ZOOM | SUMMER 2023

Powell River Academy of Music, busy with a student body that
ranges from preschoolers to people in their 90s and a faculty of
40 teachers, finds the wherewithal to organize the International
Choral Kathaumixw, and has done so every two years since
1984 (except when COVID interrupted).
And it is all to celebrate singing.
Singing is health-building, relationship-building, community-building.
Melody, lyric, and harmony are an ancient and potent triumvirate that
delivers message and experience in a memorable way that is accessible
across cultures. This year's guests and participants came from BC and
all over North America. Never merely a series of concerts, the five-day
festival includes common song singing, choral and vocal solo competitions,
conductor’s seminars, and social events. Choirs were billeted in local homes
and in commercial lodgings. This meant that for five days the town was
filled with the universal language of song—often erupting spontaneously—
in restaurants and at social events, indoors and out. No wonder the festival
is embraced wholeheartedly by townspeople.
Our International Choral Kathaumixw celebrates place as much as song.
Festival participants delight in our warm, calm seas, inviting lakes, accessible
nature, and unique cultural offerings. This year's remarkable weather made
it especially delightful for visitors to experience the peace and inspiration of
our natural surroundings. Among the highlights of the 2023 International
Choral Kathaumixw was the presentation of a commemorative paddle,
created by Tla'amin carver Craig Galligos, to the “2023 Choir of the World.”
This year’s winner, the Saskatchewan Children’s Choir, was chosen from all
those choirs awarded first place in their various categories. ·
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