33rd Annual National Conductors' Symposium APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING!

Jon Washburn and the Vancouver Chamber Choir will present the 33rd annual National Conductors' Symposium February 4-9, 2013 in Vancouver, Canada. The symposium offers selected conductors an opportunity to take part in masterclasses with Canada's premier choral ensemble.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The application form is available here.

Five applicants will be chosen to participate as Conductors, receiving significant time with the Vancouver Chamber Choir in rehearsal and performance in the final concert POETRY IN MUSIC on February 9. As many as 10 additional applicants will be selected as Observers and be involved in all aspects of the Symposium, including one opportunity to conduct.
Master Conductor Jon Washburn oversees the conducting and evaluation sessions, providing insight on choral techniques, conducting gesture and score interpretation. Each conducting session is video recorded so that participants can review the recordings between sessions. A series of optional luncheon discussions are offered to increase understanding of fundraising, marketing, working with a board and administrative structure.

The 2013 repertoire consists of music based on verse from some of the world's greatest poets:

Robert Schumann - Talismane Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Franz Schubert - Chor der Engel Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johannes Brahms - Warum Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

John Rutter - Blow, blow, thou winter wind William Shakespeare
Steven Sametz - When he shall die William Shakespeare
Jaakko Mäntyjärvi - Double, double, toil and trouble William Shakespeare

Vincent Persichetti - sam was a man E.E. Cummings
Lukas Foss - Cool prayers Carl Sandburg
Stephen Chatman - On the beach at night alone Walt Whitman

William Hawley - My River runs to thee Emily Dickinson
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Rest Christina Rossetti
Jon Washburn - Lullaby Christina Rossetti
Alice Parker - To Kathleen Edna St. Vincent Millay

Benjamin Britten - Rosa Mystica Gerard Manley Hopkins
John Paynter - New Hampshire T.S. Eliot
Benjamin Britten - Blues W.H. Auden
Samuel Barber - The Monk and his Cat W.H. Auden

Jon Washburn founded the Vancouver Chamber Choir in 1971. Under his guidance, the ensemble has become an amazing success story, ranking with the handful of North America's best professional choruses. In addition to touring and a busy season of concerts, broadcasts and recording, the Choir presents five award-winning educational programs.