WHAT A PRIZE: Artist Craig Galligos and Kathaumixw artistic director Paul Cummings with the grand prize
Thunderbird vs. Whale, in concert Kathaumixw: the magic continues starting July 1
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t the opening concert of Kathaumixw on July 1, a thunderbird and whale vignette will be presented that showcases First Nations dance, acting, singing, percussion and narration. This musical comes from a West coast story that tells of a great battle between the thunderbird and the evil whale, which caused the seas to rise and wipe out many First Nations villages, says Paul Cummings, Kathaumixw’s artistic director. “Most of my research came from that of seismographers. They knew there was a tsunami in 1700, but they had no written history about it. So they asked First Nations people for stories that may correspond with the event,” he said. Paul and the seismographers spoke with coastal First Nations people from here to Washington State, who indeed relayed stories about a tsunami. A narrator combined the stories, and the result will be presented on opening night. Choreographer Carol Coulson will tell the story while Tobin Stokes has com-
posed the music for this special vignette. One noteworthy addition to Kathaumixw this year is a beautiful totem pole carved by Craig Galligos that will be presented to the winning choir of the festival. “This will be standing in the Great Hall all week for all the choirs to salivate over,” says Paul. “We have some fabulous choirs coming this year. This town will be bursting at the seams.”
Looking for homestays
Paul says that homestays are still needed for Kathaumixw. “We need about 200 homes this year,” he says. “Some will have multiple people staying in them.” Some people who have hosted Kathaumixw billets in the past are unable to do so this year for various reasons so new people are needed. One of the choirs in need of billets is the 100 voice Slovenian Choir that Paul met while in Ljubljana with the Academy of Music’s youth choir in 2008 during International Singing Week.
Concerts
Pssst…you’d better hurry up and get your tickets Kathaumixw’s opening concert. They’re going fast. There are many other concerts to choose from, too. Learn more at www. kathaumixw.org and get tickets at tickets. powellriveracademy.org at the Academy of Music.
Free Kathaumixw concerts at Spirit Square (Westview wharf) July 2, 3 & 4 3:15 to 4:15 pm These will feature two choirs at each concert. “It is for the choirs to experience standing there singing, while looking at the oceans and the mountains,” says Paul. “The Texada ferry will dock during the performance of the first group and it will be departing while the second group is singing.”
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POWELL RIVER LIVING • june 2014 •
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