It has been a little over 20 years since Musica Intima was founded, and in that time the Vancouver group has become one of Canada's most acclaimed choral ensembles. The group will be in Yorkton on February 1 as part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series.
Soprano Joanne Chapin is one of the newest members of the group, as this will be her first season touring and performing with Musica Intima. She says she was always familiar with the group when she was in the choral world in Toronto, and auditioning was a priority when she came to Vancouver.
The group is lead by the performers, Chapin says, something that has been a learning experience for her as a performer, as she now has more input in the way songs are performed, and there are pieces where she is the leader and provides the direction.
"I've always worked under a artistic director and a conductor, so to go from that to a collective where there is no conductor and there is no artistic director has been very different. There have been so many exciting things about not having an artistic or a conductor, you get to be really involved in the choices for each piece, and that's an exciting place to be," Chapin says.
Joining the group has been a smooth process, Chapin says, as the veteran members have helped her adapt to the new environment and the different responsibilities that come with being a part of Musica Intima.
"It's not the kind of group where you just show up, sing and go home. There's a lot of work and a lot of personal energy that goes into it as well, because you want the organization to do well, and as a singer you get to make choices about a piece of music... I had a lot of singing experience but no experience leading a piece, so the singers who have been there a long time have been helping me along as we go... It's tapping into skills I've never used before, and forcing me to think about music in a totally different way," Chapin says.
The selection of pieces is wide ranging, from well known older music to contemporary Canadian composers. Many of the contemporary pieces were commissioned by Musica Intima themselves, and Chapin says that it's part of the group's mandate to promote and support Canadian composers.
"I think we all have to support Canadian music in any way we can. We need to support Canadian artists, we need to support Canadian composers, we need to support Canadian librettists and poets. How will we build a legacy as a culture if we're not supporting and harvesting that talent?"
This will be Chapin's first time in town with Musica Intima, though it will be her third time in Yortkon overall. She says that touring is a wonderful opportunity and she's looking forward to the going through the prairies with the group.
"Our country is huge, and it's hard to see every nook and cranny. The wonderful thing about singing and touring is that you do get to go to smaller towns and see. Every place has something totally different to offer and it's an incredibly supported community... It's exciting to go into a community and sing a concert for people and have them excited that we are there and hopefully move people."
Prairie Debut presents Musica Intima, part of the Stars for Saskatchewan series, on February 1 at 8 p.m. For ticket information call 306-783-8722 or visit yorktonarts.ca.
