Hexaphone, Victoria’s six-member a cappella ensemble, won the Elmer Iseler Prize for the Best Performance of a Canadian Composition at the International Choral Kathaumixw, a biennial five-day choral festival in Powell River. The award was announced at the closing gala concert on July 7.
Hexaphone, which includes Carolyn Howe (soprano), Hannah Mitchell (alto), John Doughty (tenor), Ian Bullen (tenor), Nicholas Fairbank (baritone), and Paul Boughen (bass), sang Four Limericks written by composer Fairbank.
The composition for six voices was presented in the Contemporary Choral music competition at Kathaumixw.
Hexaphone repeated its winning performance of Four Limericks to the assembled audience and international choirs attending the gala concert. The ensemble also placed second in the two classes that they entered, competing against choirs from Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, China, Mexico, the United States and the Philippines.
Now in its 10th season, the group was formed in 2002 with the goal of performing diverse styles of vocal music, one voice to a part.
Hexaphone has become a highlight of Victoria’s music scene, singing music of many styles and periods, with a particular focus on new Canadian works.
The group has appeared at the Victoria Symphony’s New Currents Festival, the Voice++ Festival, and the New Music In New Places concert series.