About Nanaimo Sings!

Nanaimo Sings! Choral Festival Society became a registered not-for-profit society in February 2008. The goal of the Society is to enhance communication, networking and collaboration among its member choirs, as well as to expand participation in and appreciation for choral music-making within the broader community.

The inaugural event for Nanaimo Sings! was a 3-day festival in October 2008, that involved 14 choral groups from Nanaimo and Gabriola Island. Over the first 2 days of the festival, a series of 6 mini-concerts were held, featuring 2-3 choirs at each event. The crowning glory of the festival was a gala concert at The Port Theatre, where all 14 choirs performed individually and en masse. For the grand finale, Vancouver’s Larry Nickel conducted the massed choir in a 3-part suite he composed especially for the event. Devon Joiner, Nanaimo’s own award-winning pianist, performed as the guest accompanist for the finale, and Joëlle Rabu gracefully hosted the evening. See our Photo Gallery to view selected images from the Festival.

The 2008 Nanaimo Sings! festival was the first of its kind for Nanaimo, and based on its resounding success, there will be more festivals to come.

As part of its mandate, Nanaimo Sings! continues to promote the concert activities of all member choirs, as well as the endeavours of other choral and musical groups from nearby communities. The Society is also looking at conducting or sponsoring other choral events for the Nanaimo community, such as choral clinics and workshops.

Our organization

The planning and operations of Nanaimo Sings! is managed by a Planning Committee of volunteers from several participating choirs. This committee also meets with a Steering Committee made up of 2 representatives from each participating choir to share information.
The work of the Society is divided into five sub-committees that handle specific functions related to finance, music, concerts, marketing and social. To involve as many people from different choirs as possible, the opportunity for membership on the sub-committees is extended to all choir members with expertise or who just want to become involved.

Members of the Planning Committee are:
Linda Dier, Planning/Finance Chair
James Duthie, Concerts Chair
Val Duthie, Social Chair
Penny Mitchell, Marketing Chair
Shirley Nicholson, Concerts Committee member
Marian Smith, Music Committee member
Lionel Tanod, Music Chair
Marla Tusa, Finance Committee member

Thanks to our sponsors

The Nanaimo Sings! organizers gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following sponsors: 2010 Legacies Now and City of Nanaimo.