2014 Competition for Choral Writing

The Association of Canadian Choral Communities encourages and supports the composition of new choral works by emerging Canadian composers. To that end, ACCC invites submissions to the 2014 ACCC Competition for Choral Writing, co-sponsored by Cypress Music.

The winner of the 2014 competition will receive:

• the Diane Loomer Award of $1500
• a publishing opportunity through Cypress Music
• a premiere performance by the 2014 National Youth Choir/Chœur National des Jeunes, conducted by Hilary Apfelstadt, at PODIUM 2014, Choralscapes – Paysages chorals in Halifax, NS

The winner of the 2012 Competition was Elise Letourneau for her composition Peace Prayer, which was premiered by the 2012 National Youth Choir/Chœur National des Jeunes at PODIUM 2012, Choral Celebration Chorale, in Ottawa.

The entry deadline is November 1, 2013. Please see Competition Regulations and Application Guidelines here.

Concours de composition Chorale de 2014

L’Association des communautés chorales canadiennes encourage et appuie la composition d’œuvres chorales par de nouveaux compositeurs canadiens. C’est pourquoi l’ACCC, en collaboration avec Cypress Music, invite les intéressés à participer au Concours de composition chorale de 2014.
 
Le lauréat du concours de 2014 se verra décerner les prix suivants :

• le  prix Diane Loomer de 1 500 $;
• une possibilité de publication grâce à Cypress Music;
• une interprétation en première par le National Youth Choir/Chœur National des Jeunes de 2014, dirigé par Hilary Apfelstadt, à PODIUM 2014, Choralscapes – Paysages chorals à Halifax, en Nouvelle-Écosse.

La lauréate du concours de 2012 était Élise Letourneau, pour sa composition Peace Prayer, qui a été chantée en première par le National Youth Choir/Chœur National des Jeunes de 2012  à PODIUM 2012, Choral Celebration/Célébration Chorale, à Ottawa.

La date limite de participation est le 1er novembre 2013. Voir Le Règlement sur le concours et les Lignes directrices sur les demandes de participation ici.

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Peter Togni Sunday, July 28, 2013 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

A focus on men’s voices

On July 28th  Choral Concert is bringing the rich, thick and lyrical sound of men’s voices to centre stage.

It wasn’t long ago that male choirs seemed to be fading into history. With many choirs abandoning the practice of using boys as trebles, the trend was towards blended choirs – allowing for a full mature sound right across the range of voices.

However, it seems that lately there is a return to same sex choirs, and especially all-male choirs. Their sound is rich, thick and warm - kind of like an orchestra of cellos.

In this encore edition of Choral Concert choirs like Chor Leoni, Chanticleer, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, and the Mungano National Choir from Kenya will be heard.

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Peter Togni Sunday, July 22, 2013 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

Beautiful music for your summer listening

This week on Choral Concert you’ll hear the Elektra Women’s Choir from their brand new CD Pure Elektra, some incredible samples from the US choir the Voices of Ascension, the Collegium Stuttgard doing JS Bach, and the Capella Pratensis doing a 15th century masse by Joseph Obrecht.

Capella Pratensis are an all male choir, from the basses right up to the sopranos. They take authentic practice very seriously. They even go so far as to read their music all from one giant book, rather than from individual parts, as was custom in the 1400’s. Many people say this gives the choir a blended, unified sound, and requires deeper listening from each chorister.

Don’t forget that CBCMUSIC.CA has lots to offer for classical music lovers, you can check out the Choral Concert blog plus extensive videos and concerts in all genres.

World Youth Choir - new President / Announcement of Session 2014

The Foundation World Youth Choir is happy to announce that Mr. Håkan Wickström (IFCM) was elected new President of the Foundation World Youth Choir. Wickström is succeeding as President Mr. Blasko Smilevski (JMI). The election was held in the frame of a meeting held in Croatia due to the preparations for the 2014 summer session organized by Jeunesses Musicales Croatia and the World Youth Choir foundation, in cooperation with several partner organizations in South - Eastern Europe and in the frame of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the World Youth Choir. The session will be followed by a tour with concerts in Croatia, and further countries in the region (the exact dates in July 2014 and further details will be confirmed at the end of 2013). See you in Croatia 2014!

Further details can be found in the full Press release here.
Tentative information about the session 2014 can be found in the full Press release here.

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Announces Associate Conductor

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has appointed Nova Scotia-born conductor Caron Daley as Associate Conductor, effective September 2013. The TMC created the Associate Conductor position to provide talented choral conductors who are early in their career with coaching, training and mentoring, while also adding to the TMC˙s artistic team. The Associate Conductor works with the Choir under the guidance of Artistic Director Noel Edison, directing TMC ensembles in rehearsals and select performances. Caron Daley is an established choral conductor. She recently completed her D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from U of T and holds prior degrees in choral conducting, vocal pedagogy and music education.

http://www.tmchoir.org/media/release_07022013.cfm?utm_source=media+release&utm_medium=email&utm_campaignÊron+Daley+Announcement

CHORAL CONCERT, with host Peter Togni Sunday, July 14, 2013 9:00 - 11:00 am, (9:30 - 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio 2

From Australia: “The Idea of North”

This Sunday Peter Togni brings you “The Idea of North”, a vocal quartet from Australia that combine extraordinary tuning and incredible ensemble performance into a bright, eclectic a cappella sound. They are a kind of cross between the jazz sensibility of the New York based vocal group Manhattan Transfer, and the creative music sensibilities of the Finish sextet Rajaton.

