Album Notes

THE ERNST FAMILY
The Ernst Family Singers are based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The group currently consists of parents Gregg and Jennie Ernst and eight of their ten children. They sing anything from solos to eight part harmony, in styles ranging from early Renaissance music to modern day spirituals, folk, and light jazz. Most of their music is sung a cappella with occasional piano or guitar accompaniment. The genetic similarity of their voices gives a harmonious bled rare in unrelated voices.

The Family started singing after Joshua`s voice changed in 2001. With four-part harmony now possible, Jennie thought it would be fun to work on a bit of choral singing. Positive audience response convinced the family that theirs was a gift to be shared, and share it they have. The Ernsts have since toured the Maritimes, eastern USA, and Ontario, and have made many appearances on local and national television and radio. This fall, the Family is going on a two month tour to Ontario and is planning a Christmas tour to the north-eastern USA.

Members of the Ernst Family have become known for a variety of other endeavours as well. Gregg is a blacksmith, and it was in his shop that the ironwork for the Bluenose and Bluenose II, which is depicted on the Canadian dime, was forged. Gregg has also received worldwide acclaim as a strength athlete. He competed in `The World`s Strongest Man` competitions in the Canary Islands and Iceland in 1991 and 1992, and still holds the official world record for the most weight ever lifted by a man, at 5340 lbs. Jennie is well known to Nova Scotian home schoolers, having chaired the provincial association for a number of years and represented it in legal negotiations with the provincial government.