Music is a powerful and universal language that can create connections and build community.

After this extended period of isolation we need to come together to restore and re-imagine arts and culture in our communities.

Our children, in particular, have been missing the formative peak musical experiences that can shape their perspectives and define their futures. They need in-person collaborations with mentors to make the difference in their lives for today and tomorrow.

Here’s what we are doing to help:

String Theory Music Collective presents CHANT,  a community arts project that brings people of all ages and diverse backgrounds together to learn, find connections, and make music. We have partnered with the Calgary Children's Choir, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Cree-Dene song-maker Sherryl Sewepagaham for a peak musical experience that inspires learning and reconciliation.

The CHANT Project:

CHANT is inspired by the human impulse to create music for healing and spiritual connection. From ancient times to the modern world, through cultures and across continents, we recognize chant as a common language and expression of our humanity. CHANT will create an opportunity for reflection on our universal desire for peace and fulfillment.

This project has been in the making for over three years and our collaborative partners have dedicated significant time, creativity and resources to date. The artistic team consists of the artistic directors from each of our organizations as well as Sherryl Sewepagaham. We are poised to realize a truly innovative collaboration.

The story of CHANT unfolds in three chapters:

Chapter 1: This spring, the Calgary Children’s Choir, String Theory, and Sherryl Sewepagaham collaborate in workshops to learn about the important role of chant music (known to First Nations Peoples as vocables) as an expression of Indigenous culture and traditions.

Chapter 2: As an emblem of healing and an act of reconciliation, a new piece of music is being co-created by Sherryl Sewepagaham and Andrea Neumann of String Theory. The premier performance of this piece at our concerts represents the learning that takes place when we come together in community.

Chapter 3: The Calgary Children’s Choir will rehearse and perform alongside Sherryl Sewepagaham, Spiritus Chamber Choir, and String Theory Music Collective in November, 2022. The concerts take place at the Rozsa Centre and the Central Library. With visitors numbering up to 10,000 on a given weekend, our free library performances are a gift to our community. 

We need your help:

You can help us with your financial contributions towards this project. Your support will…  

• Facilitate a multi-disciplinary, multi-age experience for over 60 participants, and thousands of audience members
• Give birth to a new piece music for two choirs, baroque orchestra, and soloists
• Provide a formative experience for young children as they collaborate and perform alongside professional artists
• Support artist performance fees
• Create opportunities for reconciliation
• Promote collaborative projects that create community
• Promote music education
• Rebuild the arts in Calgary

Connect with us:

We’re making music for all of us, and we invite you to be a part of the CHANT community by joining us as the project unfolds. We are excited to share photos and videos from our workshops and we’ll give you an insider’s view into the creation of our new work as it evolves towards completion. We look forward to seeing you at the concerts and we hope that you’ll feel a special connection with us as we make music together.

About String Theory Music Collective:

The vision of String Theory Music Collective is to inspire curiosity and promote an appreciation for Early Music with an understanding of its role and relevance in today’s contemporary musical and cultural landscape. Our mission is to create innovative and memorable artistic experiences, illuminating historical connections with our current perspectives. Presenting music in both historical and modern contexts, we challenge preconceptions and provide opportunities for discovery and thoughtful engagement.

String Theory Music Collective (STMC) is a non-profit society that supports local, professional musicians who specialize in Early Music performance. Through a historically informed and innovative approach to programming, STMC provides groundbreaking experiences that both honour tradition and explore new possibilities.

Performing on period instruments, we recreate history in the present moment. With Early Music as a point of reference and departure, we find strings of continuity that bridge cultures, time periods, and artistic genres. We create unique programs that open perspectives and appeal to a diverse audience.

Artistic Co-Directors: Andrea Neumann & Louise Stuppard

To learn more, visit: https://stringtheorymusiccollective.com

About Sherryl Sewepagaham

Sherryl Sewepagaham is of Cree-Dene ancestry from the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. She holds a Bachelor of Music Therapy (Capilano University) and a Bachelor of Education (University of Alberta). Having taught elementary music for 14 years, Sherryl is an experienced elementary Music Educator focusing on Indigenous Music Education and First Nations songs for the classroom. 

Sherryl is a 22-year member of the 2005 Juno-nominated, Edmonton-based trio Asani and composes drum songs in the Cree language. Asani received a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award, a 2010 Indian Summer Music Award, a 2005 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award, and many other music awards nominations. Asani toured extensively around the world performing at Carnegie Hall in New York, The Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C., and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver BC.

Sherryl is also a composer of traditional and contemporary First Nations drum songs. Her 2014 debut solo album,  Splashing the Water Loudly, received a 2015 Indigenous Music Award nomination and is featured in APTN’s Chaos and Courage series. Sherryl wrote the music and lyrics for the National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program (MAP) song, “Music Alive”, which has been shared with elementary schools across Canada. Sherryl also created and co-created three teacher resources for the MAP program and continues to develop cultural programs for music teachers.

About Calgary Children's Choir

Established in 1987, The Calgary Children's Choir has built an international reputation of excellence and fostered a life long love of music in hundreds of young people. Members receive outstanding training in choral technique and musical theory, perform several times a year, and build lasting relationships. The Calgary Children’s Choir promotes an environment of family and community through our mentoring programs, allowing each child to shine and grow vocally in a safe, supportive environment.

Artistic Director: Kathryn Berko

To learn more, visit: https://calgarychildrenschoir.com/

About Spiritus Chamber Choir

Spiritus Chamber Choir is an internationally award-winning amateur choir founded in 1995, based in Calgary, Canada. Spiritus has been recognized both nationally and internationally for its high-quality performances, musicianship and unique collaborations. Spiritus is committed to excellence in choral music, performing for music lovers in Calgary and surrounding areas.

Artistic Director: Mark Bartel

To learn more, visit: http://www.spirituschamberchoir.ca/