Boxwood Festivals

Boxwood's activities are centrally located and within walking distance to most lodging options including staying at one the many beautiful and historic B&B's in historic Lunenburg.

Boxwood Canada

Participant Information

BOXWOOD CANADA 2012

Registration

Regular registration, Work-Study, Non-Participant friends & family:
Visit our registration page for complete details, on-line registration form, and payment options. You may also register via phone by calling the Boxwood office at 902.553.0651 (in Nova Scotia) or 443.352.0502 (our Skype # in the USA). Space is limited, so please register early.

Children's Program
Registration for the Children's Program utilizes the same on-line form found on our registration page.

Arrival, Check-ins and Departure

Arrival for the Boxwood week is recommended for the morning or early afternoon of Sunday July 22. 2012. Our opening dinner & and the Tempest Baroque Ensemble concert takes place on the evening of Sunday July 22. Check-in registration at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway Street) will take place between 1–5 PM, on Sunday July 22. The week officially ends after the morning church service at St. John's Anglican Church, Sunday morning July 31, 2011. Boxwood participants are welcome to share their music as part of this service.

Getting Here

Air Travel
Fly into Halifax International Airport (YHZ) if you're arriving by air. There's usually a sale on the major carriers in April/May. Thanks to an initiative of Canada Tourism and the Halifax International Airport, there will be direct service to YHZ from Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, DC in the Spring & Summer month.

By Car
If you're driving, make note that the ferry service to Yarmouth from either Portland or Bar Harbor, ME has been discontinue. There is a ferry from St, John NB to Digby, NS. This ferry is a particularly good value if you're budget minded.

Please note that we have numerous participants driving up from Maine, New Hampshire, New York and other points South. If you're interested to share a ride please let us know and we'll put you directly in touch with those driving. It's possible that a combination of flying a low cost carrier such as JetBlue to Portland, ME, or Southwest to Manchester, NH then catching a ride with another Boxwood participant could be a very cost effective option.

Carpool Service between the Halifax Airport (YHZ) and Lunenburg
Boxwood will again coordinate carpool runs between the Halifax airport and Lunenburg on Sunday 7/24 and Sunday 7/31 for a nominal charge. We'll be compiling a clearinghouse of everyone's transportation plans, therefore, make your plans early and contact us so that we may either assist you with a ride or may ask for your assistance with transportation if you have a car. We're requesting a donation of $25 each way to offest fuel & administrative costs. A private taxi between YHX- Lunenburg will run $120-$150, so it's a good deal.

Lodging

Boxwood's activities are centrally located and within walking distance to most lodging options in Old Town Lunenburg including staying at one of the many beautiful and historic B&B's. Motels are located on the edge of town a short walk from town, Car & tent camping is centrally located in town, or you may billet with a local host family. A comprehensive list of lodging options in the Town of Lunenburg can be found by visiting their website.

Boxwood participants are offered a preferred discounted rate at a number of B&Bs including.:
The Ashlea House, Smugglers Cove Inn, The Lunenburg Inn, Bonnie's B&B, Atlantic Sojourn and the Lunenburg Oceanview Chalets.

Billeting is presently NOT AVAILABLE and is the most economical option and it supports Boxwood's programming. The cost is a flat $250 USD. Your hosts donate the lodging, and you pay $250 as a donation to support the administrative side of Boxwood. Please thank your host! Accommodations will be coordinated this year by our Boxwood Office - (902.553.0651 or e.mail). Make your billeting request via our On-Line Registration form on the registration page. Billeting will be available from the evenings of Sunday July 22 - through Saturday night July 28, (departing on Sunday morning July 31) - inclusive only. The billeting fee will not be pro-rated for shorter stays. We aim to place as many billeters as possible in town, however some of our billeters are located in fabulous oceanfront homes outside of Old Town Lunenburg, and rides will be organized for those staying outside of town without cars. Feel free to contact us via e.mail or telephone with specific questions about the billeting option. The check-in times for billeted lodging are: Sunday, July 22, 1–5 p.m. at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall.

BILLETING SUMMARY- PLEASE NOTE:
- The number of billeting spots is limited and is allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis.
- A billeting spot cannot be guaranteed; we will refund you if a spot is not found or a host cancels.
- We aim to keep everyone in town, however, your host may be outside of town. Rides will be coordinated if needed.

Meals

Full registration, Work-Study, and scholarship registrations include 6 suppers held at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall. These meals take place around 6PM on Sunday 7/22, Monday 7/23, Tuesday 7/24, Wednesday 7/25,Thursday 7/26, and Friday 7/27. We also offer a light snack, coffee & tea between classes in the morning.

