Sing Smithers is excited to announce our sixth biennial Festival of Voices — a springtime retreat bringing together singers of all levels from across the Northwest for a weekend of fun and learning in a beautiful rural setting just outside Smithers.
Six wonderful instructors from across the province will present nine diverse workshops throughout the weekend and everyone can take mass choir instruction, sing live karaoke, and enjoy fine food, fine company and fine music together.
Sing Smithers welcomes back Karla Mundy, a vibrant vocalist, arranger and choir leader who conducts three adult community choirs in Vancouver. She’ll be teaching workshops in Appalachian and Eastern European music.
“There will be very little theory, lots of listening to each other and lots of singing!” she promises.
Jennifer Scott, a vocalist and pianist specializing in jazz, blues and world music, is one of the most important jazz artists working in North America today. She’ll be taking folks through a Blues odyssey and deep into Latin American music.
Patti Powell, who grew up with a significant stutter, found her voice through singing, a liberation which brought her joy and a sense of belonging. If you have a pulse and breathe, she believes singing is for you. Her workshops are Harmony is Fun and Songs for Living Together.
Samantha Taylor is a versatile and engaging singer, choir director, songwriter, arranger, and voice teacher. Emphasizing experiential learning and oral tradition, her approach is widely accessible and inspires whole-hearted participation from people with all levels of musical experience. She’ll be doing workshops on vocal improvisation and acapella singing in the oral tradition.
Colin Maskell and Jake Jenne will be joining up to do Jazz Rhythms and All that Scat, a workshop to help singers connect more intimately with rhythm and incorporate rhythmic diversity into their performances including scat singing.
Why sing? It juices up the brain with oxygen, reduces stress, enhances creativity and memory, but above all, it feels great! Singing with 100 other voices multiplies that joy by 1,000.
WHEN: May 4 - 6 at Glenwood Hall, Smithers
REGISTRATION: $250 Early Bird • Register by March 27 & save $30
SingSmithers.com $300 Regular • Register by April 27
$125 Youth • 10 spots available for those aged 13-18
For more information please contact Sheila Peters: sheila.peters900@gmail.com, or go to SingSmithers.com.
– Submitted by Sing Smithers.