Executive Planning Council
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Do you enjoy music?
Do you want to get involved in something big?
Something international?
Something special?
A few years ago, I embarked on a quest to have the city of Calgary place a bid to host the World Choir Games. During my time organizing the bid I received optimistic support from INTERKULTUR, the organization that oversees the Games, who seemed excited at the idea of bringing this event to Canada.
I was even able to drum up local interest and had several meetings with local politicians and Tourism Calgary about making the bid a possibility. However just as we were gearing up to push forward with our efforts the city of Calgary was facing a time of economic hardship and plans had to be set aside as we were unable to afford to make a successful bid.
Several years have since passed but I have not relinquished by desire or passion to bring this world-class event here to Calgary. As such I am attempting to reinstate the bid process.
Now I would like you to take a moment. We all know how powerful and moving a single voice can be. When that voice is put to music the emotion and spirit of the song can pierce the human soul. Now imagine that one voice joined by hundreds more, now imagine thousands. Thousands of voices united in friendship, music and the unity of the human spirit.
Now stop imagining and let’s make this a reality here in Calgary.
From 2000 onwards, the biennial World Choir Games have brought together hundreds of choirs and thousands of attendants from all over the world to celebrate unity and diversity through the art of music.
The event organized by INTERKULTUR has been a fixed meeting point for the ever-evolving choral world. The world’s largest choral competition takes choirs from all corners of the globe on a 10-day journey through a myriad of invaluable experiences. Whether new on the choral stage or not, choral music expertise, professional guidance and the brilliant pedagogical opportunities that the Games offer make the event impossible to miss.
Words truly cannot express the power and emotion this event can generate. Sometimes a picture or even a video can explain much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmBQZg89rZo
This event has only once been held in North America. In 2012 the city of Cincinnati played host to this prestigious event. Now it’s Calgary’s turn.
Calgary has long had a history of welcoming the citizens of the world to our city. From the 1988 Winter Olympics to the world-famous Calgary Stampede. From international conferences to world-class sporting and cultural events, Calgary has proven itself with its unique blend of Western hospitality and Canadian passion.
There are numerous benefits to hosting such an event in Calgary. The effects on tourism and economic impact in the region will be perhaps the most notable. This would also be a way for Calgary to show support to Fine Arts education and inspire a new generation of musicians’ artists and singers here and abroad.
However, right now I need help to move this project into its next successful phase. As one can guess even though much of the work for the World Choir Games is handled by INTERKULTUR there is still a large load of work we must do. For starters drawing up a professional proposal and organizing fundraising. Not to mention developing a budget based on the requirements of the game.
As have said earlier, conversations with representatives from INTERKULTUR show that they are excited about the prospect of the World Choir Games taking place in Canada. In the next few months, I would like to see a team come together to help develop an official proposal to give to the City of Calgary before continuing the bid process with INTERKULTUR to bring the World Choir Games to Calgary.
This project is more than any one person can take on alone and I am looking for volunteers that have a passion for Calgary and can see the potential that this event can bring to the city.
I have ten positions to fill on the executive:
- Assistance Director
- Administrative Assistant
- Treasurer
- Community Liaison
- Choral Liaison
- Corporate Liaison
- Communication Liaison
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Fundraising Coordinator
- Logistics Coordinator
- Government Representatives
- Committees
To learn more visit 2020yyc.wixsite.com.
For questions email edward.forbes@shaw.ca.
I strongly believe in the vision and message of the World Choir Games. And I am confident that Calgary can welcome a world of voices in the near future. But I cannot do it alone.
It is my hope that I will be able to depend upon your support in this endeavour. If you are interested in supporting this event please contact me so we can discuss further.
