Over 240 voices to converge in Kalispell for inaugural Composer Festival

The inaugural Composer Festival on Feb. 20-21 in Kalispell will bring together over 200 singers from across Montana for a celebration of choral music.

Hosted by Bear Grass Performing Arts and the Flathead Valley Youth Chorus participating ensembles include the Flathead Valley Youth Chorus, high school choirs from Flathead, Glacier, Columbia Falls, Whitefish, and Helena Capital, and Missoula’s premier semi-professional ensemble, Dolce Canto. 

The festival offers a rare opportunity for Montana singers to collaborate directly with world-renowned guest composers Jake Runestad (Minneapolis) and Katerina Gimon (Vancouver, British Columbia), alongside guest conductor Elise Naccarato. Over two days of intensive workshops and rehearsals, choirs will explore the creative processes behind the composers' works.

The event will culminate in a powerful joint concert at the Wachholz College Center on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m. The performance will feature solo and combined works, including a mass choir finale of "The Language of the Stars" (composed by Gimon) and movements from "The Hope of Loving" (composed by Runestad), accompanied by a professional string quartet.

"This event is a crown jewel of artistic collaboration for our valley," said Nathan Connell, BGPA executive director. "Witnessing the energy of over 200 singers on one stage is an experience we are thrilled to bring to our community. Doing so at no cost to the audience was our goal from the outset - we hope you can join us for this celebration of choral music."