The Choir

The Philharmonic Choir of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra (PCNSO) is a community choir based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.  Founded in 1987 as an oratorio choir specifically to perform Handel's Messiah with the NSO, the PCNSO has broadened itself substantially and now performs several concerts each season with a wide variety of repertoire.  The PCNSO continues to be dedicated to working cooperatively with the NSO to foster and perform symphonic choral music.

The mission of the choir can be summarized in the following three goals:

  • To work toward becoming the finest choral ensemble it can be, thereby providing its singers with one of the most fulfilling musical and educational experiences of their lives.
  • To make all those associated (executive committee members, singers and supporters) proud and excited to be a part of the organization.
  • To provide significant, worthwhile and beautiful choral performances to the greater St. John's community.

Director

dunsmore pic

Douglas Dunsmore, a Saskatchewan native, has been working with singers in Canada for more than thirty years. A choral conductor of national and international renown, he has assumed leadership positions in many major national and continental professional associations for his discipline. His leadership in the regional community has mirrored the success of that activity. He is a founding artistic co-director of the widely acclaimed international choral festival, Festival 500: Sharing the Voices and a mainstay of such significant national organizations as the National Youth Choir. On the podium within the University he has repeatedly brought Memorial choirs to success in national and international competitions. In the classroom he has been a strong influence in the development of the legion of highly successful choral conductors who have helped earn Newfoundland and Labrador the reputation of being the singing province.

Dr. Dunsmore is in frequent demand as guest conductor/clinician in several Canadian provinces. In May of 2005, he was delighted to be invited back to his native Saskatchewan to help organize and conduct a 350 voice choir in a special Lieutenant Governor's Centennial Gala and in the spring of 2006, choirs under his direction (Memorial University of Newfoundland Chamber Choir and Newman Sound) won prestigious awards in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's National Competition for Amateur Choirs. Most recently he has been asked to be the guest conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir in 2007.

He is also in demand as a concert impresario, planning benefits concerts for the relief of Tsunami victims, Bridges to Hope Food (a local food bank) and regular "Singers Helping Singers" benefits designed to enable Newfoundland Singers to participate in the National Youth Choir of Canada.

Currently, Dr. Dunsmore is Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland's School of Music (choral activities), choirmaster at Gower Street United Church, conductor of the NSO Philharmonic Choir, and co-conducts Newman Sound (a male voice choir) with one of his past graduate students and present colleague, Kellie Walsh.

An important element in his life is the role of Artistic Director of Festival 500. In 2005 he served as Interim Director of the MUN School of Music.

Dr. Dunsmore is also a member and a past president of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors.

Accompanist

Heather Pritchett graduated from Memorial University’s School of Music in 2005 with a Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours) in piano. She is currently starting her second year as a private instructor at the Provincial Music Conservatory. She is also accompanist for the NSO Philharmonic Choir, the St. John’s Community Choir, the Salvation Army Citadel Songster Brigade, and music students at the university. Although enjoying her career as a musician, Heather is now pursuing the field of medicine in hopes of becoming a doctor.

Choristers

The PCNSO's singers range in age from twenty to eighty years and come from a diverse range of backgrounds. Some are present or former professional musicians and music educators, but many are working professionals and retired persons. We even have several members of the clergy and a Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland!

A complete list of choir members is available.

Membership is open to anyone following successful completion of an audition in the fall and payment of choir dues. Under normal circumstances full-time students are not accepted due to the likelihood of conflicts with the student's exam and study schedules. Dues are $100 per season at present (with music and special costs such as Festival 500 fees being extra).