Gros Morne Summer Music began in 2003 as a classical festival in Gros Morne National Park and has grown into Camber Arts, a year-round cultural hub in Corner Brook. The organization presents theatre, concerts, youth education, digital innovation, and community programming throughout western Newfoundland.
Their story shows how summer music festivals can grow into something much bigger while still caring about their home community.
How Gros Morne Summer Music Began
Gros Morne Summer Music got its start in 2003 as a small classical music festival during the summer months in Gros Morne National Park. The idea was simple: bring really good classical chamber music to western Newfoundland when tourists were visiting.
The festival found its place quickly in the beautiful setting of Gros Morne. Having world-class musicians perform in a UNESCO World Heritage site created something special for both locals and visitors. What began as a modest summer series has evolved into Newfoundland’s nine-week Gros Morne Summer Music Festival, offering diverse programming that now includes theatre, traditional music, and innovative site-specific performances.
The organizers soon realized they had something bigger than just seasonal entertainment. From these early days, Gros Morne Summer Music already showed the innovation and community focus that would shape everything they did later.
Growing into Camber Arts
The change from Gros Morne Summer Music to Camber Arts shows what the organization calls a “restless spirit of exploration” that has guided them for 18 years. This wasn’t just a name change – it meant they completely rethought what their job was in the community.
Camber Arts now works in four main areas:
- Presentation focuses on regular programming that celebrates Corner Brook through music and musical theatre. This includes big-name artists like Jan Lisiecki and Joel Plaskett, plus unique projects like working with the Aga Khan Museum to combine Newfoundland and Islamic musicians.
- Creation takes them beyond normal concerts into site-specific work that makes places, people, and stories feel magical. Their shows like “Same River Twice” at Glynmill Pond and “Blood on the Newfie Bullet” at the Historic Train Site have won ACE Awards for being innovative.
- Innovation puts Camber Arts at the front of digital arts work across Canada and internationally. They helped lead a national summit at Banff Centre in 2019 and work on digital creation research with places like Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre.
- Education through the Graham Academy is their biggest community impact. They transform the lives of hundreds of youth and families every year, reaching people who might not normally go to arts events.
Their new mission statement sums it up well:
“To meet the cultural needs of Corner Brook by operating as a programmatically-responsive cultural hub.”
The People Behind
The team at Camber Arts brings together artistic vision and the practical skills needed to run a complex cultural organization:
- David Maggs – Co-Artistic Director and Executive Director, founder who has taken the organization’s work international
- Ian Locke – Co-Artistic Director and Academy Director, creator of original works celebrating local history
- Natasha Butt – General Operations Manager handling day-to-day operations
- Meaghan Collins – Director of Marketing & Communications
The Board of Directors includes Chair Erin Smallwood, Vice-Chair Marcia Johannesen, Treasurer Catherine Hicks, and Secretary Ellen Janzen, along with several other community members.
Perhaps most importantly, the late Dr. Gary Graham shaped the organization’s educational mission. Graham served as chair from 2007 until his death in 2019, receiving both the Order of Newfoundland and an Honorary Doctorate from Memorial University. The Graham Academy was created to honour his “lifelong dedication to youth development through the arts.”
Digital Life in a Small Community
Daily life in Corner Brook blends many kinds of experiences. People enjoy live performances and community events, but they also use digital platforms for entertainment, communication, and staying connected. Streaming, social media, online games, and mobile apps have become part of everyday habits. This mix of local culture and online activity reflects how entertainment has evolved across the region.
Online Gambling as Part of the Mix
One example of digital entertainment that’s become part of this mix is online gambling. Many people in Newfoundland and Labrador, including Corner Brook, use trusted online casino sites to play games like poker, blackjack, and online slots. These sites are easy to access and offer a fun way to unwind or pass the time, whether at home or while travelling through the region.
If you’re thinking about trying a Canadian online casino, this page makes it easy to see which sites are actually trusted for real money play in Canada. It covers everything from secure payment options to game variety, helping players avoid unreliable platforms and choose a site that suits their needs. It’s a good starting point for anyone new to real money gaming who wants a quick way to compare trusted sites.
