Heading into the season of holiday music, it’s likely comforting for members of the Bow Valley Chorus to know their leader, John Goulart, was recently awarded a prestigious Con Spirito Award by the Alberta Choral Federation.
Goulart, the group’s founder and conductor, received the award which recognizes the spirit and dedication of individuals and their commitment to choral music in their local communities.
Past recipients include Timothy Shantz, director of the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus and the award-winning Spiritus Chamber Choir, acclaimed collaborative pianist and organist Jeremy Spurgeon and founder and conductor of Edmonton’s acclaimed Kokopelli Choir Association, Scott Leithead.
“I’m very happy to receive the award and very proud of the choir,” said Goulart. “My name was put forward by the president of the board of Bow Valley Chorus. Really, it’s about fostering choral music in the community and dedication.
“It’s a great honour and I’ll proudly display it.”
Goulart received the Con Spirito Award just ahead of a busy holiday season. On Nov. 30, Bow Valley Chorus joins Tenore to present Christmas With You In Banff at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Banff. Tenore is tenors Mark Williams, Jason Catron, David Wise and swing tenor Kevin Pauls.
Following the event with the tenors, the Chorus will appear with Fred Penner at The Banff Centre’s Margaret Greenham Theatre, Dec. 7. Then, on Dec. 14-15, the group will present Messiah in the Mountains at the Rolston Recital Hall on the 14th and at Silvertip in Canmore on the 15th.
“The three tenors perform sacred Christian comtemporary,” said Goulart, “and with Fred Penner, he had inquired with Casey Prescott at The Banff Centre about a choir that could perform with him.
“Fred’s doing a Christmas concert and he’s done a Christmas album that he recorded with a kids’ choir and he needed a choir to perform with.
“We’ll do a variety of things with Fred; I’ve been on the phone with him over the last few weeks and we’ve been rehearsing several pieces off his Christmas CD.”
The choir, said Goulart, “has been very busy. We’re expanding and the choir is taking on more of a professional aspect.”
Goulart founded the Bow Valley Chorus in 2001 and it represents all ages and walks of life from the communities of Banff, Canmore, Exshaw, Lake Louise and Calgary.
In 2005, Goulart was selected as one of six international participants in the national conductor’s symposium, where he collaborated with master conductor Jon Washburn and also conducted the Vancouver Chamber Choir in concert.
