It was the spring of 1997 and a group of Campbell River Singers was chatting in the local pub. Frances Keen shared her secret dream with friends: “I’ve always wanted to have a first rate a cappella chamber choir.”

“What’s stopping you?” was the reply.

The seed was sown, and within a few months, 16 musicians hailing from Quadra to Denman Island, Campbell River and the Comox Valley, were meeting weekly at the former Passages Resort. Island Voices had been born.

In Nov. 1997, Island Voices gave its first concert and this year, 2017, marks the choir’s 20th anniversary. Keen’s wish for a choir striving for excellence has continued through three conductors, a warm “family” of singers, and the support of their valued audiences. 

The “Fran” Years

A passion for music, and especially choral music, fuelled Fran Keen and her singers’ drive to do more, do better, to try new things. A local music teacher, conductor and member of the Board of the BC Choral Federation, Keen had high expectations but she also understood that singing was meant to be joyful.

Professional development, including courses with Elmer Eisler and Jon Washburn (where she conducted the Vancouver Chamber Choir at the Chan Centre!) was important to Keen. She also established the annual choir retreat on Quadra and well-known conductors were invited  to work with the singers. Diane Loomer (Chor Leoni, Elektra), Ramona Luengen (Phoenix Chamber Choir), and Bruce Pullen (Vancouver Bach Choir) were among the early clinicians. At the 1999 Chorfest, Keen somehow wrangled a separate workshop with Rob ert Cooper of the CBC. The sopranos will never forget having to sing, one by one, for this famous conductor, at 9 am!

Keen’s high expectations led the choir to enter the CBC Choral competition and in 2004 they were national quarter-finalists. She took the choir to the Kathaumixw International Choral Festival where they received a second place award. The choir also recorded two CD’s under Keen’s direction.

A Time of Transitions

Sadly, in 2002 Keen fell ill with cancer; however, she continued at the helm of Island Voices as much as her health would allow. Jo-Anne Preston a long time friend and colleague stepped in as necessary. Upon Keen’s passing in 2006, Preston became Musical Director. In 2008 the choir again entered Kathaumixw and received two second place awards, and for the first time, commissioned a work. In honour of Keen, Ramona Luengen composed “My World, My Heart”, a setting of a poem by Holly Benson, Keen’s daughter.

“I’m so glad I was conducting this one,” says Preston. “By the end, half the audience was crying, and most of the choir!”

The choir continued to take on a variety of projects involving the greater community and other arts groups. As well, the choir toured to smaller Island communities that would not normally have the opportunity to hear live choral music. The tradition of supporting charities, doing benefits for such groups as the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Grandmothers-to-Grandmothers, and the Hospice Society continued.

In with the New

Upon Preston’s retirement in 2014, the choir looked no further than the Comox Valley for its new director. Local music teacher, performer, adjudicator and clinician, Jennifer Forsland, became conductor of Island Voices. With her strong background as a vocalist and educator, Forsland has brought a new energy to Island Voices. Under her direction, Island Voices continues to grow and improve, taking on exciting new challenges and working with other arts groups.

A Musical “Family”

When singers are asked what is special about Island Voices, the most common answer is that it’s a family. Like most arts groups it operates on a shoestring budget, so everybody has to pitch in (no pun intended) to make the season work including having an assembly line of all members sewing uniforms. Each member contributes to the choir’s success in a myriad of ways. Of the original 16 members, seven members have been in the choir the full 20 years. Past conductor Jo-Ann Preston says, “that speaks well to the way the choir just becomes like a second family to us.”

Save the Dates!

Island Voices will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with not one, but three special performances.

On Nov. 11, they will perform in “Voices in Remembrance”, with the Canadian Military Wives Choir (Courtenay) and the Campbell River Children’s Choir (Campbell River). On Jan. 26 and 27, they will present two gala nights, complete with candles and wine, a special musical work, and a massed work performed with their alumni. To finish the season they will Sing into Spring with performances April 20 and 21. Be prepared for an unusual venue!