ACCC Student Chapter

The recently formed Student Chapter is the official wing of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities that is designed to promote and foster student activities in choral arts across Canada. Their Incanto Blog which offers interesting articles, interviews, news and an opportunity to share ideas, is well worth a visit.

Employment Opportunity at Department of Music at the University of Regina

The Department of Music at the University of Regina, a flexible, responsive and dynamic team of performers and scholars, invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in Choral Music at the rank of Assistant Professor, commencing July 1, 2012. Application Deadline: January 16, 2012

Details available  on the ACCC web site at Employment Opportunities

IFCM World Summit and 11th China International Choral Festival, July 15–21, 2012

The World Choral Summit is a unique initiative that will bring together thirty choral leaders from throughout the world. The Summit, a joint project under the sponsorship of IFCM, the China Chorus Association, China Entertainment and Arts Group, and China Cultural International Tours Inc, will be held simultaneously with the 11th China International Choral Festival.

Five choirs, each from a different continent, as well as many choirs from throughout the world, will join with their Chinese counterparts to participate in the Summit and Festival. The focus of the Summit will be on ideas, concerns, and ways to enhance communication and cooperation within the global community, as well as the exploration of choral traditions . . . especially those of China.

Appropriately, the theme will be Voices in Harmony. The host city of Beijing offers an ideal setting for choral leaders and choirs to experience the hospitality and rich cultural tradition of the Peoples Republic of China. The Summit and Festival will be events not to be missed!

For more information: http://en.cicfbj.cn/

Fondation commémorative Sir Ernest MacMillan – Bourse 2012 pour la direction chorale

La Fondation commémorative Sir Ernest MacMillan a le plaisir d’annoncer que la bourse 2012 de 12 000 $ sera décernée pour la direction chorale. La Fondation a choisi la direction chorale en reconnaissance de la carrière de chef d’orchestre de Sir Ernest MacMillan, plus particulièrement ses nombreuses années à titre de chef du Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (1942-1957)  et de l’orchestre de l’Orchestre symphonique de Toronto (1931-1956).

La bourse de la Fondation commémorative Sir Ernest MacMillan vise à soutenir de façon significative le développement de la carrière d’un jeune musicien canadien. Un concours national permettra de choisir le récipiendaire de la bourse. Depuis 1985, la fondation a octroyé 25 bourses.

De plus amples renseignements sont disponibles sur le site internet de la Fondation commémorative Sir Ernest MacMillan à l’adresse: www.macmillanfoundation.com

La date limite pour la réception des demandes et des lettres de recommandation est le 31 janvier 2012

Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation - Award for 2012 in Choral Conducting

The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce its Award for 2012, in Choral Conducting, valued at $12,000.  This is in recognition of Sir Ernest MacMillan’s celebrated career as a conductor, in particular his many years with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (1942-1957) and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1931-56).

The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award is intended to provide significant career development opportunities for a young Canadian musician.  The recipient is chosen through a national competitive process; 25 awards have been given since 1985.

More information on the Award is provided at the web site of the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation: www.macmillanfoundation.com

Applications and letters of recommendation must be received by January 31, 2012.

Choral Concert October 30, 2011 special pre-emption for Canada in Concert on CBC Radio 2

Choral Concert for Sunday, October 30th will be pre-empted for a special eight-hour broadcast marking 75 years of public broadcasting in Canada, but there will be lots of great singing to listen to!

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (9:30 to 5:30 in Newfoundland and Labrador) Canada in Concert, with host Bill Richardson, celebrates CBC's remarkable legacy of sharing Canada's greatest classical musicians with listeners from coast to coast.

This musical marathon, the result of an intense collaboration between CBC Radio 2 and Radio Canada's Espace musique, offers an eight-hour festival of live performance recorded in eight Canadian centers.