Another helpful guide focused specifically on safe online casinos is this reference for checking platform safety standards, which offers further insights on how to identify trustworthy sites. Whether you’re just starting out or already familiar with online games, having the right information can make the experience safer and more enjoyable.
Online casinos don’t replace live music or theatre, but they do show how people’s entertainment habits are evolving. Just like Camber Arts mixes old spaces with new ideas, the digital world, including online gambling, is part of how locals and visitors stay connected and entertained.
Venues with Character and History
St. Pat’s Church
St. Pat’s Church represents one of Camber Arts’ most dramatic venue rescue stories. Built in 1876, this neo-gothic church was literally “sawed in three pieces” and moved to its current location when the original site became inconvenient.
When declining attendance led the diocese to sell the building, Camber Arts was asked to perform one final concert before it became a private summer home. Their response tells the whole story:
“We did not make it through the first two bars of the piece before deciding that this building could not be sold.”
The reason became clear immediately. “The most beautiful feature of the entire building was invisible,” they discovered. “It wasn’t until a violin sent a note up into the ceiling of the church and the reverberations came back that we knew just how special this place was.”
Guest artists consistently tell them that this is the best building they’ve ever played. Today, St. Pat’s serves as a haven to write, record, and document the creative process that goes into the performing arts.
The Convent
The Convent serves as Camber Arts’ headquarters and creative hub. This three-story building was formerly home to the Presentation Sisters and now houses studio spaces, The Great Room for events, performance spaces, office space, and basic accommodations.
The building demonstrates their commitment to accessibility, featuring a lift and washroom facilities for guests with mobility challenges.
Arts & Culture Centre, Corner Brook
While Camber Arts has developed their own intimate venues, they also perform at the Arts & Culture Centre Corner Brook for larger productions that need bigger stages and audiences. Recent performances (as of 2025) at the Arts and Culture Centre, Corner Brook, include the Graham Academy Senior Company’s production of “Mean Girls: High School Edition,” which opened there in May 2025.
The ACC serves as an important performance space for Newfoundland’s nine-week Gros Morne Summer Music Festival programming, helping create a vibrant Gros Morne Theatre Festival atmosphere across the region. This partnership shows how different venues work together – while St. Pat’s Church offers intimate acoustic experiences and The Convent provides creative workspace, the ACC gives them the capacity to mount full-scale theatrical productions.
Events and Experiences
Camber Arts’ current shows demonstrate how far they’ve come from their start as a classical summer music festival, while still keeping high artistic standards.
| Event | Description | Venue/Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Any Dream Will Do | Spring choral concert with The Chorale, Silvern Voices, Moonbeams | May 23 |
| Mean Girls: High School Edition | Graham Academy Senior Company with live band | May 30 & 31 |
| Echoes from the Outports | Traditional Newfoundland kitchen party experience | Wed/Thu, July-August |
| Barley Legge & The Logger’s Dream | Original folk musical celebrating paper mill centenary | Mon/Tue, July-August |
| Beneath the Baggage | Immersive train mystery theatre | Fri/Sat, July-August |
“Echoes from the Outports” gives audiences an old-style kitchen party filled with songs, stories, and local talent. “Barley Legge & The Logger’s Dream” honours Corner Brook’s history with an original folk musical, while “Beneath the Baggage” continues their popular tradition of interactive theatre at the Historic Train Site.
Year-Round Community Events
Camber Arts also offers a series of winter concerts and community gatherings that bring people together outside the summer season:
An die Musik – Katie Anderson & Adam Luther in Concert
December 2 | Corner Brook ACC | 7:30 PM
A special celebration marking Katie Anderson’s 90th birthday, featuring a performance of Schubert’s An die Musik. The evening begins with a lobby reception, followed by a concert in the Gary Graham Theatre and post-show celebrations.
Hot Chocolate Social and Carol Sing
December 7 | 110 Humber Road | 12:30–1:30 PM
An annual tradition where families, students, and community members gather for homemade hot chocolate and seasonal songs. Free and open to all.
