Blyth Festival Singers

Who are the Blyth Festival Singers?

The Blyth Festival Singers is an adult community choir under professional direction and is part of the Blyth Centre for the Arts (Blyth Festival). The concept of the choir began with several members of the Blyth Festival Board of Directors. In the spring of 1980 the first conductor was hired. The choir has thrived since its inception - averaging between 40 and 50 singers per season. Over the years the choir has performed throughout Huron County and beyond, and strived to present a high standard of choral singing as well as establish a loyal audience. The choir performs a variety of music - Renaissance motets and madrigals, Canadian folk songs, Broadway music and contemporary works both sacred and secular. The Blyth Festival Singers is a member of Choirs Ontario. The choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings in Blyth from September until the end of May. If you are interested in joining the choir please speak to one of the choir members or call 565-2653 for information.

For more information on the Blyth Festival Singers contact Robert Blackwell at 519-524-4497.

SPONSORSHIP:

Please help the Blyth Festival Singers to maintain a high standard of musical excellence through a generous donation. Your financial support may be used to sponsor a guest performer or purchase music.

CURRENT CONDUCTOR: Robert Blackwell

A Goderich area resident, Robert Blackwell is the Director of Music at Central United Church in Stratford, accompanist for the Huron String School and also teaches private piano and theory. For many years he taught elementary school vocal and instrumental music. He is an accomplished musician, completing graduate and post graduate studies in music education at the University of Western Ontario. He also has an Associate Diploma in Piano Performance from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music, an Associate Diploma in organ and a diploma in choral conducting, both from the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Previous teachers have included Deral Johnson, Lesley Munn, Barrie Cabena, Gordon Atkinson and Peter Hurford. Robert has been awarded scholarships in choral conducting as well as a gold medal from the University of Western Ontario. Time not devoted to music is spent operating a small fine woodworking business.

ACCOMPANIST: Sharon Johnston

Sharon holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, with a specialty in accompanying. She studied performance with Boyd Macdonald accompanying Marjorie Beckett, and choral music with Barrie Cabena. She has accompanied for the dance departments at the University of Waterloo and Simon Fraser University as well as for many soloists and chamber ensembles. Sharon has a music studio in Goderich where she teaches piano, theory and harp. She also studies celtic harp. Sharon is also the accompanist for the MacKay Choristers.

Festival Singers News and Events

BFS - Love Songs for Springtime

Monday, November 19 2007

Sunday, April 6, 2008
Clinton United Church - 2:30 p.m.

Special Guest: Classical Guitarist - Jeffrey McFadden

Adults $12
Youth (12 & Under) - $6.00

PHOTO: Conductor: Robert Blackwell

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11/19/2007

BFS - Celebrate Canada!

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