Thirty-six years ago, Jeff Joudrey envisioned a chamber choir for his native Nova Scotia. That vision resulted in the formation of Halifax Camerata Singers, debuting at Halifax City Hall in 1986. Joudrey is now getting ready to retire following the choir’s upcoming 2022-2023 season.
Joudrey’s final season begins on November 5 with Legacies, a Remembrance-themed concert featuring music by living Canadian composers, and the premiere of two new pieces. Guest cellist Hilary Brown also joins the choir for a performance of Jocelyn Morlock’s Elegies. “The program celebrates the memories of those we’ve loved and lost and the legacies of those who bring joy and beauty to our lives.”
In December & April, Camerata returns to performing as the core of the Symphony Nova Scotia Chorus with performances of two orchestral choral masterworks: Handel’s Messiah (December 16-17) and Mendelssohn’s Elijah (April 1-2). Joudrey will conduct Elijah, while Mathieu Lussier will conduct Messiah.
The season concludes with two performances of the transformational artistic response to anti-gay hate crime, Considering Matthew Shepard. Postponed due to COVID-19 from its 2021-2022 season, the program features guest orchestral musicians in the work composed by Michael Dennis Brown, Lesléa Newman and Craig Hella Johnson.
Tickets for Legacies and Considering Mathew Shepard are available now from tickethalifax.com. Legacies will also be live-streamed through Side Door Access. Tickets to Elijah and Messiah are available through Symphony Nova Scotia.