Building a Youth Choir on the North Coast of Labrador

The Bruneau Centre for Excellence in Choral Music (BCECM) sponsored the Shallaway Youth Choir in its ongoing work to build a youth choir on the North coast of Labrador. Based in St. John's, Shallaway is a multi-award winning choral organization that promotes and transmits cultural diversity and connection through their team work to engage and empower and build leadership skills in local youth through choral music and mentoring.

In 2017, the Shallaway team extended its reach to aspiring young musicians across norther Labrador. With the financial support from the BCECM's Community Project Grant program, youth singers from Nain, Makkovik, Hopedale, and Rigolet gathered to rehearse and perform for their invited participation in Canada's 150th anniversary celebrations, held in Ottawa in July, 2017.

The BCECM supported their success by funding travel to St. John's for preparatory rehearsal and guest performances at Shallaway's spring concert at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre. With further support from the Nunatsiavut government, the children travelled to Ottawa to perform in a massed choral festival performance with 500 singers from across the country. These young singers brought Labrador Inuit culture to Canada's capital, teaching Inuktitut to 500 singers and incorporating traditional drum dancing and throat singing in their performance. Congratulations to all!