New Brunswick Choral Federation

New Brunswick Choral Federation

New Brunswick Choral Federation. Non-profit organization founded in October 1979 to represent and serve the province's English-language choral community, as a counterpart to the French-speaking Alliance Chorale Nouveau-Brunswick. The federation's objectives are to 'unite, encourage and improve the level of singing among choirs throughout the Province of New Brunswick.' During the initial year of operation seven regional workshops were sponsored under the baton of various provincial choral conductors. Gerald Fagan conducted the first youth choir workshop in October 1980.

The New Brunswick Choral Federation joined with the Nova Scotia Choral Federation and representatives from Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland to organize Young Atlantic Canada Sings (first held in New Brunswick in 1982), which brings together youth choirs from the four provinces. The federation's Spring Choral Fest began in 1982 and is held for one weekend each year; it features guest conductors, workshops, and concerts. In 1983 annual workshops were established for novice and experienced conductors. Emphasis has been placed on 'Workshops by Request' as a means of serving the membership.

The federation in 1979 began to publish a quarterly newsletter, The Troubadour, which contains music reviews, articles, and news items. The federation has a choral music lending library with over 1100 scores.