NNV offering student choral scholarships

?Near North Voices – North Bay’s University-Community Choir – begins their eighth season on Wednesday September 10, in F210 at Nipissing University, and they’ve got a new scholarship available to qualified high school students.
Registration and meet-and-greet for the new season takes place on Wednesday, September 10, at 6p.m., followed by rehearsal at 7p.m. Both take place in room F210 at Nipissing University.
Near North Voices is open to students, faculty and staff­ at Nipissing University and Canadore College, as well as to adults and high school students from the North Bay community. No audition is required; some choral experience and music-reading are helpful, and a brief pitch and range check will be provided.
New this year, Near North Voices is pleased to offer Student Choral Scholarships to qualified high school students who, over the 2014-2015 season, demonstrate substantial musical growth and an exemplary contribution to the ensemble. For more information on the scholarship, pleasecontact Dr. Adler.
“We’ve had great success with high school singers participating, and want to continue to encourage youth engagement in choral singing,” said artistic director Dr. Adam Adler, who serves as assistant professor of Music Education at Nipissing University. “Near North Voices offers singers the opportunity to develop sight reading and ear training skills, healthy vocal skills, and musical knowledge, while learning challenging historical and contemporary art music and cultural repertoire from around the world. These key components of students’ musicianship are particularly important for students seeking admission to university and college music programs.”
Near North Voices’ first concert of the season, on January 31, 2015, will feature the epic work Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, performed in an arrangement for two pianos and percussion ensemble, and the Canadian premiere of the Concerto for Marimba, Choir and Percussion by American composer Gene Koshinski. In this three-movement work, the choir assumes the role that the orchestra would normally fill in a concerto, accompanying the marimba soloist.
“In our past seven seasons, Near North Voices has presented a number of Canadian and Northern Ontario premieres,” said Adler. “Our goal is to stretch the boundaries of what is musically possible for community choirs, while also striving to expand the community’s understanding of choral art.”
For this performance, Near North Voices is pleased to partner with Ian Gibson, Head of Percussion Studies at Cambrian College and Laurentian University, and principal percussionist with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, who will be the featured marimba soloist.?