Formed in September 1996, Kokopelli Youth Choir is in it's third season since it’s creation by Scott Leithead, Kokopelli’s Artistic Director .The choir has 47 auditioned members, ranging in age from 12-21 years old and come from across Edmonton, and surrounding communities. Kokopelli performs a vast and diverse musical repertoire, both sacred and secular, ancient and modern, from many different cultures and eras.
Kokopelli performs often throughout the Edmonton region. Some of the '97/'98 season’s performances included The Festival of Trees, Winter Song, City Sounds, Valley Zoo, Lindsay Thurber High School in Red Deer, Concordia University, The Bank of Montreal Main Branch, Young Voices Festival '97, Tribute to Women of Distinction, Choralfest North, Pro Coro Canada, Da Camera Singers, Winspearation '97, The Edmonton Kiwanis Festival, two performances with Dance Alberta, the Tornado Remembrance Ceremony, CBC Alberta Magazine, Access L & J News and four education concerts entitled "Freedom" with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In February of ‘97, Kokopelli completed a 2 month study of the music of Africa with performances by the choir with JUBA, Calgary percussionist Luis Bran and dancer Neketia Perez.
The choir strongly believes in participating in workshops with outstanding musicians and educators, and since it’s creation has participated in workshops with Laurier Fagnan (U of Alberta), Trent Worthington (Kings College), Terri Shawn (U of Calgary), John Tute (U of Waterloo), Lisa Fielder (Lindsay Thurber High School), JUBA, Sven Blvd & Agnes Grossmann (Vienna Boys Choir and Pro Coro Canada), Richard Nace (University of Puget Sound, Washington), Dinah Helgeson, Robert de Frece (U of Alberta), Dinah Helgeson (American Choral Conductor), Marc Hafso (Augustana University), Diane Loomer (Vancouver Composer and Conductor), Dave Bray (Grand Prairie Collegiate Institute), Nina White, Barbara Clark (Ottawa Board of Education), Kathy Armstrong (Ottawa Composer), Andy Donnelley (Host of CKUA Radio’s "Celtic Show"), Luis Bran (Latin Percussionist), Niki Perez (Dancer), and Sheela Na Gigh (Irish folk band), among others.
Kokopelli concluded their inaugural season with a tour to Ottawa as the official choir invited to represent the province of Alberta at the "Unite the Country in Song" festivities. While there, the choir performed at the National Arts Center and at Festival Canada. Kokopelli represented the entire province of Alberta as members of the mass national youth choir made up of one outstanding choir from each province and territory.
Kokopelli is involved in the community in numerous ways. The choir rehearses twice weekly at St. Alphonsus Junior High School and occaisionally at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and perform numerous times throughout the year. Some of last seasons performances include The Canadian German Club, Alberta Music Conference, The Edmonton Symphony Resound Festival of New Music, National Black Coalition of Canada Gospel Concert , Choralfest North, and the Rocky Mountain Music Festival, as well as two tours, the first to Northern Alberta in January, and, in April, a tour to Southern Alberta , Washington State and British Columbia, including performances at the University of Puget Sound, and the University of British Columbia. Kokopelli is also raising funds for a tour to Scotland, Ireland and Wales in 2000.
Kokopelli was the recipient of The Edmonton Salute to Excellence Award for outstanding accomplishment in the arts. This award was presented to choir members by the Mayor of Edmonton on April 9, 1997.
Last season Kokopelli completed a successful tour to Choralfest Manitoba in November of '97 and were headline performers at the Banff Rocky Mountain Festival in April '98.
Kokopelli has released Two CD’s. The first, "Evolve", was released in December of 1997, and includes18 selections from Kokopelli’s first season. The second, "Freedom", also contains 18 Tracks which were selected form Kokopelli’s Second season. Some of Last year's(third season) music will be available on Kokopelli's third CD, entitled "And So It Goes" Due out this Christmas
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Soprano 1 Angie Healy Julie Ingraham Jill Legaarden Meaghan Fowlie Lucy Underwood Alto 1 Lisel Burns Anna-Marie Taylor Lesley Pelletier Erin Lange Rathi kumar Lindsay Harle Winnie Chiang Kathy Drouin Tenor 1 Toby Donnelly Brodie Donnelly Jenica Hagan Baritone Bevan Burns CD Saint Eric Meen Tyler Coe Remkes Kooistra Joey Ventura |
Soprano 2 Lauren Staples Gaïa Willis Alexis Hillyard Katie Perman Carmen So Erin Craig Trina Ludwig Alto 2 Erin Andrews Allison Tatham Meghan McMaster Marianne Guilbert Tasha Novick Lisa Thompson Angela McLean Tenor 2 Nathan Dickerson Nathan Willis Tim Wong Bass Matt Raven Taavi Burns Tim Unger Drew Gersbach |
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