The Sibtet

Family harmony is hard to achieve. The Ernst Sibtet is proof that it is possible, and that the results when a family works together can be astounding. This a cappella group, consisting of siblings Joshua, Marja, John, Peter, Elijah, and Eva Ernst, has taken a God-given family blend of impressive range, and with hard work, are producing a sound that audience members say “everyone should experience at least once in their lives.”

A key element of their sound is diversity. The six voices run the gamut from high soprano to low bass, and their repertoire spans over six centuries, from medieval part-songs and Renaissance motets through to black spirituals, light jazz, and a honed pop/R&B style of their own. Tying all of this together is the group’s ability to get to the heart of the music, no matter which style is sung. While often compared to the Trapp Family Singers, their main musical influences are groups like the King’s Singers, Chanticleer, and the Cambridge Singers.

Says tenor John, “We grew up together. We worked together, were homeschooled together, worshipped together, discovered music together, and have sung together for the past eight years. It only makes sense that there’s a unity to the sound.” Add to this a seamless genetic blend plus a strong work ethic, and you get every choirmasters’ dream -- an organic unity of sound and soul.

The oldest six of ten children, the members of the Sibtet have spent the past nine years as members of The Ernst Family, one of Nova Scotia’s most accomplished family groups. They have sung publicly since 2000, when father Gregg Ernst, a world record holding strength athlete decided to direct his drive for excellence into his homeschooled family’s music. Since then, they have toured the Maritimes, Ontario, and the north-eastern United States.

After 70 concerts in 2007, mother Jennie decided she needed to cut back, so the main touring group was reconfigured to allow both the music and the younger children more space to develop. Thus Sibtet came to be, interpreting a wide range of sextet music with technical skill and youthful joie de vivre. This is a family that really enjoys working and performing together, and it shows.

As a family, they have toured extensively, appearing on CBC Radio, ATV, and Toronto’s CityTV, released three CDs, in 2004 and 2007, and are currently in the process of producing their first CD as The Ernst Sibtet, due for release in September, 2009.