The programming features internationally renowned Canadian ensembles and soloists. We have singers galore - from Quebec City, Bernard Labadie leads Les Violons du Roy in a concert featuring the outstanding soprano Karina Gauvin; from Toronto, it's the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra with some of the countries biggest vocal stars including soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian and tenor Ben Heppner; from Halifax, soprano Suzie Leblanc joins the Tempest Baroque Ensemble for a program recalling the poetry of Elizabeth Bishop, and from Vancouver, some of the country's best choral ensembles celebrate CBC's 75th with an engaging program focusing on the work of Canadian composers.

We'll mark the opening of the new Maison symphonique in Montreal with a smashing performance of Beethoven's Symphony no. 9 with Kent Nagano leading the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. From Ottawa, we have an intimate recital with two Canadian classical superstars - violinist James Ehnes and the brilliant 16 year-old pianist Jan Lisiecki. From Winnipeg, it's highlights of the 2011 Winnipeg New Music Festival.

CBC has nurtured the careers of hundreds of artists across the complete musical spectrum. On October 30th, Canada's biggest classical stars come together to say "many happy returns."

Terry Hurrell Honored

Terry Hurrell, founding Artistic Director of Nova Voce, Nova Scotia’s Provincial Men’s Choir, has been awarded an Honorary Life Membership and made Artistic Director Emeritus of that choir.  Terry retired from directing Nova Voce in December, 2010.

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, October 23, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

The Music of Nico Muhly and the Anglican Choral Tradition
 
This Sunday Peter Togni explores the Anglican choral tradition from convention through to innovation.
 
The conventional side will be the best of the best: The Vancouver Chamber Choir doing Handel, the Cambridge Singers doing Thomas Tallis and the Tallis Scholars doing even more Tallis. It will be a feast for the ears!
On the innovative side you will hear the music of Nico Muhly, a young American composer steeped in the British choral tradition through his Episcopalian upbringing – and who has gone on to put a distinctive contemporary stamp on the traditional British sound. You will hear a collection of his most beautiful works performed by the amazing Los Angeles Master Chorale conducted by Grant Gershon.

2nd annual TMC Choral Conductors’ Symposium January 24-28, 2012 Toronto

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir is now accepting applicants for the 2nd annual TMC Choral Conductors’ Symposium.  The TMC created this national symposium in 2011 as part of its Emerging Conductors Program to bring together emerging choral conductors with acclaimed conductor Noel Edison and two internationally recognized choirs. During the symposium participating conductors work intensively with Noel Edison and the choirs to expand their own choral conducting skills.  In 2012 the five-day Toronto-based symposium will take place from January 24 through 28, 2012.

Participating conductors will not only refine their skills in workshops with Noel Edison, but will be given the rare opportunity to conduct the 150-voice Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the chamber-sized Elora Festival Singers.  Working with these two ensembles of experienced and skilled singers will present the conductors with the opportunity to experiment with their own conducting styles and musical interpretation. 

Five conductors will be accepted into the program.  There will also be opportunities for others to participate as observers.  The deadline for conductors to submit their application to participate is November 11, 2011.  Details, including the registration form, are available on the TMC Choral Conductors Symposium web page.

Singsation Saturday October 15th: Sing Renaissance Music

The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) presents Singsation Saturdays, choral workshops where anyone who loves to sing is invited to join with noted local conductors, TMC choristers and other singers to learn about and sing some of the great choral masterpieces. Musical scores are available for singers to borrow during the workshop.  During the 2010-11 season, between 70 and 120 singers from across Toronto joined their voices together at each Singsation event.

Saturday, October 15, 2011: Music of the Renaissance with Peter Mahon, Artistic Director of Tallis Choir

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, October 16, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

From the Soundshift Festival in St. John’s: Zari in concert

This Sunday Peter Togni brings you the trio of Georgian singers known as Zari. The republic of Georgia is a mountainous country on the crossroads of Asia and Europe, and the music reflects their deep history. It’s mysterious, unusual, and because of some of the modern sounding harmonies that use, can also sound strangely familiar.

