When Nove Voce sings, it is sometimes hard to remember that there are individual people standing before you. Their choral sound is smooth, rich, thick and made from the passions of women who love to make music with nothing more than their bare hands - er, voices - and the open air around them.
"One thing that really makes Nove Voce (pronounced NO-vay VO-chay) different than other choirs is that we cross the bridge between adult ensembles and youth ones," said Robin Norman, director of the ensemble. "The whole goal was to keep young women singing when generally they quit to go to school or to get married, or to have children. This year Nove represents that better than ever. Lisa Stairs, our last founding member, is eight months pregnant with her first child; two members are completing their residency in the third year of the UBC medical program; two others are currently planning weddings."
The group is preparing for a concert event now only days away. The Christmas season is always a time of focus for Nove Voce. On alternating years they do a musical performance based on How the Grinch Stole Christmas, always a set of sellouts, and this is the off-year where they do a traditional concert of seasonal music. This year the show is entitled Winter Song.
"Nove Voce was formed in 2005 as a group to carol at the Salvation Army Kettles so it is very fitting that we end our 10th anniversary season with a concert celebrating Christmas, winter and Canadian music," said Norman. "Our mandate has always been to promote Canadian music and few concerts have shown that as clearly as this one. We are performing nine pieces by B.C. composers including the stunning piece Winter Sun by Don MacDonald and I Saw Three Ships arranged by Edward Henderson. Canadian choral music has become as diverse as our culture and the pieces in this concert reflect that."
The group also incorporates live instrumentation, sometimes. Winter Song will feature Naomi Kavka on autoharp during their rendition of Stephen Hatfield's Christmas Cantata, and she will also play some cello. Maureen Nielsen will accompany on piano as well. Norman also hinted at some castanets, glockenspiel, zils (finger cymbals) and Barb Parker will play the tubular bells.
The voices do most of the work, of course, and there are presently 28 of them in the ensemble. As a community choir, one inclusive of anyone 15 years and older, that number moves with the employment and study opportunities affecting the members.
"We are more transient than any other choir in town but we are also incredibly lucky to have many of the 'best and brightest' so to speak," said Norman. "Many of the young women in our group are top performers from around Prince George and they compete regularly in the local music festival and provincial festival."
Most of the members have some combination of jobs, schooling and families to balance, so being a member of Nove Voce is a precious time for them to be with other singers and be part of a creative process.
Winter Song will be held at the Prince George Playhouse, Nov. 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at Studio 2880 or at the door.
