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POWELL RIVER, BRITISH COLUMBIAKathaumixw:An internationally acclaimed gathering of many peoples
Every two years, one of their most popular events transforms the small town of Powell River, located at the edge of British Columbia’s coastal wilderness, into a bustling host city for the International Choral Kathaumixw. With participation from choirs worldwide, the week’s schedule includes concerts, choral and vocal solo competitions, common song singing, conductor’s seminars, a concert tour program, and social events. During 2006, more than a thousand singers and musicians are expected to take part in this 22-year-old festival. Over the past two decades, the International Choral Kathaumixw has become known not only for the high quality of its music, but also because of the philosophy that defines it. The festival brings together musicians and music lovers, and it celebrates music and music’s ability to bring peace to the world. The setting, a quiet town in the midst of a temperate rainforest overlooking mountains and ocean, is conducive to this philosophy. The Powell River community also contributes to making the festival a memorable experience. Hundreds of local people volunteer with Kathaumixw in one way or another. All overseas choirs are hosted with local families, and many activities are organized during the week, like seaside barbecues and spontaneous concerts attended by hundreds of community members. The Kathaumixw Singing Week will bring approximately 200 singers to town for an intensive workshop prior to the International Choral Kathaumixw. In the week following it, an outreach tour featuring about 12 choirs will perform about 30 concerts throughout the Pacific Northwest. In this way, Powell River’s reputation as a cultural community is spread throughout the province. In addition, the Symphony and Opera Academy of the Pacific (SOAP) is a two-week study and performance intensive that opens the summer music season in June. It offers a rounded musical experience for emerging, talented orchestral musicians. The faculty is recruited from some of the world’s most renowned orchestras. The Powell River Regional Economic Development Society (PRREDS) estimates that the increase in students, coupled with extra visitors to the community for SOAP’s concerts, produced a total economic impact of $1.2 million in 2004 and in 2005. The construction of 48 new units at the Beach Gardens Hotel is further evidence of the success of the program.
Through this high level of cultural activity, Powell River has become a destination for tourists as well as music lovers. This contributes to and helps diversify the economic base of the community, which is just beginning to emerge from being dependent upon a single industry. According to PRREDS, Powell River is repositioning itself from being a mill-dependent town to becoming a multifaceted, vibrant, working community, embracing tourism, new business development, economic growth, and quality of life. A Cultural Master Plan was developed for PRREDS in 2003, with the city’s “rich fabric of arts and culture” one of Five Attribute Foundations considered critical to the future. Arts, Culture and Education (ACE) is seen as the pillar that will make Powell River, which was awarded one of five Cultural Capitals of Canada grants in 2004, an attractive place to work, play, and live. The report describes Powell River as
The Townsite of Powell River is a designated National Historic Site with an active Heritage Society. Another exceptional resource is the Sliammon First Nation with its rich history, art, and culture. Many of the major performances at Kathaumixw have been based on Sliammon legends set to music, such as Kahm Kwu E Tlukw Hahm Kwu E Metl, which means, “May the skies be clear, may the waters be calm.” These music dramas were written for orchestra, singers, actors, and dancers, and included professional musicians as well as participants from Sliammon First Nation. Other cultural projects include the Raincoast Academy of Lutherie, which provides instruction and practice for instrument makers at all skill levels, and the Jazz Festival, which enlivens an otherwise quiet period. Along with Kathaumixw, these culture-based economic drivers are transforming this small but vibrant town.
The Powell River Regional Economic Development Society Profile by: Kaija Pepper (Creative City Network of Canada, 2006) |
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THE POWELL RIVER ACADEMY of MUSIC, formed in 1981, is a non-profit society dedicated to the promotion and development of the arts. Through developing and training artists, as well as by presenting festivals and cultural events, the Academy aims to enhance the quality of life within the community.
These festivals and educational opportunities are important to Powell River for their cultural, artistic, and economic benefits. Musically, the best choirs, soloists, and orchestras from around the globe offer performances. Culturally, the local population learns about music worldwide and makes connections with participants, who typically come from about 16 different countries. Economically, thousands of dollars are spent as the city prepares for the guests, and then by visitors during the events, who keep hotels and restaurants busy. Families have moved to Powell River because of Kathaumixw.