International Choral Kathaumixw

International Choral Kathaumixw

International Choral Kathaumixw. Festival held every two years in Powell River, BC, beginning in 1984 under the direction of founder and music director Don James, director of the Powell River Academy. The three-week festival, initially conceived as a children's and youth choir event but extended to adults in 1986, has included a conducting course, performances, tours and competitions with classes for choirs, chamber ensembles, and soloists in all age categories. The Salish word Kathaumixw (pronounced Ka-tau-miou) means 'a gathering together of different peoples,' and in 1990, approximately 26 choirs (1100 singers) from tenor countries participated in the festival, each performing an original composition by a composer from its country, a folk song and a set piece. In 1988 a dormitory style Kathaumixw village was built to accommodate visitors and relieve some of the pressure on local families who billeted participants. Jury members have included Erkki Pohjola from Finland (1984, 1986); Christine Winkler from Austria (1988); Jan Szyrocki from Poland (1988); and Robert Cooper and Bruce Davis (1984), Jon Washburn and Mark Pedrotti (1986), and Glyn Evans, Carl Little and Michael Gormley (1988) from Canada. The festival has commissioned works from Bruce Davis (Breakaway, 1984) and Peter Berring (Fanfare and Anthem 1988).