About
EVM
Since
its beginnings in 1993, Edmonton Vocal Minority has been unique
voice in Edmonton's musical and Queer community. EVM is a non-auditioned,
mixed-voice choir that offers its members an opportunity for
personal and musical growth in a safe, supportive, and creative
environment.
Edmonton
Vocal Minority also reaches out to the community by offering
several self-produced concerts each year and performing at numerous
community events.
The
choir is committed to playing a vital role in preserving and
celebrating the rich culture and history of the Queer community,
while at the same time championing equality and embracing the
diversity of all people regardless of sexual orientation.
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From
a modest beginning with only twelve members, EVM has grown and
become a dynamic musical organization that is known for its
high musical standards and its innovation. EVM’s list
of accomplishments is impressive. Performing works commissioned
by the choir; sharing the stage with Heather Bishop, Juba, David
Sereda, the Wajo Drummers, EKOSingers, and the Rocky Mountain
Singers; appearing with Australian folk singer Judy Small, the
Flirtations, P.J.Perry, Romanovsky & Phillips, Lorelei Loveridge,
VOCE, Asani, Movements: The African Caribbean Dance Ensemble,
Tilo Piez, Edmonton City Councilor Michael Phair, and Canada's
first openly gay Member of Parliament, Svend Robinson. EVM has
sung to the accompaniment of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
in a performance of the Requiem Mass by Mozart, as well as taking
the stage at the Winspear Centre for Music to perform Leonard
Bernstein’s ‘Chichester Psalms’.
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Festival
'98 Massed Choir performs on the steps of
Edmonton's City Hall. May 1998. |
Edmonton
Vocal Minority performing at the
2010 Unison Festival in Winnipeg. |
Birth
of the Unison Festival
In
1998, EVM produced and hosted the Canadian GALA Choruses Festival
‘98. This was an opportunity for choruses across Canada
to gather in Edmonton to share music, ideas, and friendship.
It was the largest gathering of Queer identified choral groups
in Canadian history up to that time. EVM is proud to know that
this gathering of Queer choirs has now become an established
part of the Canadian cultural landscape. Every four years, in
different cities, Queer choirs gather to celebrate and make
music. EVM has been fortunate to attend the 2006 festival in
Vancouver, the 2010 festival in Winnipeg, the 2014 festival
in Ottawa, and it is looking forward to the 2018 festival to
be held in Calgary. TOP
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EVM
performing at the 2006 Unison Festival in Vancouver. |
Edmonton
Vocal Minority takes its name from a Lesbian and Gay choir that
existed in the early 1980’s. We owe the rebirth of the
choir to David Hicks who later became EVM’s first General
Manager. David invited the Rocky Mountain Singers from Calgary
to visit Edmonton to perform a benefit concert for the Gay and
Lesbian Community Centre of Edmonton (GLCCE). A small group
of singers from Edmonton were asked to participate. David Garber
was asked to conduct the group; they found Kirk, a piano guy,
and in the comfortable living room of our conductor’s
home, the first rehearsal was held on 15.November 1992. The
public got its first glimpse of the choir a few weeks later
on 28.November at Convocation Hall on the University of Alberta
campus. The choir officially incorporated itself as a registered
society under the provincial Society’s Act in March 1993.
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Following
the resignation of the founding Artistic Director in 1998, the
choir continued its activities under Acting Artistic Director,
Kirk Kryvenchuk, and was ably conducted by several guest conductors.
In June of 2000, the Board of Directors announced that Paula
Roberts had accepted the position of Edmonton Vocal Minority’s
Artistic Director/Principal Conductor. Paula has conducted the
choir ever since, and has emphasised the entertainment side
of performing. EVM now strives to be as visually appealing as
it is musically. By thinking outside the typical “choir
box”, EVM presents performances that celebrate our Queer
culture and diversity. TOP
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EVM
June 2011 Our Proud Voices performance |
EVM
June 2012 A Touch of Goth performance
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Edmonton
Vocal Minority has become a family to most of its members; an
opportunity for personal and musical growth; an anticipated
social gathering; and it offers the privilege of singing music
that is relevant to our lives. Members are encouraged to meet
new people, to share their ideas, to enjoy the music, and to
contribute what they are able to make EVM grow and prosper.
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Edmonton
Vocal Minority Artistic Directors:
•
David Garber (1993-1998)
• Kirk Kryvenchuk (1998-2000) Acting
• Paula Roberts (2000-present)
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Edmonton
Vocal Minority Accompanists:
•
Kirk Kryvenchuk (1993-2004)
• Sheila Wright (2004-2005)
• Ryan Sigurdson (2005-2007)
• Mitch Cox (2007-2008)
• Brad Heintzman (2008-2017)
• Kirk Kryvenchuk (2017) iterim
• Daniel Belland (2018- )
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Edmonton
Vocal Minority General Managers:
•
David Hicks
• Jerry Archer
• Kirk Kryvenchuk (2004-present)
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