Summer camps aren't just for youngsters, they're for choirsters too – without all that sleeping on shaky platforms and mandatory morning swim character-building stuff.

Choir Camp 2023 is a new event in Owen Sound, running July 10 to 14 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church this summer.

Organizers Arlen Wiebe and Matthew Allard are also looking for hosts to billet members of the Canadian Chamber Choir, which will be at the camp taking part in workshops, rehearsal support, and then an evening performance in the historic church, open to the public.

Mr. Wiebe shares the details:

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We are very excited to announce a new event in Grey-Bruce called Choir Camp 2023.

Happening July 10 to 14 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Owen Sound, Choir Camp will be five days of large and small choir rehearsals, singing and music workshops, a mid-week concert by the Canadian Chamber Choir, and an end-of-week concert featuring our camp choirs. 

We are inviting adults of all ages and students age 14+ to attend our camp. All singers are welcome, whether they can read music or not, and regardless of singing level or ability.

We are thrilled to bring two very impressive choral professionals to Owen Sound to lead our choirs and workshops: Dr. Elaine Choi and Dr. Julia Davids.

Dr. Elaine Choi will lead our mass choir and workshops on singing and conducting.

Originally from Hong Kong, Elaine is very active in Toronto as the artistic director of the Pax Christi Chorale, the director of music at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, the conductor of the University of Toronto Soprano / Alto Chorus, and the founding artistic director of Babεl (an SATB choral ensemble whose mission is to bridge cultures through choral music).

Dr. Julia Davids is the artistic director of the Canadian Chamber Choir. She and the choir will lead a vocal workshop for the Choir Camp singers, as well as put on an evening concert for the Grey-Bruce community while they are here. Julia has led workshops and master classes for choirs and conductors throughout Canada and the U.S. Originally from London, Ontario, Julia is a professor and director of choral activities at North Park University, Chicago.

Choir Camp 2023 will also be supported by many local choral and vocal professionals:

• Lauren Best (voice teacher, Owen Sound)
• Louise Jarvis (conductor of Oh Sing! Choir, Owen Sound)
• david sereda (music theatre specialist, Meaford)
• Linda Finlay and Jane Siegel (conductor, accompanist – Paisley Concert Choir)
• Matthew Allard (music director – St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church)
• Maria and Byron Ballagh (Sing! Show Chorus directors, Hanover)
• Robert Tite (conductor and clarinetist, Markdale)
• Cydney Morris (vocal soloist and WLU music student, Waterloo)
• Yuki Okumoto Stocovaz (accompanist and piano teacher, Hanover)
• Jannet Taylor (performer originally from Malawi, now living in Tara)
• Kathleen Boohyun Kim (voice teacher and music director, Aurora)

We hope to include a wide variety of musical styles at Choir Camp including classical, folk, musical theatre, a cappella, popular, music of various cultures, and more. Anyone who loves to sing and make music together will find something fun and challenging to do!

You can register for Choir Camp 2023 and learn more on our website, on Facebook, and on Instagram at choir_camp_2023. Please sign up for our mailing list if you would like to receive our monthly emails.

We're also thrilled to have the Canadian Chamber Choir in town to lead us in a vocal workshop, support us in one of our mass choir rehearsals, and then put on a concert in the evening of Wednesday, July 12. Ticket information for this concert will follow shortly.

The Canadian Chamber Choir will be in Owen Sound for two days.

We are looking for local hosts to billet one or more singers overnight on Tuesday, July 11, and Wednesday, July 12, and provide breakfast.

Are you interested in hosting a singer or two? Please contact Arlen Wiebe at choir.camp.owen.sound@gmail.com.

The Canadian Chamber Choir's midweek performance will be a highlight of Choir Camp 2023.

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source: media release, Choir Camp 2023