Soundbone Folksong Choir

The Soundbone Folksong Choir (SFC) is a non-auditioned choral group for adults who share a love of traditional and contemporary folk songs from Newfoundland and Labrador. 

Directed by traditional musician/music educator, Jean Hewson. Read more about the director

Date/Time:

  • Thursdays: April 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; June 6, 13, 20.

  • 7:30pm - 9:15pm

  • Concerts: see below

Location:

  • St. David's Presbyterian Church, 98 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, NL (Google map)

Materials: Included in cost. Practice-audio files and sheet music will be posted on our website for your use.

Special Events:

  • May 11: Concert, in collaboration with La Rose des Vents: 7:30 PM, May 11th Saturday at Wesley United, 101 Patrick St.

  • June 21: NL Folk Song workshop with Commonwealth Youth Choir, Friday afternoon, June 21st at St. David’s Church (time TBD)

  • June 29 – July 4: "Harbour Voices", an international choir festival in St. John's, running June 29 – July 4, 2024. No extra charge for this event. More info: HarbourVOICES! International Festival of Collective Singing Traditions

  • July 14: Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, Bannerman Park (daytime, time TBD)

Cost: $80 per session. Reduced rate of $60 is available for low-income/underemployed participants; for other payment arrangements, please inquire.

Requirements: No audition or previous experience is required to join; music-reading ability is helpful but not necessary.

Would you like to wait and join us for the fall term starting in September 2024? Add yourself to our mailing list to stay informed about all of Soundbone’s activities, or follow Soundbone on Facebook.

Details and registration information

Soundbone Folksong Choir (SFC) is a choral group for adults who share a love of the traditional and contemporary folk songs of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Founded in the winter of 2020, the choir was forced to shut down due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. During the 2021-2022 season, the choir had two successful 10-week sessions due to a combination of online and in-person rehearsals, and went fully in-person from Fall 2023 on.

The SFC is directed by traditional musician/music educator Jean Hewson. 

The eleven-week program will include rehearsals covering multiple topics such as: the stylistic elements of traditional singing, storytelling, repertoire and harmony.  Adult singers of all abilities and musical backgrounds are welcome.

In addition to learning new material for the Harbour Voices choral festival, we will be building on the repertoire learned during the winter session which will be featured in a May 11th concert with La Rose des Vents. There is absolutely no obligation to participate in any specific event, so feel free to join up and participate when and if you feel comfortable doing so.

DATES AND TIMES

Rehearsals will take place in the sanctuary of St. David's Presbyterian Church, 98 Elizabeth Avenue, Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9:15 P.M. from April 11 to June 20. The sessions usually end with a concert of the term’s repertoire, but this spring the term will end with an international festival instead!

Covid Protocols

Singing is considered a high-risk activity for the transmission of Covid-19. We ask all choir participants to self-assess before rehearsals and to stay at home if experiencing any symptoms.

The rehearsal space at St. David’s is large enough to maintain social distancing. Masks are not currently required, but may be worn to provide extra protection.

If public health guidelines change over the course of the program, the SFC will adapt to accommodate any new government directives, or any protocols brought in by the management of St. David’s Church.

The fee for the 11 sessions and all special events is $80, payable before the second rehearsal by e-transfer, cheque or credit card. A reduced rate of $60 is offered to low-income/underemployed participants; for other payment arrangements, please inquire with Soundbone’s Artistic Director, Eric West, info@soundbone.ca.

Fee includes sheet music and lyrics in PDF format for the song arrangements, and audio recordings of the vocal parts for practice purposes.

Questions?

For more information about the Soundbone Folksong Choir contact choir director, Jean Hewson (phone 709-722-2863; email jean.hewson@gmail.com). For financial matters contact Soundbone’s artistic director, Eric West (email info@soundbone.ca; phone 709-670-3377).