Please note that Saturday dinner on 7/28 and daily lunch is NOT included. We encourage participants to make their own plans by visiting one of the dozens of fine cafes & restaurants in town. After 16 years of experience catering at Boxwood, we've arrived at this scheme because it:

  • lowers the cost of registration.
  • brings our participants into the Town, fostering a stronger connection with the local community.
  • Allows some fun as we break-up and explore some great local spots. Lunenburg has developed into a culinary destination spot in Maritime Canada in recent years. Check out the many notable options here.
  • enables a more flexible schedule.
  • insures that work-study students miss no classes
  • allows us to put more time and energy into the preparations for our evening meals.
  • no big supper on Thursday allows more time for Talent Night preparations.

We'll be asking local cafes and restaurants to provide a discount for Boxwood participants during the festival week. Hopefully we'll have a few coupons in the registration packs.

Schedule

The following schedule is the framework for our activities and may be helpful as you make your plans:

SATURDAY JULY 21

  • Some afternoon & evening car pool availibilty.
  • Billeting not available.
  • An informal session is likely.

SUNDAY JULY 22

  • local churches would LOVE to have you play at their morning service; let us know if you'd like to play. It's a great way to announce the start of Boxwood.
  • Work Study participants meeting at 1PM at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • Billeting and registration check in from 1 PM – 5 PM at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • Supper at 6 PM, at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • Tempest Baroque Ensemble concert with Boxwood guest artists, 7:30 PM, St. John's Anglican Church
  • after hours session - location TBD.

MONDAY - FRIDAY JULY 23-27

  • 8:30 AM - All students & teachers meet at the Academy for orientation & questions (Mon. only)
  • 9:00-10:15 AM - Classes at the Lunenburg Academy & St John's Parish Hall
  • 10:30-11:45 AM - Classes at the Lunenburg Academy & St John's Parish Hall
  • 12:00-1:00PM - lunch break;
  • 1:30-2:15 PM - Classes at the Lunenburg Academy & St John's Parish Hall
  • 2:30-4:30 PM free time - Academy open for practice, rehearsal, special classes TBA
  • 4:00-4:45 PM - afternoon lecture/demo at the Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • 5:00 - 6:00 PM Slow session at Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • 6:00 or 6:30 PM - Supper at Lunenburg & District Fire Hall (25 Medway St.)
  • 7:30 or 8:00 PM - Evening activity
  • after hours session - location TBD.

SATURDAY JULY 28

  • morning & afternoon FREE for napping, sailing, hiking, shopping, etc.
  • some special classes or private lessons will probably be scheduled.
  • Finale Concert @ 7:30PM - St. John's Anglican Church

SUNDAY JULY 29

  • Boxwood Singers and interested musicians participate in 10:30AM service at St. John's Anglican Church
  • AM and afternoon departure - carpool available.

EVENING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

  • SUNDAY - pre-concert dinner; 6 PM
    Tempest Baroque Ensemble with guests at St. John's Anglican Church 7:30PM
  • MONDAY - Ceili dance for Boxwood particpants at the St. John's Parish Hall 8 PM
  • TUESDAY- early session, location TBD
  • WEDNESDAY - Boxwood vocal concert at Zion Lutheran Churchl 7:30PM
  • THURSDAY - Participants take the stage in Talent Night at the Lunenburg Academy 8PM
  • FRIDAY - Big Boxwood Ceili Dance - St. John's Anglican Church 7:30PM
    SATURDAY - Finale Concert @ 7:30PM - St. John's Anglican Church

Notes on the format and schedule of the classes - from director Chris Norman:

A final schedule of classses will be given to you upon registration. A preliminary version will be available in PDF format in June from this page.
Please read the section that follows carefully. Speak to me in-person at the festival if you have concerns or suggestions:

We'll meet in the 3rd floor of the Lunenburg Academyl at 8:30AM on Monday July 26 to provide more detail and clarify the schedule. Please set your alarm and be sure to attend this meeting so we can all get the most out of our week together.