Songs for a Winter’s Night
December 12 | Corner Brook United | 7:30 PM
The annual winter choral concert offered this year with a Pay-What-You-Can ticket option to keep it accessible for everyone.
Camber Arts Gala
December 22 | 110 Humber Road | 6:30 PM (doors) Their annual Christmas Gala closes the year with local performers, homemade desserts, and a festive atmosphere. This fundraiser supports Camber Arts’ growing year-round programming.
The Heart of GMSM: The Graham Academy
The Graham Academy represents the educational legacy that Dr. Gary Graham built over 50 years in Corner Brook. Today, it runs 14 programs serving 170 youth and 150 adults every year as of 2025.
| Program Type | Cost | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Private Classes | $120 | Two private classes in any performance area |
| Mini Chorale | $250 | One year beginner choral training and performances |
| Musical Theatre (4-8) | $650 | One year beginner training for younger children |
| Musical Theatre (9-18) | $1,500 | One year professional training for teens |
| 48 Hour Challenge | $350 | High intensity weekend ending with public performance |
The Academy’s mission goes beyond just music education. Their vision statement explains their goal:
“To build a better community by providing meaningful and inspiring artistic development for youth through accessible youth performing arts opportunities in a nurturing, community minded environment.”
Programs range from $120 for two private classes to $1,500 for full musical theatre training. The Academy produces six theatre shows with full production values, monthly regional TV episodes, recitals, community performances, and summer camps.
What makes the Graham Academy special is ensuring everyone can participate. A volunteer committee provides $20,000 in financial help annually, keeping Dr. Graham’s vision alive – that no child should be left behind.
Their inclusion statement shows their values:
“Graham Academy celebrates diversity of expression, loving and living, and supporting youth in being their best selves!”
Place for Innovation
While staying deeply connected to their local community, Camber Arts has become a leader in digital arts innovation and cultural policy work, extending their influence far beyond corner brook arts and culture into national and international conversations.
Co-Artistic Director David Maggs has written international reports on impact investing for the UK’s Policy and Evidence Centre and spoken across multiple countries. The organization has worked with the Metcalf Foundation, Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Council on national arts investment workshops.
Their digital innovation includes partnerships with Sheridan’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre and the National Arts Centre. They co-led a national summit at Banff Centre in 2019 and create award-winning digital work that gets international attention.
This connects back to their original Old Crow digital magazine, which evolved into a mobile app that lets families take kids on a scavenger hunt for artistic performances throughout Gros Morne National Park.
Keeping It Accessible
Camber Arts shows that professional-level arts programming doesn’t have to be expensive or exclusive. Making things accessible is a basic part of how they serve their whole community.
The Graham Academy provides $20,000 in bursaries every year to ensure cost never prevents participation. Their sponsorship program works with the reality of a small population and few big companies, yet they find their sponsors’ commitment hugely inspiring.
For individual supporters, they make donating easy through Canada Helps or e-transfer, with tax receipts for donations over $20. Their message focuses on impact:
“For every $1 you invest in us, we invest $100 back to our communities.”
Want to Get Involved?
Camber Arts offers multiple ways to connect with their work. Their box office is open Monday-Friday 11 AM-2 PM at 110 Humber Road – call (709) 638-1956 or email [email protected] for tickets.
Stay updated through their social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube) and newsletter for ticket announcements. Support their work by donating through their website or e-transfer to [email protected] (tax receipts for donations over $20).
The Graham Academy welcomes new students year-round, with programs for ages 4 through adult that fit any interest level or experience.
Here are the main ways to get involved:
- Attend their shows – Call or email the box office for tickets
- Follow their updates – Sign up for their newsletter and follow on social media
- Support their mission – Donate online or by e-transfer (tax receipts available)
- Join a program – Graham Academy has options for all ages and skill levels
From its start as Gros Morne Summer Music to what it is now as Camber Arts, this organization proves that small communities can support world-class cultural programming when people are committed to both artistic excellence and community service. Their story shows how arts organizations can grow while staying true to their roots and the people they serve.