The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir (AVHC) is an instructional music program that emphasizes musical and vocal training through choral music experiences. It exists to enrich the artistic lives of its members, their families, and the community they serve. Founded in 1988 there are currently 120 talented choristers from Grades 5-12 in these growing ensembles, representing over 18 communities from across the Annapolis Valley.
Singers receive a well-rounded choral education, singing a wide range of classical music, folksongs from around the world, spirituals, foreign language pieces, and pieces expressly written for young voices. We also highlight Canadian composers when possible.
The choirs present three full-length concerts each year, as well as an annual Coffee House, Sweets for the Sweet dessert night, and other fundraisers. During the year the choir performs at many churches and for community events throughout the region and for special events such as the Remembrance Day Service at Acadia University. Most recently it has helped raise money for a variety of community projects such as the Wolfville and Kentville Food Banks, West King High School AV room, and Port Williams Park.
The choir also takes part in the Annapolis Valley Music Festival and other festivals in Nova Scotia. They have won their classes at both the local and provincial level in the last four years, and have been sent to represent Nova Scotia at the National Music Festival.
In order to incorporate a worldly musical education and life experiences for the singers, the AVHC considers travel to be an extremely important part of the vision and mandate of the organization.
Heather Fraser (B.M. Piano Performance, Acadia 2001; B.Ed, McGill 2004) is a dynamic and energetic music educator specializing in choral activities. She is currently Artistic Director and Conductor of the Annapolis Valley Honour Choirs (grades 5-12) and the Halifax Regional School Board’s All City High School Honour Choir, Soundtrax. Previous conducting engagements include resident conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir, preparation of choirs for Symphony Nova Scotia, and a recording project with the Children’s Chorus of Nova Scotia with SNS and CBC. Heather is also privileged to serve as Program Director for the Nova Scotia Choral Federation, developing and coordinating programs to meet the diverse needs of the Nova Scotia choral community.
Anna-Maria Galante has been working with children since 1997, and in the capacity of a piano and Kindermusik teacher since 2007. Before that she was a newspaper reporter. She prefers working with children, and for children. She loves what Heather Fraser is doing with this choir, and is awe- inspired to be part of a vibrant group of such world-changing potential. She’d like to see the world passed on to them in better shape than it is now – and once ran for the Green Party of Nova Scotia to that end. Anna-Maria grew up in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, where her first piano students were her sister and brother, and her first accompanist work was for her dad, who likes to sing operatic tenor arias. She studied journalism in Ottawa, and runs a small music studio in Coldbrook.