Singspiration

The School of Music annually sponsors Singspiration which welcomes youth from grades 4 to 12 to a week long music camp where they have the chance to sing under a world-class choral conductor, meet friends from all across Alberta and Canada, and participate in fun activities such as art, handbells, swimming and outdoor games. This award-winning program is an outstanding musical opportunity for young singers.

Established in 2000, this camp is attracting the best choral and handbell clinicians and teachers and is fast becoming one of Alberta's best music camps. Starting in 2002, a Ringspiration component using handbells was added thanks to the support of the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers.

In October 2006, Singspiration was awarded the Patricia Cook Memorial Award "for exemplary service to advocacy in arts education in the province of Alberta." This award is given out each year by the Alberta Choral Federation, an organization that encourages and promotes the understanding and appreciation of choral music by providing positive educational and artistic experiences.

Singspiration has enjoyed the generous support of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the William F. Lede Foundation, the Alberta Choral Federation, Aramark Food Services, the Alberta Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and Handbells, Etc. Information on this year's camp can be found here.

"The best part of Singspiration was meeting a whole bunch of new people and getting tosing in a great choir with an awesome conductor."

"I love being able to hang out with people while doing things that we love. Our love of music really made it easier to bond. It is a good atmosphere."

"The only thing I think could be improved is to extend Singspiration to 2 weeks!"

The 2008 Singspiration youth choir with Australian conductor Joan Wright