Events

Events

Upcoming Live Appearances

.

Past Live Appearances

New England Folk Festival Association (NEFFA) Festival
April 21 to 23, 2023
Two performances:
Canadian Folk Songs – a concert
A Sense of Place – a participatory singing session focused on songs which mention specific places.

Hybrid Concert: House and Online
November 17, 2022
Maura Volante, Ernie Fraser & Ann Downey. Canadian folk songs.

Fall Festival: Hunt Club Riverside Community Centre
September 17, 2022
Maura Volante & Fern Vale. Outdoor performance of traditional favourites for a neighbourhood celebration of community and culture.

Launch Party for the album, Safe & Sound: Moose McGuire’s Pub
May 22, 2022
Maura Volante, Ernie Fraser, James Stephens, Ann Downey, Alexis MacIsaac, Calum
MacKenzie & Fern Vale. An afternoon celebrating the long-awaited release of Maura’s album, with all the musicians who helped make it.

Log Drive Café: The Nectar Centre and Livestream on Youtube
September 19, 2020
Maura Volante, Fern Vale Volante & Ranald Thurgood. A show combining a live presentation from the porch to a physically distanced audience on the lovely lawn of the Nectar Centre, with a livestream show on  Youtube , still accessible for viewing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ7Hc8wHT0w

The Tipper, Vancouver
August 2019 and August 2015
Canadian Folk Songs. In 2019 Maura performed as part of the duo, Rideau Rounders, with Ranald Thurgood. Both concerts featured traditional Canadian folk songs, along with local musicians.

Princeton Traditional Music Festival, Princeton, BC
August 2019 and August 2015
Songs of Ontario & Atlantic Canada. In 2019, Maura performed as part of the duo, Rideau Rounders, with Ranald Thurgood. Both times at this festival featured several workshops with Canadian folk songs.

Log Drive Café
2012-2018
Produced and promoted monthly coffeehouse event providing opportunities for local musicians who sing and play folk music. Performed many times at the Log Drive Café, with various collaborators, and has done much of the production work, including promotion and programming.

Folk at the Oak
2014-2022
Regular performer at folk club put on by the Old Sod Society at the Royal Oak-Canal.

Paul Landry Park
August 25 2018
Canadian Songs  Led a community singalong at a local park, touring participants from
Newfoundland to British Columbia with stops in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and the Prairies. Organized by the Hunt Club Community Organization.

Glebe Centre
June 2017
Canada 150 Street Party. Sang traditional Canadian folk songs, in collaboration with Daphne Volante.

Workers’ History Museum,
October 2014, 2015 & 2016
Women’s History Celebration. Sang traditional folk songs on the theme of women and work, along with storyteller Ruth Verger.

MacKinnon Family Homestead Ceilidh, Richmond, PEI
July 2016
Sang songs and provided piano accompaniment to fiddle tunes at a community ceilidh in Prince Edward Island.

1st  United Church
November 2015
Benefit for Refugees. Performed a selection of folk songs, along with several other performers, to raise money for a refugee sponsorship group.

Colonel By Day
August 2012, 2013, 2014
Canadian Folk Songs. Performed singalong concerts at CHOO/COPO’s annual event.

Old Town Hall
February 2014
Songs of Love & Lust. Produced and performed singalong concert of traditional folk songs, with Ranald Thurgood and Daphne Volante.

Old Town Hall
June 2013
Canadian Folk Songs. Produced and performed singalong concert of traditional Canadian folk
songs, with Ranald Thurgood and Daphne Volante.

Gigspace
November 2012
Ballads & Sea Songs. Produced and performed singalong concert of traditional folk music including ballads and sea songs (shanties & other sea songs), with Ranald Thurgood, Dale Morland and Neville Miller.

Billings Estate Museum,
July 2009
Singing Our Heritage. Presented two participatory workshops on Canadian folk songs with Ranald Thurgood.

Blue Skies Music Festival
2001-2011
Presented workshops for adults and children at this annual music festival, including Songs of the Sea, Canadian Folk Songs, Improvisational Singing and other topics.

Singing Christmas Carols

Maura has organized and led the singing at many participatory Christmas carolling events in recent years. Here is a sample of such appearances:

Richmond Road, Westboro – December 2020
Produced and facilitated group carolling session outdoors, proceeds to Minwashin Lodge.

Royal Oak Pub (canal) – December 2018, 2017, 2018, 2019
Produced and facilitated group carolling session.

D’Arcy McGee’s Pub – December 2015, 2014 & 2013
Produced and facilitated group carolling session.

Beau’s Brewery – December 2015
Provided a carol singing session for employees of Beau’s Brewery after their general meeting.

Billings Estate Museum, – December 2008, 2009 & 2010
Performed and led Christmas carols with the Holly & Ivy Carollers, a group Maura formed and directed.

Elmdale Tavern – December 2010
Produced and facilitated group carolling session at this Hintonburg pub.

Improvisational Singing

Maura also enjoys vocal improvisation and has both led and participated in improvisational singing events. Here are a few of these occasions:

Sing Here Now
2016-2017
Produced and facilitated monthly participatory session of vocal improvisation.

Chamberfest
August 2012
Chamber Elements. Participated in improvised choir performance of a piece by Scott
Thompson, under the direction of Christine Duncan

Feral Choir, AB Productions,
December 2012
Participated in improvised choir performance directed by Phil Minton.
Classes, Choirs and Other Teaching Work

Classes, Choirs and other Teaching Work

Canadian Folk Songs: an 8-week class
Winter, 2020
Abbotsford Recreation Centre. Taught course involving singing skills, folk process and historical context of Canadian Folk Songs.

Folk Song Circle: a 4-week series
October-November, 2019
Ottawa Public Library. Taught folk songs (mainly Canadian) and led singing for a daytime series aimed at older adults.

Canadian Folk Songs: a 6-week class
Fall, 2019
Abbotsford Recreation Centre. Taught course involving singing skills, folk process and historical context of Canadian Folk Songs.

All Together Now: a multigenerational choir
2007-2008
Organized and directed weekly multigenerational choir, with seniors, home-schooled children and their parents, and adults of other ages. Performed twice at the Abbotsford House for celebratory luncheons.

Capital City Workers’ Choir: a labour choir
2006-2008
Directed this community choir, which included arranging for choir and teaching numerous workers’ songs. Performed for union meetings and conferences.

Oya: an improvisational vocal ensemble
2005-2007
Organized and directed weekly improvisational practice for small ensemble of talented singers. Oya performed at conferences and community gatherings.

Singing for Ourselves
2005-2011
Various locations including ArtsCourt, Bronson Centre, Alcorn Music Studios, Old Town Hall and the Shenkman Arts Centre. Organized, promoted and taught basic singing course for beginners and more advanced singers, including songs and playful exercises, to gain confidence and skills.

WoodsWalk Singing, Mud Lake Conservation Area,
2006-2011
Organized and led walking/singing experiences for small groups, in which we sang as we walked and stopped at special places for songs and playful exercises.

Dance Teaching

Contra Dance
1997-present
Taught and called dozens of contra dances, in environments ranging from big halls in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal to small parties such as weddings and birthdays.

All Join Hands: Traditional Social Set Dances
Winter, 2020
12-week course for older adults at Abbotsford Recreation Centre. Circles, longways sets and other easy social set dances from North America and UK.

Family Dance
1996-present
Taught simpler folk dances suitable for children and beginner adults, in a variety of locations such as schools, community classes, parties, family dance events and summer camps.