Soundbone Folksong Choir

Online for Winter 2022

The Soundbone Folksong Choir (SFC) is a non-auditioned choral group for adults who share a love of traditional and contemporary folk songs from Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Directed by traditional musician/music educator, Jean Hewson, with assistance from singer Madison Mouland. Read more about the directors

Date/Time:

  • Thursdays, plus Sunday, February 27th, 1pm NT

  • Time: 7:30pm Newfoundland Time except Feb 17th, 8:30pm.

  • February 10th, 2022 to March 10, 2022 (5 weeks)

Location:

  • IN PERSON: There will be no in-person rehearsals during the February-March series.

  • ONLINE ON ZOOM: Zoom invitations will be distributed by email. Classes will be recorded and made available afterwards to participants only.

Materials: Included in cost. Practice-audio files and sheet music will be distributed electronically.

Cost: $75. Reduced rate is available for low-income/underemployed participants; please inquire.

Requirements: No audition or previous experience is required to join; music-reading ability is helpful but not necessary.

Details and registration information

Soundbone Folksong Choir had a successful fall program culminating in a lovely, informal concert at Wesley United Church on December 11th, 2021. Congratulations to all the choristers and to the SFC team on a job well done!

Newfoundland and Labrador is currently (end of January) at alert level four, and as a result the SFC is unable to have in-person rehearsals, but after such a great start to the year, we feel it would be a shame to lose our momentum. As a result, we are planning to host a five-week program of one-hour virtual classes via Zoom this winter. In addition, we are adding an extra workshop on Sunday, February 27th, with Paul Wilson of Wren Music.

For this series of classes, Director Jean Hewson and Assistant Director Madison Mouland will continue to expand participants’ repertoire of traditional and contemporary songs. We have also invited some guest instructors to join us.

Shay Black - Shay is a member of the Black Family: a renowned group of singers from Rathlin Island off the coast of Northern Ireland. He has toured around the world with his siblings Michael, Martin, Mary and Frances, and possesses a vast repertoire of songs encompassing everything from traditional ballads, to Music Hall, to contemporary songs and sea shanties.

Sally Goddard - Sally moved to Newfoundland in the 1980s to pursue a career as a biologist. She has been an integral part of the St. John’s music scene since then, performing songs from the traditions of the British Isles, Newfoundland, and beyond. Recently retired from MUN, Sally has stepped up her musical activities with her band Atlantic Union, and her duo act with musical partner Jane Ogilvie.

Paul Wilson of Wren Music - Wren Music is a charitable organization out of Devon, England that runs several community-based folk music groups for people of all ages and backgrounds. Paul is a singer, music arranger, choral director and songwriter. He is co-founder of Wren Music with Marilyn Tucker, with whom he also sings as a duo, playing piano accordion and guitar.

This series begins on Thursday February 10, and will end on Thursday March 10 (time TBD). The special session with Paul Wilson of Wren Music will take place at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 27th.

Depending on NL’s alert level status after the series ends, we may be able to resume in-person rehearsals. If that is not feasible, we will look at the possibility of offering more online classes.

Each Zoom session will be recorded, and the recordings will be made available on the Choir’s website, to participants only, for the duration of the program.

The fee for the 10 sessions is $75, payable in advance by e-transfer or credit card.  A reduced rate is available for those who need it; please inquire with Soundbone’s Artistic Director, Eric West, info@soundbone.ca.

Fee includes sheet music in PDF format for the song arrangements, audio recordings of the vocal parts and access to video recordings of all the sessions.

Questions?

For more information about the Soundbone Folksong Choir, contact Eric West at 709-670-3377, or info@soundbone.ca .

Soundbone Community Choirs: