Podium 2012 Choral Celebration Chorale Ottawa May 17—20, 2012

Inspiring concerts, dynamic workshops, exciting tradeshow, a capital experience!

Early-Bird Rate available until March 1, 2012

See Podium 2012

Podium 2012 Choral Celebration Chorale Ottawa 17—20 mai, 2012

Concerts inspirants, ateliers dynamiques, foire enlevante, une expérience capitale!

Inscriptions reçues au plus tard le 1er mars 2012.

Voir: Podium 2012

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, February 26, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Duke Ellington's Sacred Music Concert with the Sacred Music Gospel Choir and the Fred Stride jazz Orchestra

In the last years of his life, the great master Duke Ellingoton wrote three major works that he called "the most important things I've done." He called them his "sacred concerts", and they remain the richest embodiment of his highest ideal - to combine jazz, classical, choral, spirituals, gospel, and blues together into a form he simply called American music.

This week on Choral Concert you will hear a re-mounting of one of those concerts, originally performed in San Francisco in September of 1965 - and faithfully reproduced at St. Andrews Wesley United Church, Vancouver last November. Its a moving and powerful performance by the Sacred Music Gospel Choir and the Fred Stride jazz Orchestra.

Since February is black history month in Nova Scotia (where Choral Concert is based), Peter Togni will also feature Canada's first significant black composer, Nathaniel Dett. You will hear three of his pieces performed by the Nathaniel Dett Choral.

Don't forget that CBCMUSIC.CA ( http://www.cbcmusic.ca/ ) has lots to offer for classical music lovers; there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7.  You can also check out the Choral Concert blog  (http://music.cbc.ca/#/Choral-Concert ) plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, February 19, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

Ensemble Arion releases a brilliant St John Passion, Eric Whitacres Grammy winning “Light and Gold” and the Danish National Radio Choir in Concert

This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you three great choirs who are big on the world stage in 2012. You’ll hear selections from the St. John Passion by J.S.Bach – in a brand new release from Les Voix Baroques and Arion Baroque Orchestra under the direction of organist and conductor Alexander Weimann. You’ll also hear a feature on Eric Whitacre and his recent Garmmy winning CD Light and Gold, plus a wonderful concert of the Danish National Radio Choir performing in Riga, Latvia.

This week CBCMUSIC.CA was launched and straight out of the gate for classical music lovers there are 10 classical streams, available 24 / 7. You can check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.  In the video area this week, you’ll find upwards of 15 selections from this past summer’s Festival 500 – including your own private vocal lesson with Bob Chilcott! Really, go here and  check it out – it’s worth it!

Call for Nominations for ACCC Board Vacancies

ACCC is seeking nominations for three board positions: President Elect, Vice-President Advocacy and Vice-President Professional Development. We encourage and welcome nominees who broadly represent Canada’s diverse choral communities: choristers, industry representatives, administrators, conductors, and educators, from a variety of professional and choral backgrounds.  See Board Vacancies.
Please send your nominations by March 15, 2012, to: Dr Debra Cairns, Chair Nominations Committee: dcairns@ualberta.ca

Appel de candidatures - postes vacants au Conseil d'administration de l'ACCC

L'ACCC sollicite des candidatures pour trois postes vacants, à savoir celui de Président élu, celui de Vice-président chargé des activités de plaidoyer et celui de Vice-président responsable du développement professionnel.  Nous encourageons et accueillons des candidats représentant le milieu choral du Canada: choristes, représentants de l'industrie, administrateurs, chefs de choeur et éducateurs.  Voir postes vacants.

Veuillez soumettre votre candidature avant le 15 mars adressée au Dr Debra Cairns, Présidente du comité des candidatures: dcairns@ualberta.ca

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, February 12, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

The Vancouver Cantata Singers perform Cathedrals of Science

This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you a program of sacred music sung in a secular space, with a program by the Vancouver Cantata Singers called Cathedrals of Science. The performance took place at the Blusson Centre, a new medical research building at the University of British Columbia that has incredible acoustics in its atrium. The program features open, atmospheric music that spans 500 years – from the early Renaissance master Alexander Brumel to the contemporary Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.

You’ll also hear our tribute to Valentine’s day with the Irish choir “Anuna”,  some love Russian style from the Marinsky Theatre Choir, and some romantic Ravel with the Cambridge Singers.

Elektra Women’s Choir Turns to Crowd Funding for New CD: Pure Elektra

Vancouver’s renowned Elektra Women’s Choir stepped into the new world of “crowd funding” at the beginning of February to raise the money necessary to complete their eleventh CD, Pure Elektra, in this the ensemble’s Silver Anniversary season. Choral recordings hold a particular place in the choir’s mandate, explains Morna Edmundson, the choir’s Artistic Director.

“I think when we look at the big picture of Elektra’s legacy, the music we’ve released on CD is possibly the most important aspect of all.  That and causing many fine arrangements and compositions to be created.” she says. “But it’s when we record those that other choirs become aware of them and the pieces live on in different parts of the world through different choirs’ interpretations.”

Crowd funding is defined by Wikipedia as “the collective cooperation, attention and trust by people who network and pool their money and other resources together, usually via the Internet, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations.” So far the campaign, which relies on social media and email to spread, is working. Launched a week ago, the choir is thrilled to announce that almost $1000 has been raised.

First Annual MosaiK Choral Festival February 23—25 Ottawa

The MosaiK Choral Festival enriches, energizes and inspires local choral artists of all ages and levels of experience. Our mosaic of voices and song celebrates the broad range of communities in Canada and the choral art through workshops and performances in a non-competitve environment. Sponsored by Harmonia Choir of Ottawa, and École secondaire publique de la Salle, six choirs from across the city, featuring children, youth, and adults, have the unique opportunity to come together to sing in workshops and performance led this year by guest conductor and clinician Scott Leithead.  Workshops and rehearsals will culminate in an evening concert in which participants perform their own eclectic programmes then join in the MosaiK massed choir directed by Scott Leithead.

A broad range of choirs will be taking part in the festival. The children's choirs of the Cross Town Youth Chorus (ages 5-15), the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir (ages 15-23) and the high school choir from École De La Salle will join with adult choirs Musica Viva Singers, Tone Cluster, and Harmonia Choir of Ottawa for a very intergenerational mix.

The MosaiK Choral Festival will conclude with the finale concert, "African Stories" on February 25, 7:30 pm at École secondaire publique de la Salle, 501 Old St-Patrick Street.

International Masterclass for Choir Conductors July 26th to July 31st 2012 - Vaison-la-Romaine, France

In partnership with the Festival des Chœurs Lauréats (http://festivaldeschoeurslaureats.com),  A Cœur Joie is organizing a unique international masterclass with Peter Erdei (Hungary) and the wonderful Japanese choir, Vocal Ensemble EST conducted by Masao Mukai in residence. The program will include conducting and rehearsal techniques, interpretation and score work. All participants will receive an invitation to attend the last concert of the Festival des Chœurs Lauréats.

Peter Erdei was Director-General of the Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskemet, Hungary between 1974 and 2008. He was Associate Professor of Choral Conducting in Academy of Music in Budapest for the same period. Recognized as one of the finest pedagogs in the world, Peter has conducted many amateur and professional choirs during his career such as the Debrecen Chamber Choir, the national radio choir and the teacher’s choir of Kecskemét.
 

Registration Deadline: May 15th, 2012

Contact : Jean-Claude Wilkens, director Association À Cœur Joie, : activites@choralies.org  
 

Cantilon Choral Society Seeks Artistic Director

The Cantilon Choral Society anticipates the need for a dynamic Artistic Director to lead the artistic vision for the organization and to conduct the senior touring and recording ensemble, the Cantilon Chamber Choir. We are searching for a talented, energetic individual who is passionate about children and committed to artistic excellence and excellence in music education.

Deadline for all application materials is March 5, 2012

Cantilon Choirs is a family of community choirs that encompasses singers of all ages (4-adult) in three levels of choirs. These choirs have been a vibrant and high profile part of the Edmonton musical community since 1999 and strive to provide a choral program exemplifying artistic and education excellence for children, youth and young adults. The organization involves over 180 singers and has a yearly operating budget of up to $500,000. (www.cantilonchoirs.ca)

Details on the position and application requirements may be viewed on the ACCC web site at Employment Opportunities.

Tallis Scholars Summer School USA July 21 - 28, 2012 Seattle, Washington

Join enthusiastic singers aged 18 and over with strong sight-reading skills, professional musicians, dedicated amateurs, and college/graduate students all of whom share a passion for polyphony and choral singing for an intense immersion course into both sight-reading and performance practice of Renaissance polyphony. The week will include full choir work with Peter Phillips, smaller ensemble work with members of the Tallis Scholars, and small group performance on participant chosen repertoire; small group masterclass with Peter Phillips and Tallis Scholars; lectures giving context to the music being studied as well as talks giving participants a view into the lives and performance experiences of the Tallis Scholars and private voice instruction from Tallis Scholar tutors.

Course Instructors:

    •     Peter Phillips, director of the Tallis Scholars
    •     David Woodcock, associate TSSS director and Tallis Scholar baritone
    •     Jan Coxwell, associate TSSS director and Tallis Scholar soprano
    •     Deborah Roberts, Tallis Scholar soprano

Detailed course information and applications are available at www.tsss.uk.com.

Choral Concert with host Peter Togni, February 5, 2012 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NL) on CBC Radio 2

The Elmer Iseler Singers in the “Glory of A Cappella”

This Sunday on Choral Concert Peter Togni brings you the Elmer Iseler Singers straight up, as in “a cappella”, or voices alone without accompaniment. You’ve got to respect and admire any choir that can pull off an entire concert unaccompanied, kind of like Cirque de Soleil performing without safety nets.

The Elmer Iseler Singers are one of Canada’s truly great professional choirs and they rise to both the challenge and the occasion. As Peter Togni says, this broadcast is deep, rich, resonant and in many places incredibly moving. You'll hear works by Canadian composers Healey Willan and Eleanor Daley.

You’ll also hear special submissions from the Kings Singers doing Paul McCartney’s "Blackbird", and the Tavener Consort and Players doing the deep and mystical Magnificat in G Minor by Antonio Vivaldi.