Festival 500 Sharing the Voices, is the biennial gathering that brings choirs and singers from far and wide to Newfoundland.
It was originally conceived in 1992 as a venture to stimulate cultural and economic development in the wake of the closure of the cod fishery. On the festival website it explains the link; “Singing in Newfoundland and Labrador has historically been an integral part of community life – a way of celebrating, mourning, documenting events, telling the stories. That is why the concept of our festival was conceived around the ethos of “singing as community” hence the sub-title Sharing the Voices.”
Over the years the festival has grown in popularity and participation; over 10,000 people from 33 countries have taken part. This year there are 27 groups, most from across Canada and the United States but there also voices from Gambia, Angola and Limpopo, South Africa.
Tomorrow is the grand finale featuring what’s described as “vocal fireworks”.
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