VSSM - Choral
August 8 - 13, 2010
Explore exciting choral repertoire in the tranquil and inspirational mountain setting of Slocan Lake. The Valhalla Summer School of Music invites you to settle in for a week of choral music-making, with plenty of time to read a book or wander by the lake. Mornings will consist of full-choir and sectional rehearsals; afternoons are free - if you are not snoozing in a hammock or taking in the area, consider participating in optional sessions like music appreciation, adult instrumental chamber music or private lessons.Mid-week, you will be treated to a Locavore Feast - a sumptuous meal of local ingredients. Concerts, offered most other evenings, promise more good company and great music.
All adults with an interest in choral music are welcome.
The Faculty
Gerald van Wyck - guest conductor | Whether in his work as Music Director of the 80 voice Pacific Spirit Choir, and Pacific Spirit Children's Choir, Head of Choral Activities and Instructor in Music History and Conducting at Vancouver Community College, or as Music Director at West Vancouver United Church Gerald van Wyck nurtures artistic growth. His innate musical talent, versatility and tireless energy have also been appreciated in clinics, festivals and workshops across Canada and the Pacific Northwest. In his thirteen year tenure as Artistic Director of the British Columbia Boys Choir he recorded and toured extensively around Europe and North America. Mr. van Wyck is also Music Director of the Vancouver Island Opera and is also Assistant Conductor to the Vancouver Island Symphony, under Maestro Pierre Simard. Mr. van Wyck is a passionate believer in music's ability to inspire and create community. He is the 2003 FANS Legacy Award Winner for his contributions to Vancouver's North Shore arts community. |
The Silverton/New Denver area is an outdoor-lover's paradise. Opportunities for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing,
swimming, beachcombing, biking, and much more abound! Our communities are also steeped in history. Visit the Outdoor Mining
Museum in Silverton, and in New Denver don't miss the Nikkei Memorial Internment Centre and the Kohan Garden.
Check out the historic ghost town of Sandon, drive up to Idaho Peak for a breathtaking 360 degree view, or soak in one
of the three hot springs in the area.
Accommodations in the area are limited, so we encourage you to book early. There are a variety of campgrounds, cabins,
motels, B&Bs - visit our housing page for a listing.
All sessions and concerts are held in Silverton's newly renovated Memorial Hall. This historic hall is acoustically
superb, and boasts comfortable seating, choral risers and staging, as well as a beautiful Yamaha C7 grand piano.
Each day, participants are invited to eat lunch together and share in conversation. The VSSM is pleased to offer fresh,
yummy lunches for sale. The homemade lunches will consist of things like sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets. See the
Registration Form for more details.
In the afternoons, VSSM registrants will have the opportunity to participate in various optional sessions such as music
appreciation, adult instrumental chamber music or private lessons in violin, viola, cello, piano, flute and guitar. Note: If you
are not registering in the core VSSM-Choral or VSSM-Instrumental programs but would still like to take part in the optional sessions,
please use the separate Optional Sessions Registration Form.
Learn about the music you love and the composers who created it, in a relaxed and informal setting. No previous music
training is required. This year, explore music of the Romantic era. A surprising number of important and popular composers,
representing different aspects of the Romantic sensibility, were born in or around 1810, including Mendelssohn (1809), Chopin
(1810), Schumann (1810), Liszt (1811), Verdi (1813), and Wagner (1813). Celebrate the birth of these musical masters, and the
first flowering of the Romantic era of music. Cost - $50 (Five 90-minute sessions, M-F) IMPORTANT : registrants for private lessons and chamber music should include a brief paragraph outlining their musical
experience (include your instrument, approximate level, number of years of playing experience, etc.)
The Setting
The quiet villages of Silverton and New Denver are known for their artistic vibrancy, inspiring beauty and welcoming community
warmth. They are located on the shores of picturesque Slocan Lake in the West Kootenay Region of British Columbia.
Nestled between the Valhalla and Kokanee Mountain Ranges, the Slocan Valley is approximately 1 hour north of Nelson and Castlegar,
2 hours south of Revelstoke, and mid-way between Vancouver and Calgary (about 8 hours from each). Weather in early August is usually
sunny and warm, with an average daytime temperature of about 25 °C (77 °F).
Lunches
Optional Sessions
Work with one of our experienced faculty on the technical and musical sides of your instrument, at your level and pace.
Registrants should have a minimum of 2 years experience. Cost - $45/45-minute lesson
Explore the world of making music in a small ensemble. Registrants should have 3-5 years experience with their instrument.
Cost - $100 (Five 1-hour sessions, M-F). See Registration Form for more details
For younger family members aged 4-7 there is a morning Children's Music Program avaiilable. Please see the main page for details. Registration
Early registration is encouraged. Completed registration forms and fees must be received before July 1, 2010.