History

Our unique international choral festival was purposely conceived and initiated in response to the threat to our culture by the enforced closure of the cod fishery in 1992. That fishery was not only a mainstay of the province’s economy, but the raison d’être for European settlement. In fact, it was the social and economic engine of our society. Its closure was a devastation to our society, hallmarked by a plummeting economy and major out-migration.

Embracing Susan Knight’s proposal for a biennial international choral festival that would contribute to provincial economic development and nurture cultural identity, the provincial government funded the development of Festival 500 Sharing the Voices as one of six major anchor events for the Cabot Celebrations in 1997. The concept was based on the triple premise that such a festival would affirm and galvanize the province’s people, capitalize on what we already did well (sing) and bring international attention and investment to our shores. The inaugural festival was planned to coincide with the anniversary visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the gala opening concert in June 1997. Following that very successful first festival, financing for subsequent festivals became the responsibility of the Festival 500 Corporation, a voluntary non-profit organization which continues to be supported by its own revenues in addition to federal, provincial and municipal grants, corporate sponsorship and private donations.

Singing in Newfoundland and Labrador has historically been an integral part of community life – a way of celebrating, mourning, documenting events, telling the stories. That is why the concept of our festival was conceived around the ethos of “singing as community” hence the sub-title Sharing the Voices. This notion of community is celebrated in our festival at many levels and in a variety of ways: our festival’s non-competitive nature and its commitment to cross-cultural sharing, its shared geography (convening in both Western Newfoundland and Labrador regions as well as in St. John’s), its fusion of theory and practice (academic symposium and festival), its team approach to direction (Board of Directors and Artistic Directors’ team), and its involvement of a legion of community volunteers.

In keeping with that spirit of sharing and collaboration, this festival has been built and maintained by many. Pivotal to the growth of our festival has been its inaugural team of builders: its original Artistic Directors’ Team of Susan Knight, Ki Adams and Douglas Dunsmore; its original Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium director Andrea Rose who became an Artistic Director for the second Festival in 1999; its first Executive Director Peter Gardner and the first Festival Manager Dena Simon; and its initial Board Chair Angus Bruneau. This group of builders, and subsequent important others, continue in the inaugural spirit of community and collaboration to dream, plan and bring to life the many ideas that evolve and expand as we seek to best, and better serve our original mandates.

While many components have been newly developed since the first festival in 1997, the core of the festival continues as envisioned in Susan Knight’s original concept. Its internal goals of affirming our own people, celebrating their gift for singing, and spawning economic development and international awareness of the province as a destination of choice have been amply demonstrated. Our philosophy and practice have also provided a fertile place for more than ten thousand participants over the last decade. They have come from 33 countries to share their voices, learn more about singing, increase the cultural awareness and appreciation and contribute to our festival and province. The narratives from participants tell us that through their festival experiences they return home feeling affirmed and valued as members of a global family: as singers and as human beings. Perhaps this is the most celebratory legacy of all!