And yes – they do get their name from the wonderful Glenn Gould radio documentary “The Idea of North” first broadcast in 1967 on the CBC radio one program IDEAS.

We’ll also be tipping our hat to some of the great choirs that won the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs this past week. You can see the full list of winners right now on the Choral Concert Blog.

ACCC announces the winners of the 2013 National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs!

A treasured Canadian choral tradition, the ACCC National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs inspires choirs to strive for excellence, provides visibility for amateur choirs of all types and traditions, and encourages the creation and performance of Canadian works. The Competition is open to all Canadian amateur choirs and attracts diverse participants from coast to coast. The 2013 Competition winners were selected by a national jury of esteemed Canadian choral conductors, consisting of Douglas Dunsmore, Jean-Pascal Hamelin, Graeme Langager, Zimfira Poloz and Leonard Ratzlaff.

The prestigious Canada Council for the Arts Healey Willan Grand Prize, for the finest overall performance in musicianship, technique, and program, was awarded to the Spiritus Chamber Choir, from Calgary, AB, conducted by Timothy Shantz. Spiritus Chamber Choir also took first prize in Category 11 (Contemporary Music), and in Category 6 (Mixed-Voice Adult Choir).

Each choir that enters the Competition must perform an original Canadian piece. The prize for the Best Performance of a Canadian Work in any category was awarded to Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, from St. John’s, NL, conducted by Susan Quinn, for their performance of The Dance of the Mayflies, by Kathleen Allan. Quintessential Vocal Ensemble was also awarded second prize in Category 11 (Contemporary Music).

Cash prizes were also awarded for the top performances in each category. See 2013 Winners.

Winners were announced on Tuesday, July 9 at Festival 500 Sharing the Voices, an international festival of choral music in St. John’s, NL.

All of the winners, finalists and other participants can be heard on CBC Music, where links to competition audio are available from the ACCC National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs portal page.  Selections by the winners will also be featured on CBC Radio 2's Choral Concert on Sunday, July 14th. 

The National Competition of Canadian Amateur Choirs is a signature program of the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, Canada’s national service organization for choirs and the choral community. For more information please visit www.choralcanada.org.

l'ACCC félicite les lauréats de l’édition 2013 du Concours national pour chœurs amateurs canadiens

Précieuse tradition chorale canadienne, le prestigieux Concours national pour chœurs amateurs canadiens de l’ACCC inspire les chœurs à viser l’excellence, met en valeur les chœurs amateurs de toutes sortes et de toutes les traditions, et encourage la création et l’exécution d’œuvres canadiennes. Ouvert à tous les chœurs amateurs du Canada, le concours attire des participants d’un littoral à l’autre du pays. Les lauréats du Concours de 2013 ont été choisis par un jury national composé de distingués chefs de chœurs canadiens, soit Douglas Dunsmore, Jean-Pascal Hamelin, Graeme Langager, Zimfira Poloz et Leonard Ratzlaff.

Le prestigieux Grand prix Healey Willan du Conseil des Arts du Canada, qui récompense la meilleure prestation, toutes catégories confondues, pour la musicalité, la technique et le programme, a été attribué au Spiritus Chamber Choir, de Calgary (Alberta), dirigé par Timothy Shantz. Le Spiritus Chamber Choir a aussi remporté le premier prix dans la Catégorie 11 (Musique contemporaine) et dans la  Catégorie 6 (Chorales d’adultes – voix mixtes).

Chaque chœur participant doit  interpréter une composition canadienne originale. Le prix de la Meilleure interprétation d’une œuvre canadienne  toutes catégories confondues a été décerné au Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, de St. John’s (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador), dirigé par Susan Quinn, pour son interprétation de The Dance of the Mayflies, de Kathleen Allan. Le Quintessential Vocal Ensemble a aussi remporté le deuxième prix dans la Catégorie 11 (Musique contemporaine).

Des prix en argent comptant ont aussi été décernés pour les interprétations exceptionnelles dans chaque catégorie. Voir les gagnants de 2013 ici.

Les lauréats ont été annoncés le mardi 9 juillet à Festival 500 Sharing the Voices, un festival international de musique chorale tenu à St. John's, à Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador du 3 au 10 juillet.

Les prestations de tous les lauréats, finalistes et participants peuvent être écoutées sur CBC Music, où l’on trouvera des liens aux enregistrements audio du concours au portail du Concours national pour chœurs amateurs canadiens de l’ACCC.  Des sélections des lauréats seront aussi présentées à l’émission Choral Concert de CBC Radio 2 le dimanche 14 juillet.

Le Concours national pour chœurs amateurs canadiens est un programme distinctif de l’Association des communautés chorales canadiennes, l’organisme de services nationaux du Canada pour les chœurs et communautés chorales. Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements, prière de consulter le site www.choralcanada.org.