourists spend on average $790 per visit - Festival choristers and accompanying members spend on average $1,071 - $1,314 per visit.
  • 7000 Number of room nights booked in St. John's by choral convention attendees
  • $10,000,000 - Approximate total accumulated GDP contribution to the City of St. John's since 1997

3. Additional 2011 Information

10.5 days           Average length of stay of each non-resident chorister in St. John's

10.3 days           Average length of stay of each non-resident youth chorister in St.John's.

13.3 days           Average length of stay of each accompanying adult and "Come Solo"

7.5 days             Average length of stay by each symposium delegate in St. John's

$1,313.60 Average spend of each chorister while in St. John's

$979.74 Average spend of each youth chorister while in St. John's

$1,071.45 Average spend of each accompanying adult and "Come Solo"

$1,500 Average spend of each symposium delegate while in St. John's

 

The average spend of each youth chorister exceeded the average general tourist spend in the City of St. John's.

 

4. Importance of Fest.500 to the province

Festival 500 is:

  • A major international conference with a music emphasis.
  • Clearly a Travel Generator for the City of St. John's.
  • A Travel generator
  • A travel influencer
  • Developing a defined market for inbound cultural tourism to Newfoundland.
  • Spending the greater portion of its budget on goods and services in St. John's.
  • Significantly different from other festivals and arts related activities due to its focus on long-stay inbound tourism.
  • Is intended to be an economic generator with respect to GDP and catalyst for inbound tourism.
  • Conscious of attracting new monies to the province and not merely recycling public spending.
  • All of festival 500's activities including the Symposium directly effect the community

FESTIVAL 500 Corporation

Prepared: January 18, 2012

 

 

Since its launch in 1997, Festival 500 has:

  • attracted 261 choirs, including more than 16,000 participants, from 56 countries
  • attracted a wide range of world class conductors and clinicians
  • generated $9.5 million in new cultural tourism spending
  • contributed $7 million to provincial gross domestic product (GDP)
  • attracted over 15,000 participants from 56 countries, 24 U.S. states and 11 Canadian provinces/territories since 1997:

Countries:

Albania

Algeria

Angola

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Brazil

Canada

China

Columbia

Congo

Cuba

Czech Republic

Dominican Republic

Estonia

Finland

France

 

Gabon

Germany

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

Indonesia

Iran

Ireland

Israel

Japan

Kenya

Latvia

Lebanon

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Nigeria

 

Norway

Philippines

Puerto Rico

Romania

Russia

Scotland

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Turkey

Ukraine

United Kingdom

Venezuela

 

USA:

Alabama

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

 

Indiana

Kansas

Massachusetts

Maryland

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

 

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Vermont

Washington

 

Canada:

Alberta

British Columba

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland & Labrador

Nova Scotia

Nunavut

Ontario

 

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-       FESTIVAL 500 -

For further information, please contact:

Laurie Dempster, Marketing Coordinator
Festival 500 Sharing the Voices

709.737.0061 - email ldempster@festival500.com

or

Jeff Collingwood

TOTALGROUP marketing communications

709.691.6548 or 709.753.1648, email jeff@totalgroup.ca