History
The South Shore Chorale began as the Bridgewater Oratorio
Society under the direction of the late Karen Keirstead Mills. The original
39 member choir gave its first public performance on March 30,1969 - a
presentation of Handel's Messiah. A few of the original members continue
to sing with the Chorale and, through subsequent years the membership
has increased by adding singers from many parts of the South Shore to
a current total of 55.
The name eventually evolved to the South Shore Chorale and in recent years
has been registered under The Societies Act of the Province of Nova Scotia
The Chorale is first and foremost a community choir. It has reached a
high level of excellence over the years in the largely, but not solely,
classical tradition under dedicated and talented directors and accompanists.
The binding elements are a common love of singing, a commitment of Monday
evenings to rehearsal and four performances, presently in Mahone Bay and
Bridgewater. Two performances are at Christmas and two in the spring.
The Chorale also performs at the Bridgewater Festival in April.
Membership dues and concert revenue are the only income for the Society
which must cover music and equipment, venue rental, honoraria, as well
as programme and advertising costs. A volunteer executive committee keeps
things running smoothly.
The South Shore Chorale are the recipients of a certificate and award from the Federation of Music Festivals of Nova Scotia as winners of the City of Lincoln award.
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Director
A recent nuptial transplant to Bridgewater, John is delighted to be back in Nova Scotia following a stint with graduate studies in choral conducting at the University of Alberta. Happy to be back on the benches as University and Chapel Organist at Acadia University (a position he held prior to heading west), and Director of Music at St. James' Anglican Church in Kentville, John is thrilled to be making music closer to home with the SSC. John has performed and toured extensively as an organist and conductor, with notable engagements at St. James Cathedral, Toronto, ON, Winspear Centre, Edmonton, AB, Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona, Scotland and Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, England. John's most recent choral endeavours have included the Edmonton based Vocal Alchemy community choir (Artistic Director), University of Alberta Concert Choir (Assistant Director), and the Manning Memorial Chapel Choir, Acadia University.
Accompanist
Sharon Gow-Knickle holds degrees in piano performance from Dalhousie University (B.Mus.) and from the Manhattan School of Music (M. Mus.). She had the opportunity to attend the renowned Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in Maine for two summers with piano studies under Martin Canin of the Juilliard School and Chamber Music and Master Classes with a variety of internationally acclaimed artists. Ms. Gow-Knickle has been on the Piano Faculties of Academie Ste. Cecile, in Windsor, Ontario, and Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. She has worked extensively as an accompanist in Toronto and has been on the Accompanying Faculties of the University of Windsor and Mount Royal College, as well as numerous collaborations in performance at the University of Calgary. Other performance experience includes chamber music, solo concerts and guest appearances as soloist with orchestras in Calgary and Florida and with Nova Sinfonia in Halifax. Ms. Gow-Knickle has performed at Government House in Halifax in the Lieutenant Governor’s Concert Series. She now resides in Lunenburg with her husband and has established a busy private studio in Bridgewater, and occasionally takes time away for adjudicating and examining.