Fourteen community choirs will gather to celebrate their unique choral and artistic strengths.

Nanaimo Sings is a three-day festival of local choirs culminating in a gala concert at the Port Theatre.

“We’re so lucky to have so much choral work being done here,” said Linda Dier, a member of the festival’s planning committee.

Planning began more than a year ago when Dier, a member of the Bel Canto choir, and Lionel Tanod, Bel Canto director, wanted to find ways to connect with other choirs in the city.

Eight volunteers from different choirs met once a month to plan the festival, set for Oct. 16-18.

“One of the really exciting things we could do is have all the choirs perform en masse,” Dier said.

B.C. composer Larry Nickel was commissioned to produce an original work for the 14 choirs to sing during the gala finale.

The nine-minute piece was finished in April and the choirs have been rehearsing since then.

The first movement is reminiscent of an anthem or a hymn, said Dier.

“It’s not a religious piece but it has that sound about it,” she said.

The second movement is more whimsical, with the pace picking up considerably for the third and final movement.

“The third part is a real barn burner,” Dier said.

Some parts were tricky but the leadership of the choir directors helped singers learn their parts, said Dier.

“We have such wonderful conductors,” Dier said. “It hasn’t posed a huge challenge to learn.”

The festival features two days of concerts by the 14 participating choirs.