The Wharf Sessions: The Sullivan Choir

SAS Sullivan, the high school in Salmon Arm, has been without a choir program for years. The 2020/21 school year allowed music teacher Zachary Power to bring back the beloved course offering, and we had the pleasure of working with these students this Spring at Song Sparrow Hall.

Recording the choir was interesting: students had to sing while wearing masks, and practiced silently turning the pages of their sheet music so the sensitive microphones didn’t pick up the sound. Mr. Power supplied the answers for our interview questions—enjoy!

1. How did the choir come together?   

SAS Sullivan had a choir some years ago, but for a number of reasons it was shut down. After several years, choir began anew as a small club at both SAS Jackson and Sullivan, run by David Izik-Dzurko. 2020-2021 marked the first year where choir at SAS Sullivan was once again offered as a credited course thanks to sufficient enrolment, supportive administration, and the leg work of David Izik-Dzurko.

2. How has the pandemic affected how you teach, and how the students experience, choir?

Some of the pandemic precautions that SAS Sullivan has taken involve when students attend during school hours; depending on where their last name falls alphabetically, students are attending class either on Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday this year, with Wednesdays alternating on a weekly basis. We offer two morning courses at Sullivan, jazz band and choir, that take place before the school day begins. With the last name split, that meant that choir only happens twice a week, and students attend on either Tuesday or Thursday, depending on their last name. This has given us the challenge of students only attending choir once per week, and rarely being able to rehearse as a full ensemble. In fact, our recording for The Wharf Sessions was only the second time all year where we've had the full choir singing together at once!

In addition to the scheduling challenge, we're also wearing masks at all times during choir. I view this as less of a "challenge" and more of a sneaky tool for developing good vocal habits. For example, wearing masks means that students have to be extra clear when they enunciate, and have to work a little harder to take in air quickly before singing. Once we no longer need to wear masks, enunciation and breathing will hopefully seem a lot easier and be much more effective! Only time will tell. The same goes for singing in smaller groups: students this year are very used to feeling quite exposed while singing, sometimes being the only one on their part, and standing farther away from the few other people in class. Once we can rehearse as a full choir again, students will have the comfort of singing with more choir members but with the added benefit of honing their abilities in a more challenging, exposed setting.

3. What was it like to come together to record at Song Sparrow Hall? 

Our time recording at Song Sparrow Hall was easily the highlight of the year so far, for so many reasons. The primary of which being it was so fulfilling to be able to come together as a group and share our music for a live audience. After our first recording, we were momentarily stunned by this weird sound coming from offstage, a noise which sounded like people slapping their hands together... oh right! We remembered that applause is a thing that happens, and had a good laugh about that. We sorely missed that element of communication with a live audience, and to see how meaningful it was for us to sing for them, even if it wasn't an official "show." Secondly, I can happily speak for all choir members when I say that it was just a lot of fun to group together and walk down from the school. That day had a sense of normalcy to it- a sense of levity. Everyone was excited for the only field trip of the year and people were in great spirits. It's hard to recreate that kind of organic environment.

4. Tell us the story behind the song Away From the Roll of the Sea that’s on the album.

We originally started off on a unit of ocean-themed repertoire due to the sea shanty phase that was sweeping Tiktok at the time. I played a few repertoire examples for the students and they fell in love with Away From the Roll of the Sea. I had sung it a few years ago with the Victoria Arion Male Choir, and knew first hand how wonderful of a piece it is. The song itself (written by Nova Scotia's Allister MacGillivray) was arranged by choral legend and co-founder of the Elektra Women's Choir, Diane Loomer, and speaks of the calmness of the harbour and how while the little boats docked there look so serene, we cannot imagine what rough seas and adventures they have faced. It's a little like the recording itself- while you might see or hear the students singing so well and imagine that despite COVID-19 they've had a pretty normal year, these kids have gone through a lot trying to keep up in school despite all the challenges and the uncertainly of the world around them. I couldn't be more proud of them.

5. I’m about to press play on your track, what’s the ideal listening setup?

I'll give you the same instructions that we gave ourselves before recording. Think of a person you love- a friend or family member who perhaps you miss and have not seen in some time. Maybe instead of someone you care about, think about a place that is very special to you, like a childhood home, a grandparent's house, a favourite space outdoors, or anything else. Ultimately, use this moment to connect with that part of yourself that holds those memories deep inside, even if you haven't seen that person or been to that place in a long time. Listen, and take the time to enjoy temporarily being in that space or with that person once again. Smile, and know that you yourself are going through an unprecedented time in our lives right now- a once-in-a-century experience- and that you too will find your way home to your little harbour and eventually be safe and sound, away from the roll of the sea.

The Arts Centre is grateful for the support it receives from its sponsors, without whom this project would not be possible: SASCU, Chad Eliason Mortgage Broker, Askew’s Foods, the Armstrong Regional Co-op, Johnston Meier Insurance, Grant Thornton, Stella-Jones, Shuswap Tourism, the City of Salmon Arm, and the Government of British Columbia.

Like what you hear? Click DONATE and instantly support Shuswap District Arts Council

Photography by Kristal Burgess