Hannah Byrne-Wolfson

As we studied the idea of Canadian choral identity, I was particularly struck by three things: the first that Canada is a mosaic, not a melting pot, where assimilation is not required to be considered a part of Canada. The second is the longevity of choral communities in our nation. And the third was that we do not have a set of rules to define ourselves by. We live our Canadian musical identity through musical experimentation, creativity, and above all, community. And so came about this idea.

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The mosaic was an image that stayed with me after we discussed it, so I have begun to put together an incomplete mosaic of Canadian choral life. Featuring 16 choirs ranging from Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia and from the Canadian Chamber Choir to the Miami Boys Choir, the attempted maple leaf shape (limited for space) gives an idea of what choirs look like in our country at every level and in so many communities. 

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If anything, this module left me with more questions than answers, and certainly more beginnings than conclusions, so it was important to me to give the facts: this is what choir looks like in our country.