Yellowknife (Sep 08/06) - At the Calvary Church on Franklin Avenue, gathered voices rise and fall in unison, rich notes bouncing off the old church walls.

It's the first practice of the season for the Yellowknife Choral Society -- 43 singers strong on this day -- and the room is thick with music.

Musical Director Margo Nightingale conducts the Yellowknife Choral Society. - Adam Johnson/NNSL photo

After nearly six months off, the singers seem a little nervous about a man with a camera sneaking around the rows of chairs. Strained smiles abound.

To ease the tension conductor and musical director Margot Nightingale waves a hearty hello to the elephant in the room.

"I'm sure they can blur your faces out so no one recognizes you," she says jokingly to a round of laughter.

Afterwards, Nightingale says making the choir feel at ease is just as important as choosing the music and conducting the performances.

"Sometimes it's about confidence building and sometimes it's about skill building," she said. "And sometimes it's about group hugs."

Nightingale (who shares the role of musical director with Shad Turner) has led the society in song for nearly six years, half her time with the group.

"My main responsibility is to get people excited about the music," she said. "And get them to see how they as a group can shape this piece in their own way."

"We have a very ambitious program this year," said society president Greg Cousineau.

He said this includes three major performances, a planned public workshop and a collaboration with Crazy Legs Contemporary Dance.

"(Music and dance) are natural partners," Nightingale said of the collaboration. "Dance gives you the visual and physical component of music."

Other events include a series of Remembrance Day performances in Yellowknife and Hay River, Christmas caroling around the city in December (culminating in a free performance at the legislature), and their annual spring concert.

This year, the concert is called Mass Merge, which Cousineau said will combine five different masses from five different eras and regions.

"It will include some music that has never been performed in Canada," he said.

The society practices every Tuesday at Calvary Church from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Both Nightingale and Cousineau said practices and membership are still open to the public.