Organized by Sarona Mynhardt, music director of Gibsons’ “Inspirito Women’s Ensemble”, along with Dawn Pemberton, acclaimed Canadian Soul Singer and director of “Roots ‘N Wings Women’s Choir” in Vancouver, and Samara Ripley, director of the “Crescent Women’s Choir”, the first CIRCLE OF SONG Women’s Choir festival brought 100 voices together in song in Gibsons. 

Dawn and Samara, with members of their Choirs, arrived on Friday evening, April 12th, in Gibsons to be welcomed by Inspirito, their hosts for the weekend. Each of the three conductors chose a piece for the mass numbers, and the choir experienced the joy of learning from, and working with different conductors, each bringing their own expertise and style. After a fun filled weekend of making new friends, eating and rehearsing together, and working through the logistics of fitting 100 singers on a stage, the weekend culminated in a fabulous concert. Each choir sang a few pieces on their own and then they joined together for the heartfelt performance of the mass numbers. “All the way Home” was conducted by Samara, a gentle melody by Canadian composer Sara Quartel, that guides you all the way home with a song in your heart. Dawn conducted “Warrior” by Kim Baryluk, a well known and moving anthem for women. The music is stunning with its simple, powerful message. Sarona chose Indodana, a Xhosa prayer from her homeland South Africa. The finale, “Will the Circle be Unbroken”, truly moved everyone to tears…tears of joy, of love, of passion and compassion, of an overwhelming sense of camaraderie and the power of Choral Music.

Many are still commenting on how powerful and moving the first Circle of Song Women’s Choir festival was for them, especially the choir members!  The audience was lifted by the sound of the 100 voice Mass Choir that graced the stage in Gibsons on April 14th.