Updated April 19, 2011 www.powellriverchorus.com Website designed by Business Management & Design.com
Powell River Chorus 2011
HISTORY
In 1955, the Ethel Eason Singers, a small established ladies' choir directed by school teacher, Virginia Farmer, decided to merge their voices with a few teachers and students led by Lyle Henderson. They named themselves the Powell River Choral Society (25 members). Later on, they were re-named the Powell River Chorus.
The Powell River Chorus regularly competed in the local music festival, presented two concerts annually, and performed at hospitals, seniors’ centers and civic functions throughout Powell River. This practice is still carried on today!
Chorus members have provided entertainment for over thirty Good Citizens' awards and at historic events such as MacMillan Bloedel Ltd.'s 75th Anniversary celebration. By its third year, the choir began moving beyond its boundaries by recording the first of three successive radio broadcasts over CBC's "Parade of Choirs." In 1958-59 the Powell River Chorus competed successfully in the B.C. Music Festival in Vancouver at the old Georgia Auditorium.
As the years progressed, the choir appeared in the occasional festival and special occasion. They also entertained during the royal visit in the early 1970s. From the early 1970s to 1981, the Chorus participated in the International Choral Festival, an energetic event rotating an annual gathering of six choirs throughout six towns in B.C. and Washington (Langley, Naramata-Penticton, Salmon Arm, Trail, Rossland, and Wenatchee). By 1983, the Chorus had transferred its entertainment efforts to places closer to their own backyard. Vancouver Island was the new focus and they entertained in Port Alberni, Campbell River, Parksville, Nanaimo and Victoria.
In 1985, to celebrate its 30th year, the choir invited its Vancouver Island choral buddies to a “Spring-Sing” at the Evergreen Theatre. Expo 86 provided a unique experience for our choristers when the B.C. Choral Federation invited them to be a "core choir" for the opening ceremonies and for Canada Chorfest 1986.
Over the years a great many artists, both outside and local, have been invited to share the stage with the Powell River Chorus. One especially notable guest was violinist, Helen Hagnes. Early in 1960, when the choir competed in the B.C. Music Festival in Vancouver, Helen, just eleven years old at the time, swept all honors and thrilled the audience. Helen was invited to be a special guest at the Powell River Choral Society Spring Concert that same year. Wanting to further nurture Helen’s already exceptional talent, the choir provided modest scholarship assistance for her music studies. Helen returned to Powell River as an accomplished guest artist at sixteen, and with a brilliant performance, helped the choir present an outstanding concert. Tragically, Helen was murdered in 1980 at the New York Metropolitan Opera where she was a member of the orchestra. Her letters and clippings have been specially preserved in the choir's history book.
The 25th Anniversary celebration in 1980 was held at the Evergreen Theatre to a capacity crowd for a "Salute to Powell River," a concert which featured all four of the Chorus' musical directors since its inception. Each conductor, Virginia Julson (nee Farmer), Charles Stowell, Don James and Nancy Stowell, recaptured treasured moments from past programs by directing his or her favourite three or four selections. Master of Ceremonies was charter year president, Dick Hibberd. Over fifty previous choir members came out to join the choir for the weekend celebrations.
“Chorus Among the Best in BC” was the headline contained in the Powell River News in 1983. The Powell River Chorus took second place in a provincial choral festival final. A look through the scrapbook and other records of the Chorus' history reflect similar comments and achievements throughout the years.
The high quality of their performances was sustained through the vision and efforts of exemplary musical directors. Virginia Julson (nee Farmer) led the choir for the first twelve years. Virginia combined a sense of musical excellence and community service which, in turn, established a reputation of integrity over the years. Charles Stowell, the Choir’s second conductor, energetically extended this concept of quality and community involvement from 1967 to 1975. Don James, a member of the Chorus and school music teacher, continued the efforts of Julson and Stowell during his tenure from 1975 to 1978. Nancy Stowell, a music and drama teacher, followed their footsteps and was a pillar of support as an accompanist, singer and conductor for twenty years. She continued to foster the choir philosophy of dedication to the citizens and organizations of Powell River and the choir continued to represent the community with quality performances throughout the province. School music teacher, Jon Stromquist, did a fine job of conducting in the one year Mrs. Stowell was on study leave.
These consummate professionals volunteered their time and talents through an open choir policy to bring the discipline and pleasure of a wide variety of choral programs to our singers and community at large. The success of the Powell River Chorus is a direct result of their generous efforts and dedication to their craft.
Repertoire continues to be varied and the Chorus boasts one of the largest collections of choral music in BC. Two librarians are needed to fulfill the requirements of the Chorus' music needs. Thanks to the generosity of the community over the years, the chorus has had space donated for storage of their vast array of part music which encompasses many genres, styles and eras. At present, music is currently being stored in the Crossroads Village, courtesy of Westview Agencies.
The Powell River Chorus offers annual scholarship assistance in the amount of $500 to a graduating student in the broad area of choral, vocal or instrumental music. This scholarship is processed and presented in cooperation with the Powell River Scholarship Council and Brooks Secondary School.
Our present conductor, Walter Martella, is especially active in Powell River’s music scene. Walter is a versatile, experienced musician involved in genres of music ranging from classical and choral to jazz. In addition to being the conductor for the Powell River Chorus, he instructs trumpet and piano and is also a conductor at the Powell River Academy of Music. Please refer to his biography on this website to learn more.
As well, what is a choir without the accompanist? We have had the benefit of many extremely talented pianists over the years and are grateful for all their hard work and dedication. Our current accompanist, Maryna Gray, is exceptional and we are thrilled that she chose Powell River to be her home. Maryna holds a Masters Degree in piano pedagogy and accompanying from the Kharkiv State Institute of the Arts, Ukraine.