Arviat (May 21/03) - The sounds of the Kivalliq will be ringing across Canada's East Coast next month.

Arviat Imngitingit (The Arviat Singers), were founded by Mary Piercey in 2001 and is a mixed-voice community choir of high school students and adults.

Katelyn Sulurayok and Mariah Illungiayok of Arviat Imngitingit (The Arviat Singers) rehearse their throat singing in preparation for June's Festival 500 in Newfoundland. - photo courtesy of Mary Piercey

The Arviat Singers will perform at Festival 500, a 10-day extravaganza in St. John's Nfld., from June 28-July 6.

The 30-voice choir specializes in traditional and contemporary Inuit music originating from the Kivalliq.

The group is famous for its expertise in drum dancing, throat and A-ya-ya singing.

The members also perform contemporary Inuit folk and gospel songs in Inuktitut.

Piercey, originally from Fortune, Nfld, holds a masters of music degree in music education from the University of Toronto and hopes to pursue a PhD in music in the near future.

She is the past director of the Bloor Street United Church Youth Choir, the First Unitarian Congregation Senior Choir and the Hart House Chorus at the University of Toronto.

The musical director is researching traditional and contemporary Inuit music in Arviat, where she teaches music at Qitiqliq high school.

Piercey says Festival 500 offers singers a wonderful opportunity to explore the world of music and experience the joys of performing.

She says the singers will also learn more about the splendour of the human voice by taking part in a variety of workshops with artists from around the globe.

"Festival 500 brings together choirs of all styles and ranges from every corner of the Earth to take part in what has become one of the most unique festivals in the world," says Piercey.

"It is true that the history of a people can be found in its songs, and that is what this festival is all about.

"It's an opportunity for international choirs to share and discover the world of music."

Piercey says the choir will perform Inuit music for an international audience every day of the festival.

"We will also rehearse and perform with other choirs for a 1,000 voiced Massed Choral Concert on the last day of the festival.

"The massed choir will be directed by internationally renowned conductors Bobby McFerrin and Linda Tillery.

"It all promises to be quite the experience."