Luminous Voices | Ispiciwin

Ispiciwin (Journey) is both a personal reflection and an artistic collaboration into the true meaning of artistic reconciliation. Working with Luminous Voices and Timothy Shantz, along with artists Jessica McMann and Walter MacDonald White Bear, is a dream collaboration that results in a closer understanding of truth telling and storytelling from an Indigenous perspective. All the artists on this project—singers, composers, instrumentalists, directors—made the time and space to create respectful and safe platforms to set free our voices and stories. Even thirty years ago, choral music sung in Cree would have been unheard of, and yet, here we are. At the most important crossroads in the healing journey, groups such as Luminous Voices are offering their voices to help tell our stories. This is just the start in the call to actions that will truly help heal our deep wounds. Chi Miigwetch.

Featured Tracks

From Luminous Voices’ fifth album Ispiciwin, “Rise up, My Love” was originally commissioned by director Timothy Shantz for the Spiritus Chamber Choir and was first premiered May 7th, 2017. Composer Laura Hawley includes text from “Song of Solomon” “Ubi Caritas” and “Set me as a seal”. The recording features alto, Sara Staples.

Luminous Voices, Calgary’s professional chamber choir, was founded in 2012 by conductor and Artistic Director Timothy Shantz. Uniting local, national, and international artists and organizations to illuminate choral music of the past and present, spanning cultures and traditions, we engage audiences in Calgary and beyond through exceptional sonic experiences encompassing live and virtual performances, recordings, workshops, new commissions by contemporary composers, and community education and development. Luminous Voices comprises some of the best ensemble singers in the Calgary area, collaborating with singers and musicians from across North America.