Among the goals of Boxwood is expanding musical vocabulary. We encourage participants to take a variety of classes each day so that throughout the course of the week, you will have met with a variety of teachers, ideally across a number of disciplines. This year's schedule is specifically designed to faciltate cross-fertilization between instrumentalists, singers and dancers. As always, the flute and its musical traditions are front-and-center at Boxwood, however we're presenting classes in many styles, genres and disciplines. The two morning classes are typically taught by a single teacher, and these are the classes where you can hunker down and get intensive class-time in your specific area of interest. The afternoon classes are presented by one, two, or more teachers on special topics. A further goal is the development of an aural sense of musical traditions – learning and playing by heart and by ear as much as possible. This is encouraged by having participants divide themselves up in to four groups according to their ability to learn by ear. There is no audition for this; we'll typically have one slow, two medium groups moving at the same speed, but divided to keep the class-size down (medium and intermediate) and one fast group.

Which classes you attend is entirely up to you. The schedule is arranged so that you can follow-along with others of your playing level to a variety of teachers across various genres of music and disciplines. If the scope of your interest is narrower, you may choose to stay with the same teacher all day long. Either option is fine, however if you choose the latter course, it's likely that you'll cover the same material more than once as the teachers will be teaching to the specific levels.

Not all classes are listed on the schedule. It's expected that those interested in specialized instruction will work out times to meet directly with their teacher. The Academy building will be open till 5PM each day, so there's time to organize additional classes & lessons according to your interests.

Baroque classes will a feature a morning master class format with continuo accompaniment available. This morning masterclass is open to all Boxwood particpants regardless of stylistic focus or the pitch of your instrument. If you wish to play with continuo accompaniment, the harpsichord switches easily from A=440 to A=415, but most of the masterclass will probably be at 440. The baroque masterclasses will be directed by Rachel Brown & David Greenberg. Bring your own music. This is a unique opportunity to get some pointers on your specific repertoire from world-class artists.

Those wishing to focus on dance during the week will have an option every class period including a variety of forms of step dancing and social dancing. I would encourage all musicians to do some dancing and singing this year.

Additionally, if you have ensemble music that you would like to perform, bring it along with you. The afternoon schedule will include ensemble coaching in a variety of genres. Groups will be suggested on the schedule and also arranged by your suggestions and preferences.

Classes take place at the Historic Lunenburg Academy Building on the first and second floors (yes, there is an elevator). You can't miss it - atop the hill at the top of Kaulback St. (see map of Lunenburg). Some baroque, renaissance and dance classes will take place at the St. John's Parish Hall. A slow session will take place immediately preceding the supper hour so particpants and filter down and take part before dinner.

Contact info during the week

Boxwood's activities take place in several different locations. Phones will be available at the Lunenburg Academy, the St. John's Parish Hall, around town, and at your lodging.

  • BOXWOOD
    902.553.0651 (in Lunenburg)
    443.352.0502 (US tel.)

  • St John’s Anglican Parish Hall (some classes)
    64 Townsend St., Lunenburg

  • Lunenburg Academy (most classes)
    101 Kaulbach St.

What to bring

All musical instruments are welcomed. Most of the classes will be at A=440, but some of the advanced baroque classes will be at A=415. If you have the opportunity to borrow a 415 flute, recorder or violin before arriving at Boxwood, please do so. Flutes may be available for loan on a limited basis. If you have extra instruments and would be willing to share them during class time, please bring them. Your fellow students will appreciate it!

. . .also tape recorder, pencil and paper, manuscript paper, tuner, and portable music stands may come in handy. Comfortable walking shoes are a MUST as Lunenburg is hilly, sweater, umbrella or rain coat, sunglasses, bug spray. Your billeters will be providing bedding.

Please bring a camera if you are photographically inclined. We look forward to sharing your pictures/videos.

Wine, Beer & Spirits

Wine & beer will be available at meals and at our evening sessions. You must be 19 years of age or older to consume beer or wine in Nova Scotia. Donations will be encouraged to defray this cost.

Boxwood Boutique

The boutique will be open during the evening activities on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday nights, as well as during meal times to sell recordings, books, etc. If you have items to sell, bring them along and submit them to the Boxwood Boutique Coordinator at registration or whenever the boutique is open. Boxwood retains 10% on the small stuff to offset our administrative and credit card fees. No commission on instruments.

Refunds

Registration for Boxwood 2012 is limited and is filled on a first come first serve basis upon full payment of tuition. Places cannot be held with a deposit. No Refunds will be made after June 15, 2012. Refund requests made on or before June 15, 2012 will receive a refund within 30 days of receipt of the full amount paid minus a $50 administrative charge. There are no refunds for work study or Children's Program participants after May 1, 2012. Cancellations prior to this time will be subject to the above mentioned $50 administrative charge.