You will also hear a selection of CD’s that has a sonic relationship to these very special Georgian sounds, music by Monteverdi, Stravinsky, and the renaissance composer Vincenzo Ugolini.

Want a feast for the eyes as well as the ears?  Check out the new videos of the Indonesian Cordana Youth Choir  from Festival 500 in St John’s on the Choral Concert blog at: http://cbc.ca/choralconcert

Choralies internationales Edmonton 2012 Registration Now Open

From July 8 to 15, 2012, in Edmonton, Alberta, enjoy
A thousand voices, one chorus!

Toi, moi, tout un monde a hymn of praise to song and the international French community!

Soon Alberta’s capital will be at the heart of a thousand voices, with choral singers from all over the world taking part in a fabulous event, the French choral singing festival Choralies internationales Edmonton 2012. The founding partners of the event, the Chorale Saint-Jean, the Alliance des chorales du Québec and University of Alberta’s Campus Saint-Jean, are immensely proud to invite you to this extremely rare gathering, when Edmonton will be decked out in all its finery to welcome participants!

Choralies internationales Edmonton 2012 Les inscriptions débutent maintenant!

Du 8 au 15 juillet 2012, à Edmonton en Alberta, nous serons

Un millier de voix, un seul chœur!

Toi, moi, tout un monde pour faire résonner le chant et la francophonie internationale!

Oui, la capitale albertaine sera la mire d’un millier de choralistes du monde entier pour participer à cet événement grandiose, le festival de chant choral francophone Choralies internationales Edmonton 2012. C’est avec une immense fierté que les partenaires fondateurs de l’événement, la Chorale Saint-Jean, l’Alliance des chorales du Québec et le Campus Saint-Jean de l’Université de l’Alberta, convient tous les choralistes et le grand public à ce rassemblement rarissime où Edmonton se parera de ses plus beaux atours pour vous souhaiter la bienvenue!

Pax Christi Chorale - General Manager Part-time Position

Pax Christi Chorale, Toronto, is seeking an experienced Arts Administrator to fill the position of General Manager.

Pax Christi Chorale is a 90-voice auditioned choir dedicated to performing the great works of choral literature, with a view to achieving musical excellence and sustaining a supportive choral community.

Deadine for applications is October 19, 2011. Read the complete job description on the ACCC Employment Opportunities page.

Chor Leoni Releases New CD: Yuletide Fires II

Vancouver’s renowned Chor Leoni Men’s Choir and Diane Loomer, C.M., Artistic Director, are pleased to announce the release of their latest CD, Yuletide Fires II. This eagerly anticipated follow-up disc to the award-winning Yuletide Fires seeks to answer the question of what Christmastime means in a culture where beliefs and customs are intermingling and becoming less defined.

Yuletide Fires II features serene Latin chant expressing the wonder of the Virgin and child, familiar words and melodies that connect us the Christmas of our childhood, and songs that explore new ways to celebrate the joys of Christmas as well as the hopes and possibilities of a new year. Chor Leoni is thrilled to welcome the renowned Canadian operatic superstar, Judith Forst as soloist on Adolphe Adam’s beloved "Cantique de Noël".

The disc is distributed in Canada through SRI and is available directly through the choir’s website at http://www.chorleoni.org/recordings/yuletide-fires-ii

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, October 9, 2011 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

For Thanksgiving: The Ottawa Bach Choir in Concert

This Sunday Peter Togni marks the Thanksgiving weekend with a beautiful concert from the Ottawa Bach Choir they called “Baroque and Beyond”. You will hear music by Antonio Caldara, Alessandro Scarlatti, and the great renaissance master Claudio Monteverdi.

You will also hear a collection of discs featuring music that gives thanks, from Bach’s “Now thank we all our God” to the music of Micheal Torke giving thanks to the moment with his “Boast not of tomorrow for you know not what any day may bring forth”.   The program ends with a performance of the 15th century master of counterpoint Johannes Ockeghem, his “Deo Gratias” or “Thanks be to God”.

Happy Thanksgiving!